Workplace Safety and First Aid Essentials

Posted on Nov 24, 2024 in Physical Education

UNIT 19: Introduction

In classroom workshop activities, we use tools and chemicals that can cause accidents. These accidents (knocks, cuts, burns) are common to all types of work. Today, laws govern all aspects of health and prevention of occupational hazards. We will examine these laws and how to act in case of an accident.

2. Legislation and Standardization

Occupational health and risk prevention legislation involves the Local Administration, Autonomous Regions, and the Central Administration.

2.1 Basic Legislation on Occupational Safety and Health at Work

Current regulations are defined by:

  • The Spanish Constitution
  • The Workers’ Statute
  • The Framework Directive of the EEC
  • Conventions of the International Labour Organization signed by Spain
  • The Law of Industry
  • The Law on Prevention of Occupational Risks

Law 21/1992 of July 16 on Industry addresses safety and quality in industry. Law 31/1995 of November 8 on the Prevention of Occupational Risks promotes worker safety and health through necessary measures and activities. It is required by administrations, businesses, workers, and citizens. Preventive action principles include:

  • Avoiding risks
  • Evaluating unavoidable risks
  • Combating risks at the source
  • Adapting work to the person and position
  • Giving appropriate instructions to workers
  • Prevention planning integrating technology, organization, labor relations, and environmental factors

2.2 Accidents and Safety at Work

An accident is an unforeseen event disrupting work continuity and potentially harming individuals or property. Root causes are technical or human factors. Job security techniques aim to prevent accidents and control their consequences, through prevention (acting on causes) and protection (of equipment and people at risk).

2.3 Techniques for Safety at Work

Techniques used against work accidents include:

  • Risk analysis: Identifying and assessing risks by studying accidents using analytical techniques.
  • Risk assessment: Identifying hazards and estimating risks using analytical techniques.
  • Risk control: Reducing or eliminating risks or consequences using prevention and protection techniques.

These techniques are classified by scope, operation mode, application site, purpose, and causes:

  • General techniques: Applied to any risk type.
  • Specific techniques: Limited to particular risks (fires, explosions, falls from heights, etc.).
  • Prevention techniques: Designed to prevent accidents.
  • Protection techniques: Aim to avoid injury.
  • Design techniques: Applied in the design phase.
  • Technical correction: Applied to hazardous working conditions.
  • Analytical techniques: Analyze and assess risks before (Safety Inspection, Analysis, Statistical Analysis of Labor) and after (Notification, Registration, and Investigation of Accidents) accidents.
  • Operational techniques: Prevent accidents by implementing preventive or protective measures. These include:
    • Techniques acting on the human factor: Personnel selection, training, advertising, incentives, discipline, etc.
    • Techniques acting on the technical factor: Design and installation projects, equipment, method improvement, security systems, signage, preventive maintenance, and personal protection.

3. First Aid

Facing an accident, the first action is requesting medical care. Until it arrives, first aid gestures or actions performed at the scene are crucial. The rescuer should remain calm, assess the situation, and follow simple guidelines.

3.1 Patterns of Performance (PAS)

  1. Protect the scene and the injured to avoid further accidents.
  2. Alert emergency services (indicating location, accident type, causes, identification) without leaving the accident. Keep a list of emergency phone numbers handy.
  3. Succor victims in order of priority based on injury type, taking great care in handling them (prioritize through initial assessment).

3.2 Assessment of the Initial Injury

This evaluation has two stages:

  1. Primary Poll: Ensure the victim’s primary functions (consciousness, breathing, pulse, bleeding).
  2. Secondary Assessment: Examine other injuries starting with the head, neck, thorax, abdomen, and extremities, looking for medical indications. (How to know if someone is breathing?)

3.3 Basic Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation

Breathing and blood circulation are vital. If a victim stops breathing or has no pulse, perform Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR):

  • If unconscious: Tilt the head back to lift the tongue and allow air passage. Check for breathing (chest movement).
  • If breathing: Place in the Lateral Security Position (arm closest to the ground back, farther knee flexed).
  • If not breathing: Perform artificial mouth-to-mouth (head back, nose pinched, breathe twice in a row, check pulse).
  • If pulse is present: Continue mouth-to-mouth, one inflation every 4-5 seconds per minute.
  • If no pulse: Perform external chest compressions (15 compressions + 2 rescue breaths), repeating and stopping four times. If the pulse returns, position on the side for safety.

