Slips, trips and falls leap to mind when we think about medical emergencies at work. But life on the job can be stranger than fiction. Take this convenience store worker, whose medical accident surprised one and all. While repairing a broken security camera with superglue, he tested his work and accidentally affixed the lens to his eyelid. Arriving at the emergency room, staff believed he was filming their every move and told him to stop because it was against the rules.
“A whopping 2.5 million workplace medical emergencies happen yearly in the United States,” says Kevin Sullivan, President of Paul Davis Restoration of Northern Virginia. “Advance preparation is key to successfully handling medical events on the job. Focus your planning and action on five key areas.”
Yes, this really happened at work: A frozen fish flew off a conveyor belt at a seafood processing plant, struck an employee and knocked him out cold.
First, create an emergency plan tailored to your location and industry type. If you need help, Paul Davis Restoration will develop one free of charge. Sound plans address slips, trips, falls and accidental injuries; allergic reactions and sudden incapacitation; circulatory events (heart attacks and strokes); and contagion or outbreaks (such as a pandemic).
Yes, this really happened at work: An office worker suffered burns from sitting on a chair that had just been steam-cleaned.
Second, audit your location for safety violations, then correct hazards. Local emergency response personnel and safety organizations can help walk through and identify hazards.
Yes, this really happened at work: A fast-food worker seriously injured her neck as she rescued a falling bag of french fries.
Third, train staff in first aid and recognizing medical emergencies. Again, emergency response personnel from local municipalities and organizations like the Red Cross can help. Cover topics like choking, wound and burn treatment and CPR. Distribute the emergency plan and advise where employees can find emergency supplies.
Yes, this really happened at work: A noisy stapler startled an administrative assistant, who injured her neck when she involuntarily jumped away.
Fourth, equip your location with first aid resources. Station kits in key locations and stock them with emergency medications, bandages, disinfectant, gloves, masks and other first aid essentials. Consider the need for eyewash stations and lifesaving devices like an Automated External Defibrillator (AED).
Yes, this really happened at work: A helpful coworker fractured his hip while dislodging a colleague’s hand stuck in a snack vending machine.
Finally, designate a medical emergency team and assign roles and responsibilities. Some businesses find a four-person team is ideal. One person attends the injured party, a second communicates with emergency personnel, a third liaises with the victim’s loved ones and a fourth manages employee communications.
Need help developing an emergency response plan for your business? Call Paul Davis Restoration at 844-215-7898. “When things go wrong, we do what’s right.”
