Compared with recent years, this year has seen a dramatic decrease in the number of workplace fatalities. According to Safe Work Australia, as of December 16, 183 people have lost their lives in the workplace this year compared to 212 in 2012, 189 in 2013 and 187 in 2014.
While this is still a considerable number of people not going home from work, it does suggest that businesses are exercising smarter workplace safety management. However, accidents are never an impossible scenario, so it is important that your team understands how to support a workplace fall victim until emergency services arrive.
Here are three tips for responding to a workplace accident:
1. Secure the environment
While your response to a fall incident might depend on the location or serious nature of the injuries, one of the most important actions is to secure the environment so nobody else gets hurt. According to the Nonprofit Risk Management Center, all work must be stopped and other employees removed from the situation.
This ensures that, firstly, no other injuries can occur and, secondly, the event can be assessed in the right manner for the health of the victim.
2. Analyse the injuries
If you or another members of your team is first on the scene of the workplace fall, assessing the nature of the injuries is another vital step. As many working from heights accidents cause either broken bones, head knocks or internal bruising, the victim should not be moved if they can’t get up, as this can result in further damage.
If the situation is more serious – emergency services should be contacted immediately.
A first aid kit should be on hand to deal with minor injuries, but if the situation is more serious emergency services should be contacted immediately. The Nonprofit Risk Management Center said knowing your limits is key so reaching out for help in situations that you aren’t trained in.
3. Report evidence and information
Once the individual has either been treated or taken to the hospital, all evidence and information surrounding the event needs to be recorded for the investigation. All states and territories around Australia require employers to complete injury reports to determine who was at fault for the incident and whether the accident could have been prevented.
Safe Work Australia stated that any workplace emergency plan should include provisions for the post-incident follow-up process. This covers elements such as trauma counselling for the victim or other workers and speaking to the regulator.
If you want your team to be safe on the job, talk to the expert team at Anchor Safe Systems today.