3.4 Airway Obstruction

Choking can be:

  • Incomplete obstruction: Encourage forceful coughing.
  • Complete obstruction (no breathing, turning blue): Perform the Heimlich maneuver (embrace from behind, fist with thumb on the stomach, press 6-10 times). If unconscious, lay the victim down, straddle them, place fist between breastbone and navel (lower sternum in obese/pregnant women), press 6-10 times.

3.5 Action in Case of Bleeding

Distinguish bleeding type by blood flow: spurting (artery), continuous (vein), oozing (capillary). For external bleeding, compress the wound and elevate the injured area above heart level. If bleeding doesn’t stop, seek immediate medical help. For epistaxis (nosebleeds), tilt the head forward, press the nostril, or plug with gauze soaked in hydrogen peroxide. For internal bleeding, watch for shock symptoms (pale skin, weak/rapid pulse, rapid breathing, anxiety). Cover and keep the victim lying down, seeking urgent medical transfer.

3.6 Action in Case of Skin Corrosion

Flush the affected area with plenty of water and wash with soap and water. Specific actions:

  • Acids: Cut acid-soaked clothing, flush with water, neutralize with sodium bicarbonate for 15 minutes, dry, and cover with oil-lime liniment. For hydrofluoric acid, rub with water and apply saturated magnesium sulfate 7-hydrate ice-cooled solution for 30 minutes.
  • Alkalis: Flush with water, rinse with 1% acetic acid solution, dry, and cover with tannic acid ointment.
  • Reducing substances: Apply 0.1% potassium permanganate solution, dry, sprinkle with sulfamine powder, and bandage.

3.7 Action in Case of Eye Injuries

Immediately irrigate eyes with copious amounts of temperate water, penetrating beneath the eyelids for 15 minutes. Then:

  • Acids and halogens: Wash with 1% sodium bicarbonate solution.
  • Alkalis: Wash with 1% boric acid solution.
  • Other chemicals: Pour a drop of pure olive oil into each eye.

3.8 Action in Case of Chemical Ingestion

All cases require urgent medical attention.

