Training in first aid for a safe workplace

Under current workplace safety laws, your business must provide a safe and hygienic environment for its staff and contractors and must also provide facilities for managing accidents or injuries. That's where training in first aid comes in, as it forms a key part of your emergency response.

The basics of training in first aid

"Each company's safety officer, who runs the OH&S committee, must hold a current first aid certificate," says Janelle Morris, of Southern IML Pathology.

Janelle says training in first aid for the workplace focuses on equipping staff with the skills to manage accidents and injuries until medical aid arrives.

Typically, in training for first aid they learn how to:

• perform CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation)
• control bleeding
• identify and manage severe allergic reactions
• manage fits and faints
• immobilise a fracture
• control infection
• care for an unconscious person
• manage eye or ear injuries, especially splash burns

Training in first aid tailored to your business needs

"First aid needs will differ from business to business," Janelle says. "A childcare centre may be more concerned about choking, asthma and food allergies, or dealing with scrapes, grazes and fractures.

"But in a laboratory, you are more likely to deal with needlestick injuries, splashes to eyes, or perhaps crush injuries."

An organisation offering training in first aid should be able to recommend training to suit the specific needs of your business.

How long do training in first aid courses take?

"A training in first aid organisation like St John Ambulance conducts basic training in first aid courses over two days," says Janelle, but she points out that specialised first aid training services and courses can take longer.

"For example, we can teach people how to take blood. I would expect my students to have a week of self-learning before spending two days of face-to-face training."

Pathology Certificate III

A pathology certificate is relevant to medical businesses, like doctors' surgeries, hospitals and laboratories, and has two main aspects.

"One is taking samples, such as a blood sample, an ECG, a breathing test or skin scraping, and processing them ready for the laboratory," says Janelle. "The second is specialising in pathology assistance, for people who work in a laboratory, or couriers who do limited laboratory work."

Janelle points out, however, that in Australia, holding a pathology certificate is not a legal requirement of doing this type of work.

First aid training services and your business

Specialist first aid training services can help you comply with your first aid obligations and ensure a safe workplace. So give your staff the first aid training they need to handle any medical emergencies that may arise.

Contact a first aid training services expert in your area to improve the first aid training services in your workplace: