Workplace accidents and injuries can have a negative impact on a business. From the loss of productivity to increased absenteeism and reduced staff morale, accidents and injuries in the workplace lead to serious consequences and might even lead to temporary or permanent closure. These occupational accidents can be prevented if workplaces comply with the relevant health and safety standards.
Looking at the numbers from the annual reports of SafeWork Australia, it’s quite alarming to note that 120,000 people lodged serious claims in 2019 and 2020. And in that same period, a total of 194 cases of work-related injury fatalities were recorded. The numbers may be a fraction of the millions of employees working in high-risk industries, but the fact can’t be denied that there are workers who suffered from work-related injuries.
The value of occupational first aid courses can’t be discounted when it comes to workplace safety, and we’ll talk about all that and more in this article.
Defining Work Health and Safety Accidents
Before we discuss the value of workplace first aid training, let us first look into what constitutes a work health and safety accident or incident. Under the Work Health and Safety Acts, any event that exposes a worker or any person to a serious risk to health and safety is a notifiable workplace incident. A “near miss” event, where no actual injury occurs, may still be considered a workplace incident.
Occupational accidents include the death of a worker, a serious injury or illness of a worker or any person, and a dangerous incident arising out of a conduct of a business or an undertaking at a workplace. Workplace incidents also include serious injuries and illnesses that require immediate medical treatment in a hospital and immediate treatment for the following:
– amputation of a person’s body part
– serious head injury
– serious eye injury
– spinal injury
– loss of certain bodily functions
– major burn
– serious lacerations
– separation of skin from the underlying tissue
– infection transmitted to a person as a result of them carrying out work-related activities
– exposure to a substance
Identifying the Most Common Workplace Accidents
Occupational accidents require time off work. In this section, let’s take a look at the most common workplace accidents that befall workers and how they can be avoided with workplace health and safety training.
1. Muscular Stress
Muscular stress is the most common injury in workplaces across Australia, with 40% of workers reportedly experiencing it. Workers are at risk of muscular stress while lifting or handling heavy objects. With the right training and supervision, they can avoid this.
High-risk industries should require their workers to have a white card confirming they underwent training to identify workplace hazards and know how to carry out their tasks safely.
2. Falls
Workers require proper training and safety equipment before working at heights. Among workers who work at height, around six per cent get injured after falling. Those who have simply tripped over something constitute ten to sixteen per cent.
In workplace health and safety training, supervisors and workers alike learn how to maintain a tidy environment with no tripping hazards. They also learn how to administer first aid in occupational first aid courses.
3. Getting hit by falling objects
Falling objects in the workplace can cause workers to suffer from severe trauma. As a result, they may not be able to work for months. Worse, they may no longer be able to return to work. With workplace health and safety training, all this can be prevented.
Engaging Employees in Occupational First Aid Courses
High-risk work environments expect more accidents and injuries than low-risk ones. That’s why it’s especially crucial for employers from such high-risk workplaces to ensure the safety of their employees.
In this section, we’ll look at the ways that occupational first aid training can make workplaces a lot safer.
Emergency Preparedness
Although a workplace may be low-risk, minor incidents (cuts, burns, bruises) may still occur. And when it comes to emergency preparedness, a first aid box on site just won’t cut it. Any workplace can benefit from having qualified personnel who can administer first aid and treat injuries.
In simple terms, first aid is not only stocking up piles of medicine and other first aid supplies in a box. It’s about giving immediate emergency care to injured or unwell persons before medical assistance arrives. And it takes a qualified person, not a mere first aid box, to aid in recovery and manage injuries onsite.
A workplace needs employees who can detail what’s in a first aid box and know how to use first aid equipment properly. By enrolling them in first aid courses, they will not only know what’s in the kit but also how to use it during emergencies.
Enhanced Workplace Safety
Employees can help minimise risks and reduce incidents when they become more aware of safe practices. And how else do they become more safety-conscious than in an occupational first aid course? Apart from giving employees the skills to administer first aid correctly, a first aid course also gives them an improved sense of safety.
With the confidence and awareness of how to manage an emergency effectively, employees can reduce repeat accidents in the workplace. A workplace with enhanced safety is sure to enjoy increased morale and productivity.
First Aid in the Workplace
It’s a legal requirement for businesses across the country to ensure their employees are protected at work. Employees should receive immediate attention when an accident happens. While some workplaces are safer than others, accidents can still occur at any time.
And when accidents do occur, first aiders are the ones to take immediate action to preserve a life. By attending first aid training, employees can learn valuable techniques, strategies, and thought processes to help casualties. They will be trained to administer first aid to colleagues who are in shock, bleeding or unconscious, or having an asthma attack.
At the Australian Training Institute, we offer occupational first aid courses to equip employees with the skills and knowledge to respond to emergencies in the workplace. For further details on our courses, explore our website or get in touch with our team.
Australian Training Institute‘s campus is located in 7/51 Brighton Rd, Sandgate QLD 4017 and is just a few minutes away from the Deagon, Brighton, Virginia, Clontarf, Brendale, Strathpine and Chermside.