-Ingestion of corrosive acids: never causes vomiting, administer milk of magnesia in large quantities and manage large quantities of milk or beaten egg whites with water. -Corrosive alkalis: never causes vomiting, administer 1% acetic acid solution in large quantities and manage large quantities of milk or beaten egg whites with water. -Methyl alcohol (methanol): administer 2.4 glasses of water, induce vomiting (vomiting give each saltwater until vomiting are clear) and give 1 glass of water with 2 tablespoons of sodium bicarbonate. “Ingestion of other products or when the identity of the unknown substance: administer 2.4 glasses of water, induce vomiting (vomiting give each saltwater until vomiting are clear) and administer 15 grams in half a glass universal antidote water. 3.9Actuación by inhalation of chemicals:Remove to fresh air and medical assistance will be required. If breathing difficulty, we will perform the rescue breathing. 3.10Actuación in case of wounds, small cuts and scratches: 1. Have on hand the material cures. 2. Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water and rubbing alcohol. 3. If the wound bleeds a little, let go and if it bleeds a lot, press 4.. Clean dirty wounds with hydrogen peroxide to spray and remove foreign bodies with the aid of swabs or forceps. 5. Dry the wound and put antiseptic 6.. Leave the wound open air whenever possible, otherwise we will use plasters or bandages. 7. If the wound needs stitches or have a very dirty, we simply clean it.3.11Actuación for burns: 1. Cool the burn under running cold water for 10 minutes. 2. If the burn is large or the skin loses its integrity, cover with gauze or towels to prevent risk of infection. 3. Except superficial burns of less than 2 cm, the rest is best cure to a medical facility. 4. If the rugged clothing on fire, smother the flames, covering the large garments or clothing by rolling on the floor. Above all we must not apply home remedies such as ointments, oils, ice, bandages, and not break blisters to prevent infection. 3.12 Action in case of joint injuries: The case of sprains or strains (the joint surfaces after returning to your site a momentary separation) and dislocations (the articular surfaces remain separated after cessation of causative agent). The presenting symptoms are pain, swelling and deformation. The steps to follow are: “Freeze the affected area (with a bandage or sling). -Apply cold (decrease swelling and pain). -Keep at rest. -Get medical help or move the casualty to a medical center.3.13Actuación in a fracture: fractures classified as: closed (the skin surrounding the fracture is not damaged) and open (in addition to bone, the skin is broken). The symptoms are pain, deformity and bruising, inability to perform movements, symptoms of shock and hemorrhage. The patterns of activity are:-Avoid any movement and if not, do not move before immobilizing the fracture in the same position that we find. “If the fracture is open, cover with sterile dressing or clean cloth. Freeze-fractured bone through metal or wood plates (splints), covering the whole wound area. These splints should be fastened with not too tight bandages to avoid hampering the circulation of blood. -Get medical help. Examples: “In the case of fracture of pelvis or hip, place a splint on the outside from the exiled to the foot, and another on the inside from the groin to the foot. Both are secured with a bandage tied to the trunk and leg. “In the case of fracture of arm or forearm, mounted two splints, one from the shoulder to the elbow and the other from the armpit to the forearm, holding them with bandages. And with a sling attached to the neck will remain crossed forearm across your chest.3.14Técnicas of dressings and bandages: To protect a wound we can use: gauze, cotton, normal or adhesive bandages, tissues, etc. As a general rule in applying dressings and bandages, “Using sterile compresses. “Do not touch the wound with his hands, or wear pads used. “To make a bandage: the balloon holding the bandage with his right hand and the guide with the left, taking two laps with the band to let it securely. After placing a tie or bandages may be esparadrapo.Los simple spiral, spiral closed or triangular scarf, hand and head. 3.15Lesiones for heat and cold: In case of heat stroke: place the victim in a cool, bedtime with the head elevated, loosen clothing, apply cold compresses to the head and if conscious give water if freezing Ps: Cover the affected area with woolen material that does not rub, take the patient to a covered not apply direct heat and not touching any ampollas.En both procure medical assistance.3.16 unconsciousness Attention: Sometimes it can cause unconsciousness. This may be due to lightheadedness or fainting or trauma, gas poisoning, suffocation, electrical accidents, stroke, etc.. If an injury manifests must be treated as described in paragraphs anteriores.Si no injury:-Place the patient on his back with head down (if pale) or high (if crowded). -Unbutton her clothes, to facilitate breathing. “Keeping you with good temperature. “Do not give anything to drink. -Artificial respiration if necessary. -Transferred to a clinic in case of fainting Emergency numbers, place it on the floor, face up, head down in a cool place. Unbutton his clothes and facilitate their recovery by giving air with a fan, cardboard, etc.. 3.17 Electrocution: 1. Disconnect power through switches and not being able to insulate yourself with rubber gloves and footwear or on a wooden platform.2. If the accident is attached to the electrical conductor, separate it using a stick or wooden stick. 3. If the casualty is lying above the conductor, wrap your feet with dry clothing or fabric and pull the victim by the feet with the stick. 4. For faster, cutting the electrical conductor on both sides of the victim using a wooden ax handle. 3.18 Kit: Each classroom should be a cabinet shop in a visible and accessible and contain:-Material: cotton, tape, gauze, tweezers, scissors, bandages, plasters, thermometer, etc. -Products: alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, glycerin, antiseptic, sodium bicarbonate, tannic acid, olive oil, ointment for small burns, anti-inflammatory ointment, cream, antihistamine, analgesic. -Preparations: Ointment of tannic acid, magnesium sulphate, acetic acid, boric acid, milk of magnesia, potassium permanganate, etc..4.BIBLIOGRAFÍA: “Law 31/1995 of 8 November for the Prevention of Occupational Risks. -Standard first aid (FREMAP). Garcia-Arias, M: Safety at Work (ACGIH TLV), Madrid 1989. Diaz-Cortes, JM: Techniques of Occupational Risk Prevention. Safety. Editorial Tebar Flores. Madrid 1996.