Why quality First Aid training is critical to any workplace health and safety strategy
In my 20 years of working with clients in just about every industry, from manufacturing, construction and industrial to health and government, a lot has changed in the way Australian businesses approach workplace safety. From improvements to workplace legislation in high-risk industries to increased accessibility to services and support, it seems that most of us are on the same page about the rights of workers to be protected from harm on the job.
What’s yet to change, however, is the tendency to view First Aid training as a cost or simply a “compliance issue”, rather than an integral part of the safety strategy and an investment. When you look at time and money lost every year from workplace injuries, this view doesn’t really add up.
A visit to SafeWorkAustralia.com.au reveals that work related injury and disease costs the Australian economy $61.8 billion per year, and with a further $480 million paid out each year for work-related mental disorders.
With numbers like these, I am continually surprised when otherwise progressive, high-risk industry businesses view first aid training as an activity that they must do and will look for the cheapest, quickest avenue. Some employers can’t see how investing a little more time and money on workplace contextualised First Aid training makes good business sense; not only from an ethical perspective, but also from a long-term strategic standpoint.
If the evolved role of workplace safety is to prevent harm and reduce impact, empowering workers with quality first aid training should be viewed as critical. Many of the market leading businesses I work with consider First Aid training is an integral component of their safety strategy.
An industry-leading RTO, delivering workplace contextualised training will make the difference in a workplace safety incident. When delivered by experienced nurses and paramedics, who understand the ins and outs of a first aid emergency, First Aid training becomes more than ‘compliance’, or rote-learning, but more about competence and preparedness: the confidence of the first aider to act swiftly, and manage an incident effectively, in a way that meets the needs of the victim, those present, as well as the workplace.
Ensuring the scene, including the victim and any bystanders, are treated appropriately with due caution and respect, benefits not only the workers who drive your business but your business itself, by helping you minimise, where possible, the physical and emotional harm associated with workplace injuries and the heavy costs that go with them.
While it’s not possible to put a number on the lives who could have been saved through quality First Aid training, it’s my hope that this shift in thinking from ‘cost and compliance” to ‘investment’ will one day show great returns for not only Australian workers and their families, but workplaces too.
Here’s what people are saying about Premium Health’s First Aid and CPR training:
“I would like to let you know that I really enjoyed the training yesterday and the trainer was very hands on, had great stories and kept us all engaged all day. Very hard to do since I have been doing this training for the last 20 odd years”
“In the past I avoided any first aid situations preferring to get someone else to do the first aid. Whilst I hope I never have to use these skills, Fridays workshop has certainly given me the knowledge and more importantly the confidence to deal with a First Aid situation. Thank You.”
“Thank you for the CPR training. I had an occasion two days later where a patient collapsed at work and I felt confident to assess the patient and perform CPR if needed. Fortunately, the patient had a good outcome.”