Recently, one of our subscribers asked the following question:
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We have people on-site trained in first aid, CPR and AED use. Other than a hazard assessment, is there a way to decide how many people need to be trained at a site? We produce cabinets and doors and have about 630 employees.
This was our answer:
There is no requirement on how many workers are to be trained in first aid. OSHA’s standard for first aid training in general industry at 29 CFR 1910.151(b), provides:
In the absence of an infirmary, clinic, or hospital in near proximity to the workplace which is used for the treatment of all injured employees, a person or persons shall be adequately trained to render first aid. Adequate first aid supplies shall be readily available.
The primary requirement addressed by this standard is that an employer must ensure prompt first aid treatment for injured employees, either by providing for the availability of a trained first aid provider at the worksite, or by ensuring that emergency treatment services are within reasonable proximity of the worksite. The basic purpose is to assure that adequate first aid is available in the critical minutes between the occurrence of an injury and the availability of physician or hospital care for the injured employee.
According to this letter of interpretation, “near proximity” means that emergency care must be available within no more than 3-4 minutes from the workplace. The letter states that for worksites where serious injuries “such as those involving falls, suffocation, electrocution, or amputation are possible, emergency medical services must be available within 3-4 minutes, if there is no employee on the site who is trained to render first aid.”