May 20 to 26 is National EMS Week, which is a great time to honor the valiant work of our emergency medical services personnel. It’s also a good time for training on the use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs)—for those times when even the few minutes it may take for EMS to arrive could mean the difference between life and death.
Let your workers know that while there are no specific OSHA regulations concerning the use of AEDs in the workplace, OSHA’s medical and first-aid standard (29 CFR 1910.151) does require that in the absence of an infirmary, clinic, or hospital in proximity to the workplace that is used for the treatment of all injured employees, a person or persons must be adequately trained to render first aid. Adequate first-aid supplies must also be readily available.
In addition, OSHA recommends that all workplaces be equipped with AEDs and that AEDs be located around the facility so that they can be reached within 3 to 5 minutes when needed. OSHA recommends locating AEDs in:
- Areas where many people work closely together, such as assembly lines and offices
- Areas close to confined spaces
- Areas where electric-powered devices are used
- Outdoor worksites where lightning may occur
- On-site nurse’s/doctor’s office, where workers may seek treatment for heart attack symptoms
- Workplace fitness units and cafeterias
- Remote sites, such as construction projects
Show your workers where in your facility AEDs are located. If you have a facility map, point out the locations. If your department or work area is small, take the group to where the AED is located.
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Explain what AEDs are and how they work. AEDs are computerized devices that can check a person’s heart rhythm.
- They are compact, lightweight, portable, battery operated, safe, and easy to use.
- They can recognize a rhythm that requires a shock and advise the rescuer when a shock is needed.
- They can also recognize when a person does not require a shock and will not give one.
- AEDs use voice prompts, lights, and text messages to instruct the rescuer about what steps should be taken.
- Fully automated defibrillators deliver a shock without prompting the user to press a shock button.
Assure your workers that AEDs are easy to use, and anyone can be taught to use one. Although even an untrained person can operate an AED, it is recommended that users complete a short training program—such programs are available in most communities. Formal training will make users familiar with the features of the AED and give them confidence to operate the device successfully in an emergency situation. AED training includes:
- Recognition of sudden cardiac arrest symptoms
- How to notify emergency response personnel
- How to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
- How to operate an AED effectively
- How to care for victims until emergency medical personnel arrive
If possible, you may want to bring in a qualified AED trainer to conduct training in this session. Or you can refer workers to local agencies that provide training.
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If this is just an overview session, give these general AED guidelines to your workers:
- Before a shock is given, move the victim to a dry area, and remove any wet clothing.
- The victim’s skin must be dry or the electrode pads won’t adhere properly to the skin.
- At no time should anyone touch the victim while the shock is being administered.
- After the AED delivers a shock, it will usually prompt the operator to continue CPR while the device continues to analyze the victim. CPR helps to circulate oxygen-rich blood to the brain.
Encourage workers with the stories under "Why It Matters" about how AEDs save lives.
Why It Matters
- A 41-year-old worker at a manufacturer of heating and air-conditioning systems suffered a sudden cardiac arrest at work. After three shocks with an AED and CPR administered by co-workers, he was revived within 4 minutes. By the time EMS personnel arrived, he had been resuscitated and survived the incident.
- A 62-year-old employee of a coatings, glass, and chemical manufacturer suffered a sudden cardiac arrest after walking up the stairs to her office. Employees in the next office heard her fall and notified the plant emergency response team. She was defibrillated and saved in less than 2 minutes.
- An employee at an automobile manufacturer was working on the production line when he suddenly collapsed, lost consciousness, and stopped breathing. Plant security responded, and after two shocks with an AED, the employee’s heart responded, and his pulse returned. He survived, thanks to the fast actions of his co-workers and the company’s emergency response plan, which included AED installation and training.