Going to work in the office may seem like an ordinary, and relatively safe thing to do daily. Much more so when one’s job doesn’t immediately pose any threat. However, employees must still prepare for certain risks. At any time that an accident can occur, who does one turn to for medical assistance? As it is a legal requirement to ensure your employees’ safety, we will discuss 5 benefits of taking an occupational first aid course in Singapore.
What is the safety legal requirement in the workplace to appoint an occupational first aider in Singapore?
The Singapore law mandates that there be an appointed occupational first aider in the office. As stated in the Workplace Safety and Health (First-Aid) Regulations, if there are more than 25 employees in a workplace, it is mandated that there be appointed a first aider. For 100 employees in the workplace, the manager should appoint 1 first aider. They must maintain this ratio regardless of changes in shift schedules.
This person must be readily available during work hours and have successfully completed a training course approved and accepted by the Commissioner. In addition, they will have to go through subsequent first aid training if required by the Commissioner. These appointed first raiders must be duly listed and affixed in every workplace and must have a record of all treatment they rendered.
Who can be appointed as an occupational first aider?
Employees must meet the following criteria before being able to be the appointed occupational first aider:
- Physically fit
- Responsible
- Able to respond in case of an emergency
There must always be a first aider present in the premises and have their name displayed somewhere for everyone to see in case of an emergency.
What are the main duties and responsibilities of an occupational first aider?
Appointed first aiders must not only tend to those affected by the accident but must also navigate the hazards of the workplace as they assess the situation. They must rule out any danger first before checking the casualty’s response. Initial action should involve ensuring the steady breathing of the victim, clearing clogged airways, and monitoring breathing, circulation, and pulse. After treatment is provided, they are to hand over the patient to medical personnel and provide all relevant information. They should keep a record of the treatment as well.
Along with that, first aiders should maintain the workplace’s first-aid boxes and keep track of its contents. Making sure no supplies are low or missing, and that everything is in excellent, working condition is the main task. In addition, they must also do regular audits to ensure compliance with MOM standards.
Benefits of taking an occupational first aid course
Now that we understand the technical terms behind occupational first aid training, we will now investigate the benefits. With that, here are five benefits of taking an occupational first aid course in Singapore.
1. Faster Emergency Response
In the event of an emergency, an employee who is quick on their feet can act faster and save lives. Because the employee is trained in first aid, they will understand that time is precious and will be able to take the necessary precautions in case of an incident. This increases their confidence in stepping in and doing what they can while waiting for medical personnel to arrive. A quick response time reduces the severity and can drastically change the outcome of the situation.
2. Raise Awareness and Reduce Accidents
First aid training helps employees be more conscious of the environment around them and the risks a certain task can have. Because of this, this reduces the possibility of accidents from happening. Minimizing the risks through education and first aid training helps everyone not only be prepared for an incident but could even save a lot of time and resources by making sure it doesn’t even occur in the first place.
3. More Positive Work Environment
By making first aid training mandatory, employers prove that they care about their employees’ welfare, providing a safe work environment for them. Moreover, first aid training can even be a great team building exercise for your employees to help boost morale. And with high morale, it can then result in positive output in the workplace, contributing to the overall success of your business.
4. Reduce Recovery Time
Since employees who underwent first aid training are taught to act fast and efficiently, this not only reduces the severity of the injury, but reduces the time it takes to recover as well. Rapid reaction to illness or injury saves lives both literally, and figuratively by shortening the recovery period of any affected. This also means that any injured employee can report back to the office more quickly.
5. Keeps Employees Safe Even Outside the Office
Lastly, since your employees are much more knowledgeable when it comes to keeping safe and knowing what to do in the event of an emergency, this will help keep them safe outside of the workplace as well. This makes first aid training paramount, as these skills are now for life. They will carry what they learned wherever they go and will be able to tend to themselves or the people around them in the absence of medical assistance.
Conclusion
Providing your business and employees with the extra security blanket such as first aid, CPR and use of AED training is an investment you can never replace. Not only is it affordable, training grants by Skillsfuture Singapore are also available to offset part of the cost. Advance Safe offers various first aid training courses that are sure to cover every ground on preparedness and safety. Visit our website or contact us via (+65) 6252 4456 to schedule your first aid training today!
