No matter how many health and safety procedures your employment has in place, there is always still a risk of accidents happening in the workplace. Some emergencies are unavoidable and can cause injury to employees and damage to business property, so it’s a good idea to be prepared by learning some basic principles of first aid or attending a course.

A first aid course will train you how to respond to life threatening situations, call for medical assistance, perform effective resuscitation and communicate details of any incidents. Giving you the skills and knowledge to quickly and effectively respond to emergencies, you can learn how to protect not just adults but also children. Your training may also come in handy outside of the workplace in the case of an accident.

You should choose a nationally recognised course from a registered training organisation such as St John Ambulance Queensland. As a general rule, there should be one first aider for every 25 workers in high risk workplaces such as construction sites and manufacturing factories. Depending on your workplace, you will need to consider all potential hazards inside and outside of your premises.

Teams that work in high risk workplaces are most vulnerable to accidental injury due to the dangerous tasks involved on a daily basis. Jobs where you may be exposed to risks and hazards include operating machinery such as forklift trucks and elevated platforms, agricultural chemicals, working at heights and extreme heat or cold. These types of roles in particular require a certified first aider to be on-site at all times.

By keeping a first aid box in an easily accessible place, you will be able to rapidly treat any injuries or illnesses in your place of work. These should also be stored inside work vehicles if you or your team travels as part of your employment. For more information on first aid or safety training, contact the Elevated Training team.