Having a solid first aid kit is an essential component of any company’s safety plan. Although you never want to use them, it’s vital that you have them.
3 Biggest Mistakes Companies Make Regarding Safety Supplies
Having the right supplies can even be the difference between life and death. Unfortunately, in 2020 employers reported 2.7 million injury and illness cases.
You never know when emergencies might occur, but you can be prepared with the right toolkit and training.
Why Workplace Safety Matters
You might associate workplace safety with labor-intensive, hazardous jobs, but the truth is that safety matters in every single workplace. While some work environments require special considerations such as personal protective equipment, every office should make safety a priority.
Even corporate offices pose a risk of cardiac arrest, choking, and other medical emergencies.
It is important for employees and employers alike to take occupational safety seriously. As an employee, you need to be prepared to keep yourself and your coworkers safe. As a manager or business owner, it’s up to you to make your workplace a safe place to protect your employees and your operations.
Creating a Safety Supply Kit
A well-stocked safety kit is a necessity for every company. A successful safety kit ensures you are prepared for as many potential scenarios as possible. From minor injury treatment like bandages and ice packs to emergency devices like AEDs, there are lots of supplies that you may need.
There are some items that every single first aid kit should include, but kits can be tailored based on the type of company you have and your unique needs. You might want to ask yourself the following questions while shopping for safety supplies…
- What kind of hazards do employees encounter at the company?
- Have any injuries occurred in the past? What supplies are needed to treat them?
- How large is the company? What quantity of each supply is needed?
- Are there dangers associated with the workplace locale, such as earthquakes or tornadoes?
- Are there children at the workplace? (Pediatric emergency supplies might be necessary for daycares and similar companies.)
You should keep all safety supplies in an easily accessible, convenient spot. Ensure all employees know where to find the supplies and how to report any emergencies. Be sure to keep all employees in the loop with any updates or changes to the supply kit.
Top 3 Safety Supply Mistakes
It can be tricky to make a safety plan with so many important considerations. If you’re in the process of creating a safety kit for your company, read through the following common errors to learn what not to do.
Mistake 1: Not purchasing an AED
OSHA cites that around 10,000 sudden cardiac arrests occur at work each year in the United States. In the event of sudden cardiac arrest, defibrillation greatly increases the victim’s odds of survival, but it is essential that they receive treatment immediately.
Having an AED on-site––and adequate AED training––means that employees won’t need to wait for emergency responders to arrive to intervene. Those few precious moments make all the difference.
However, many companies don’t consider AEDs when purchasing safety supplies for business use. Though it might seem like an unnecessary or expensive purchase, every workplace can benefit from having an AED in its supply kit. The devices are relatively simple to use and extremely effective. They’re designed to be portable, so they are compact and easy to store.
Typically they are placed in the lobby or an area where everyone can see them. That way, both your employees and customers know you’re committed to safety. The AED is THE one item that can make a huge difference in the case of cardiac arrest. You will always be grateful you had quick access to an AED if you need one.
They will remind your employees how to perform CPR and greatly improve the chances of survival in case of a cardiac arrest. Typically they are placed in the lobby or an area where everyone can see them.
Mistake 2: Forgetting supply maintenance
Another crucial step that many companies understandably forget is kit maintenance. The job isn’t complete once you’ve gathered your safety supplies and set them up in the office: you should plan to give the first aid kit a regular checkup.
If you aren’t regularly checking the kit, you run the risk of not having the supplies you need in the event of an emergency. Every few months, you should check that everything in the kit is in working order. These are a few of the things to look out for…
- Check expiration dates and replace any expired products
- Replace any missing or used supplies
- Confirm that batteries are working
- Test AEDs and any other electronic devices
Mistake 3: Skipping over training
Having safety supplies without proper training is like having ingredients without a recipe. Safety supplies are only helpful if you know how to use them––so don’t skip over training! Even the most robust first aid kit is useless if no one can use the supplies inside.
In an emergency, every second counts. You can’t afford to waste time trying to determine when to use a breathing barrier or how to properly stop major bleeding.CPR and first aid training can prepare your team to act quickly and effectively should someone need help.
CPR and first aid training
Safety training has many benefits for the workplace. It does more than just equip employees with safety knowledge and skills: it gives everyone peace of mind. Knowing that your team is prepared helps everyone feel safer and more comfortable at work, boosting productivity and efficiency. Group training is also a fantastic opportunity for team building.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Lacy Miller
