Canceling 1991 Directive, OSHA Goes with Guide for First Aid
OSHA has canceled its Jan. 7, 1991, directive (CPL 02-02-053) on first aid training programs. The agency says it will now use the publication Best Practices Guide: Fundamentals of a Workplace First-Aid Program as its current guidance on this issue.
The OSHA Best Practices Guide, released in 2006, details the primary components of a first aid program at the workplace. Those elements include:
- Identifying and assessing workplace risks;
- Designing a program that is specific to the work site and complies with OSHA first aid requirements;
- Instructing all workers about the program, including what to do if a co-worker is injured or ill (policies and program should be in writing); and
- Evaluating and modifying the program to keep it current, including regular assessment of the first aid training course.
The guide includes best practices for planning and conducting safe and effective first aid training. OSHA recommends that training courses include instruction in general and workplace hazard-specific knowledge and skills, incorporating automated external defibrillator (AED) training into CPR training if an AED is available at the work site, and periodically repeating first aid training to help maintain and update knowledge and skills.