October is National Safe Work Month - A month dedicated to raising awareness about WHS (work health and safety).
This National Safe Work Month, Safe Work Australia theme is 'for everyone’s safety, work safely'. It encourages individuals and organisations to prioritise safety in the workplace, because protecting workers’ mental health is just as important as protecting their physical health.
Individuals, their families and the broader community are all impacted by work related injury and illness. Safe Work Australia data shows that around 169 people died while doing their job in 2021 and there were around 130,195 serious workers’ compensation claims made in 2020-21.
At FastAid, we'd like to take this opportunity to discuss how we're helping the workplace community to be safer, and what steps can be taken to avoid preventable work place injury.
FastAid has established a simple model to demonstrate the three aspects essential to delivering effective first aid.
We call this CPR3. Comply. Prepare. Respond.
Put simply, CPR3 is like a three-legged stool. With a leg (or pillar) missing, the platform collapses. The same principle applies for workplace first aid.
The need to comply exists to ensure workplaces are properly prepared and can effectively and quickly respond to first aid emergencies.
Pillar 1: Comply
There is a purpose for compliance. It is not just box ticking. Rules and regulations exist to set benchmarks so that workplaces are safe and prepared, ready to respond.
- No one can argue with compliance. Responsibility cannot be delegated. The PCBU (Person Conducting Business or Undertaking) is always ultimately responsible.
- What is the cost of non-compliance? Consider health, financial and company reputation aspects (internally and externally)
- It’s not just a duty of care, it’s a culture of care. This sends a message to employees, customers, and stakeholders.
Pillar 2: Prepare
- Simplicity and consistency will make things happen. Constantly look at how first aid can be simplified.
- Accessibility and placement are essential to enable quick response in first aid emergencies.
- First Aid Kits must be clearly visible with effective sign marking to locate quickly.
Pillar 3: Respond
Enabling the fastest possible response to an emergency is crucial. It Is important that first aid kits are user friendly and designed to simplify emergency response.
- Any responder needs to know what to do. Injury action plans must be an integrated part of any first aid kit to provide emergency assistance while under pressure.
- First aid contents must be easily identifiable in an emergency, not only to the first aider but to those assisting.
- First aid systems must make it easy for the responder to act fast. Contents must be easy to locate and easy to use to provide reassurance for responders when under pressure.
Act now to be prepared
It is essential that every workplace considers the three aspects of FastAid’s CPR3 model to be truly first aid ready. Conduct a simple review today using the CPR3 framework and you will immediately identify areas of improvement for your workplace.
If you would like to chat further to our team to discuss how you can conduct a CPR3 audit in your workplace we're here to help!
Your complete guide to Workplace First Aid Compliance
We have a handy guide to all things workplace first aid here if you're looking for more information on your first aid compliance requirements.
Not sure what first aid kits or equipment you need for your size workplace? The team at FastAid are industry experts and can help with any questions you may have around first aid. You can get in touch with us here!
Want to get involved this National Safe Work Month?
Head to Safe Work Australia for more information on how your workplace can get involved.