3.3: First Aid and Personal Protective Equipment
First Things First
Every workplace and therefore every employer must render first aid to an injured employee. Depending on the severity of the injury, i.e. if the employer emergency plan is activated, then the duty of care is to get the employee to an emergency facility as soon as possible. When the workplace is a construction site or some distance away from an urgent care or hospital emergency room the employer must have the capacity to provide immediate first aid commensurate to the injury and then proceed if necessary to offsite care for medical treatment. The employer must ensure the availability of medical personnel for advice and consultation no matter the work location.
Construction job site accidents and injuries as a result of tool and equipment failure and/or incorrect use are common. Cuts and punctures from sharp objects, contusions from blunt objects or impacts, burns from open flame torches and hot pipes, splashing of chemicals or debris to the eyes, and electrical shock are just a few of the common injuries associated with construction and maintenance trades.
As construction and maintenance work offer the potential for many types of traumatic and life threatening injuries, workers in skilled trades should be aware of the hazards and be prepared to respond in the event of an injury. Since many construction and maintenance industry tasks may be performed by a single person, often isolated from others, it is recommended that construction industry workers receive First Aid and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 10 or 30 Hour Safety Training. Training enables industry trades-persons to better assess workplace hazards and respond to them appropriately, whether an incident involves oneself, a coworker, or others on the job site. In person, hands-on First Aid/CPR training can be found through local health and welfare organizations, educational institutions (credit or non-credit), and medical providers. OSHA in person courses can be found at local educational institutions (credit or non-credit), and in online formats through various educational institutions and commercial providers.
The First Aid Kit
First aid supplies are required to be easily accessible under paragraph Sec. 1926.50 (d)(1). An example of the minimal contents of a generic first aid kit is described in American National Standard (ANSI) Z308.1-1978 "Minimum Requirements for Industrial Unit-Type First-aid Kits". The contents of the kit listed in the ANSI standard should be adequate for small work sites. When larger operations or multiple operations are being conducted at the same location, employers should determine the need for additional first aid kits at the worksite, additional types of first aid equipment and supplies and additional quantities and types of supplies and equipment in the first aid kits.
If it is reasonably anticipated employees will be exposed to blood or other potentially infectious materials (OPIM) while using first-aid supplies, employers shall provide personal protective equipment (PPE). Appropriate PPE includes gloves, gowns, face shields, masks and eye protection.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
What is personal protective equipment?
Personal protective equipment , commonly referred to as "PPE", is equipment worn to minimize exposure to hazards that cause serious workplace injuries and illnesses. These injuries and illnesses may result from contact with chemical, radiological, physical, electrical, mechanical, or other workplace hazards. Personal protective equipment may include items such as gloves, safety glasses and shoes, earplugs or muffs, hard hats, respirators, or coveralls, vests and full body suits.
What can be done to ensure proper use of personal protective equipment?
All personal protective equipment should be safely designed and constructed, and should be maintained in a clean and reliable fashion. It should fit comfortably, encouraging worker use. If the personal protective equipment does not fit properly, it can make the difference between being safely covered or dangerously exposed. When engineering, work practice, and administrative controls are not feasible or do not provide sufficient protection, employers must provide personal protective equipment to their workers and ensure its proper use. Employers are also required to train each worker required to use personal protective equipment to know:
- When it is necessary
- What kind is necessary
- How to properly put it on, adjust, wear and take it off
- The limitations of the equipment
- Proper care, maintenance, useful life, and disposal of the equipment
If PPE is to be used, a PPE program should be implemented. This program should address the hazards present; the selection, maintenance, and use of PPE; the training of employees; and monitoring of the program to ensure its ongoing effectiveness.