Accident Prevention and Safety, Essay Example

While some people believe that first aid training is not an important training factor for employees, I believe that it is essential. Accidents can occur anytime, anywhere, and especially in the presence of potentially hazardous machinery and chemicals, so it is essential that employees be trained in at least basic first aid protocols in order to help themselves and others should the need arise. Some institutions believe that it is more worthwhile to invest the time and effort in training only specific individuals to perform this type of duty, however, it is important to consider that people with specialized training will not always be available when accidents occur. As a consequence, having more people with first aid training available means that first line response can happen more quickly and potentially prevent medical situations from becoming direr (Goetsch, 2009).

The types of the job hazards that can result in the need for first aid depend on the specific position of the individual. Jobs that require operation of machinery can result in burns because the equipment could get hot and employees could risk burning themselves if they are either not using protection or have damaged protective gear. In laboratories, the most likely risks are accidents related to chemicals in addition to physical cuts if knives are used. It is therefore important to know how to clean the wound and protect it from getting worse. If further medical assistance is needed, the first aid knowledge will benefit the individual who got hurt because they will be in substantially less physical pain while waiting for help to arrive. Furthermore, in the case of cuts and burns which are typically considered to be non-fatal, application of peroxide and creams will help prevent against infection (YoExpert, n.d.). It is important to take injuries in the workplace seriously, and training individuals in first aid is the only way to ensure that the workplace remains safe for all.

References

Goetsch DL. (2009). Occupational Safety and Health for Technologists, Engineers, and Managers, seventh edition.

YoExpert. (n.d.). What is the importance of first aid basics? Retrieved from http://first-  aid.yoexpert.com/first-aid-general/what-is-the-importance-of-first-aid-basics-38664.html