Work-Related Injuries and How First Aid Training Can Help

 

According to the figures released by the Association of Workers' Compensation Boards of Canada (AWCBC), around 925 workplace fatalities occurred in Canada in 2019, with 29 cases involving young workers aged 15 to 24.

Let's look at common workplace injuries and how first aid training can help.

Falls From Great Heights

A fall from a great height is a leading cause of workplace injuries and accounts for over 18% of workplace fatalities in Canada. This is why fall protection training for employees is advised. In addition, injuries from heights tend to be quite severe. Thus, workers who sustain them need time off to heal, and others might evne succumb to them. Often, waiting for paramedics can result in a loss of life that could have been avoided.

Most fall victims require prompt first aid, for example, applying pressure to an open wound to stop continuous bleeding or applying a temporary bandage to a cracked bone while waiting for paramedics to arrive. Employees with first aid training from a reliable occupational first aid training provider can reduce the risk of such incidents.

Working With Heavy Machinery or in Confined Spaces

Workers are at a higher risk of being struck by falling objects if their profession requires them to interact with cranes, forklifts, or similar machinery in confined spaces. In such a scenario, it is the responsibility of the employer to supply workers with appropriate safety gear.

In such a case, it is the employer's responsibility to provide workers with suitable safety equipment. Even so, that is not sufficient. Working in confined places requires first aid training and workplace safety training in an emergency. For example, assume a coworker collapses owing to a lack of ventilation in the area—CPR would be useful before the paramedics arrive.

Contusions, Concussions, Slips, and Trips

Nearly 42,000 falls occur annually in the workplace, which is not surprising given that many labor-intensive jobs often need employees to move heavy equipment from one location to another.

Therefore, it is the responsibility of the employer to eliminate any potential trip hazards and to provide appropriate safety gear for all employees. However, if such accidents do occur, timely first aid can go a long way. For example, if an employee gets a concussion, coworkers should be able to recognize the signs and call for immediate assistance.

Employees may become unwell at their employment unexpectedly in many circumstances; this could be due to excessive stress or health issues; detecting the problem and treating it immediately can prevent many catastrophic losses. 

First aid training courses raise employee awareness of avoiding workplace mishaps and keeping themselves and others safe. Such health safety programs reduce the amount of work-related incidents that might result in mild and severe injuries. It also benefits employees and employers by reducing employee absenteeism and improving workplace productivity and corporate operations.

First Aid Training Courses in Coquitlam, BC

If reading this makes you determined to train your employees on basic first aid knowledge, get in touch with Metro Safety. They offer a variety of occupational first aid courses in BC.

Contact them for further information.