The guidelines provided by OSHA can sometimes be confusing and conflicting. This can create a challenge for employers or supervisors trying to ensure compliance. Additionally, suppliers may attempt to sell products or services that are not necessary, leading to further confusion.
Non-compliance with OSHA regulations can result in criminal and civil liability for employers or supervisors. As a result, it’s crucial to understand and follow the guidelines to avoid legal consequences.
Regarding OSHA violations, medical and first aid issues are among the most frequently cited. Employers and supervisors must prioritize workplace safety, including having appropriate OSHA first aid kit measures to address any possible incidents.
OSHA first aid requirements
To ensure OSHA compliance, businesses must identify applicable regulations and regulatory authority. OSHA is a sub-agency of the U.S. Department of Labor that sets workplace safety standards and conducts inspections to enforce them. Violations can result in fines.
While federal OSHA sets national standards, states may have their own OSHA equivalent, and compliance may be required at both levels. Some states have more stringent regulations, such as California’s Cal/OSHA, than federal OSHA. It’s essential to check federal and state regulations for guidance, as they may have separate industry rules.
OSHA standards can be challenging to understand, as they have been modified and revised over time. Private publishers offer OSHA books that can provide interpretations and guidance for implementation. Choosing a book with explicit indexing and diagrams is essential, and some publishers offer state-specific editions and updates.
Investing in a comprehensive OSHA book or CD can be a wise career move and help prevent fines for non-compliance. Understanding OSHA codes is crucial for avoiding violations.
What contents should be in a first aid kit according to OSHA requirements?
OSHA’s regulations, specifically 1904.7(b)(5)(ii), define first aid as a range of treatments, from the application of wound coverings like bandages to administering tetanus immunizations or using irrigation or cotton swabs to remove foreign objects from the eye. Because of the broad scope of treatments that qualify as an OSHA approved first aid kit, OSHA does not have specific requirements for first-aid kit contents.
However, the agency’s Best Practices Guide: Fundamentals of a Workplace First-Aid Program guides first aid kit essentials. The guide advises employers to designate a person responsible for selecting, maintaining, and monitoring the types and quantities of first aid supplies.
To help employers get started, OSHA recommends following the American National Standard ANSI/ISEA Z308.1-2015, “Minimum Requirements for Workplace First-aid Kits.” This standard outlines a list of suggested OSHA requirements for first aid kits, including adhesive bandages, antibiotic applications, antiseptics, breathing barriers, burn dressings, cold packs, eye coverings, a first aid guide, hand sanitizer, medical exam gloves, roller bandages, scissors, splints, sterile pads, tourniquets, trauma pads, and triangular bandages.
Employers can ensure that their workplace is prepared to handle medical emergencies and prevent workplace injuries by having a well-stocked first aid kit.
Training for first aid
Regarding first aid training, OSHA’s standards are broad and do not specify any particular program or level of expertise for compliance. Instead, more specific training requirements are outlined in standards for industries such as permit-required confined spaces, commercial diving operations, logging operations, electric power, shipyard employment, and construction, which have specialized nature.
For instance, the permit-required confined spaces (1910.146) standard mandates employers to train affected employees in basic first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). At least one rescue team or service member holding a current certification in both is also required. In commercial diving operations (1910.410), all dive team members must receive CPR and first aid training, following the American Red Cross standard course or its equivalent.
The logging operations, electric power, and construction standards are more detailed. According to Appendix B of 1910.266 (Logging Operations), employees must be trained in first aid and CPR through conventional methods such as lectures, demonstrations, practical exercises, and written and practical exams.
The training should be long enough for trainees to demonstrate their ability to perform procedures such as patient assessment and first aid for conditions like respiratory or cardiac arrest, hemorrhage, lacerations/abrasions, musculoskeletal injuries, etc. Additionally, they must be able to perform CPR, apply dressings and slings, immobilize injured persons, and handle and transport them, among other things.
Conclusion
Complying with OSHA first aid kit requirements ensures workplace safety and avoids legal consequences. While OSHA does not have specific requirements for first aid kit contents, the agency recommends following the American National Standard ANSI/ISEA Z308.1-2015 for suggested contents.
It’s essential to identify applicable regulations and regulatory authority, including state-specific rules that may be more stringent than federal OSHA. Employers and supervisors must prioritize workplace safety and ensure their employees receive appropriate first-aid training when needed.