First Aid Procedure - Essay Example

First aid involves the use of non-prescription drugs, massage, removal of debris from the eyes, and drinking fluids to relieve heat stress. First aid should be carried out by trained personnel, and again, with the consent of the injured victim (Thygerson, Gulli, and Krohmer 6).

            First aid in the construction industry is essential since it helps in preserving life. It also facilitates preventing an illness or injury from worsening and promotes recovery. The construction industry is recognized as the chief economic force in some countries, like Malaysia, yet, it is leading in the most hazardous industries (Civitello 315). The department of labor in the United States requires that all employees, including those in the construction industry, be provided with a healthy and safe working environment that is free from occupational hazards (OSHA 2). Construction jobs are tiring and strenuous, thus, the risk of minor injury occurrence is very high.  Contractors’ injuries vary, yet, their first aid requirements are simple. Employers are supposed to furnish first aid and supplies to provide the hazards of the workplace.

 First aid procedure in a construction industry

            In the construction industry, workers are prone to many and varied musculoskeletal injuries when undertaking their work, which is tiresome and strenuous. The social security organization report in 2000 shows that fatality rates in the Malaysian construction industry were 3 times more as compared to any other workplace. This led to the creation of the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) in 1994 to provide protection and health for work activities in all workplaces by preventing hazards (OSHA 2). These injuries include head injuries, fractures, spinal cord injuries, dislocations, strains, sprains, and chest injuries (Schottky and Aaos 305). Before treating musculoskeletal injuries, there is a requirement to recognize their signs and symptoms. A first aider should also know the difference between closed and open injuries since construction workers are likely to suffer closed injuries that are internal. These injuries result from falls, being hit by falling debris, and electricity.

 In the construction industry, the first aider risks his life trying to help an injured person if the first aid procedure is not followed. The first aid procedure should be followed by all the employees and employers in the workplace. The employer, according to OSHA regulations, should provide a first aid kit with all the supplies and trained personnel to administer the first aid if the need arises (OSHA 2). The first aider should always ensure his safety first before trying to give first aid (Red Cross American 4). After ensuring that it is safe to administer first aid, the first aider should attend to the injured or ill person. The first aider is obliged to obtain first aid assistance, for example, from the nearby hospital or health center (Thygerson, Gulli, and Krohmer 17). The first aider should remain with the victim until assistance arrives (ambulance or the vehicle taking the injured person to the hospital): 1) Help the injured person to fill in an injury or accident form; 2) Fill in a witness form if necessary; 3) The employer should make sure that the supplies used during the first aid are replaced.

Checklist

 A checklist is prepared as a guideline to determine whether the legislations required by OSHA have been met and whether the employer is providing a healthy and safe working environment for the workers. It helps in investigations when touring construction sites (Civitello 49). The checklist captures the employee’s ages, gender, education levels, position in the construction company, employment, and experiences. It also evaluates the significance of the hazards found at the construction site, as 1) acceptable, 2) acceptable with minor changes, 3)acceptable with major changes and 4) unacceptable requiring demarcation.

Ranking criteria

Rank

Definition

1.

Unacceptable. Demarcate.

2.

Acceptable. Requires major changes.

3.

Acceptable. Minor changes are required.

4.

Acceptable.

                                                                        Checklist

Name and location of the construction industry.

Hazard assessment.

a.      Jobs did.

b.     Work processes.

c.      Equipment used.

d.     Tools involved.

e.      Chemicals involved.

f.      materials involved.

Types of hazards likely to.

a.      Common Hazards based on the type of work done.

i.                 Hazards at construction sites involved in the work of the infrastructure.

ii.               Hazards involving construction sites in housing development.

iii.             Hazards in construction sites involving high-rise buildings.

iv.             Hazards at the construction sites involved in industrial buildings.

v.               Hazards at the construction sites involved in institutional building.

b.     Hazards that require additional care and attention.

i.                 Scaffold.

ii.               Power access equipment.

iii.             Ladder.

iv.             Roof works.

v.               Manual handling.

vi.             Plant and machinery.

vii.            Excavation.

viii.          Fire and emergency.

ix.             Hazardous substances.

x.               Noise.

xi.             Protective clothing.

xii.            Protecting the public.

Gender of the workers.

a.      Male

b.     Female.

Position of the employees.

a.      Managers.

b.     Professionals.

c.      Skilled manual employees.

d.     Semi-skilled manual employees.

Age of the workers.

a.      18-35 years old.

b.     36-50 years old.

c.      50 years old and above.

Types of injuries likely to occur (common and complicated).

a.      Open injuries.

b.      Closed injuries.

Education level of the workers.

a.      None to Primary level.

b.     Secondary level.

c.      College level.

d.     Degree and above.

A number of workers per shift.

a.      Day shift.

b.     Night shift.

Required first aid.

a.      Trained personnel.

b.     First Aid Kits.

c.      Supplies as essential to OSHA.

Blockades to First Aid.

Protection actions put in place.

a.      Protection clothes.

b.     Notices.

c.      Guard rails.

Summary of findings.

a. Workplace environment.

b.     Common hazards at the construction site.

Action required or recommendations.

Date:

Name and Signature.