Know the state’s First Aid requirements

Washington State requires that employers have a person(s) on staff certified in First Aid procedures. WAC 296-800-150 states that it is your responsibility to make sure that first-aid trained personnel are available, any time you have employees at the store, to provide quick and effective first aid. Typically the responsible person is carrying the store key and opens or closes the business.

A bit closer read of the WAC says this:

You must comply with the first-aid training requirements of 29 C.F.R. 1910.151(b) which states: “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 must be adequately trained to render first aid.”

Rick Means, WR’s Safety Specialist has inquired and been told that qualified help must be within five minutes travel distance from a business or else an employee must be trained in rescue skills until other help arrives.

Options to get first aid training are:

• Online training offered by various sites and there is a fee. You will be able to print out training certification that should be reviewed by Labor & Industries for acceptance.
• Fire departments provide EMT/EMS services. You should check in your local area for details. This may or may not be free.
• Local Community/Technical colleges can offer training for a fee.
• Red Cross – There is a fee that could also be tax deductible.

There is a separate CPR/AED certification that is not required but good to know. This training, too, can be offered by the same groups listed above.

WR employs Means to be available to members to help draw up safety plans and suggest topics for safety meetings. Contact him at 360-943-9198, Ext. 18 or [email protected].