Safety Bulletin
First Aid & CPR
Who
Must be Trained and When?
March 6, 2002
- Must an employer have individuals
trained to render first aid?
Answer:
Yes. The OSHA requirement in 29 CFR 1910.151(b) states, " In the absence of
an infirmary, clinic, or hospital in near proximity to the workplace which is used
for the treatment of all injured employees, a person or persons shall be adequately
trained to render first aid. Adequate first aid supplies shall be readily available."
Note: First/Aid CPR Training is available from
Telephone AT&S as part of our service.
- How close to a clinic must a
business be located to be in "near proximity" as listed in the law?
Answer: "In areas where a accidents
resulting in suffocation, severe bleeding, or other life-threatening or permanently
disabling injury or illness are likely, a 3 to 4 minute response time, from time of injury
to time of administering first aid is required.
Where
life threatening or permanently disabling injury is an unlikely outcome of an accident, a
longer response time, such as 15 minutes, is acceptable.
The
rationale for requiring a 4 minute response time is brain death when the heart or
breathing has stopped."
- Would a company of 10 to 25 be
exempt from compliance with first aid/CPR regulations because it is too small?
Answer:
"No, there are no exemptions from this regulation due to a company's size."
- If employees have been trained in
first aid, do they need to be designated or assigned first aid duties?
Answer:
"No, the regulation does not require employers to assign employees first aid duties.
(It does require training as listed above)"
- Does the bloodborne pathogen
standard apply to these individuals with first aid training?
Answer:
"Employees who are designated to provide first aid as a primary or collateral duty
are covered by the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard:
however,
employees who perform unanticipated 'good Samaritan acts' are excluded from coverage by
the standard, since such an action does not constitute 'occupational exposure'. "
AT&S NOTE: Answers above
are quoted from OSHA Regulation 29 CFR 1910.151(b) and OSHA letters of interpretation. All
materials quoted are available.
- How often must first aid training
be accomplished?
Answer: First aid
skills and knowledge should be reviewed every three years.
CPR has different requirements.
Reference: OSHA Directive CPL 2 – 2.53 Guidelines for First
Aid Programs
- Is CPR required as part of first
aid?
Answer:
For Inside and outside plant technicians CPR is required. (Reference: 1910.268(c
)
