First aid basics you need to know for common workplace injuries
Posted on 31st Jul, 2022 | By Cameron Fitzwilliam
Work place injuries can occur at any time, in any environment. Even in places where you wouldn’t expect, like the break room, there’s still a risk that something could go awry. That’s why it’s vital to ensure that you stay up-to-date on the latest first aid techniques, so you that can work to reduce the risk of a severe workplace injuries.
That’s where we come in – here at Brown’s Safety Services, we provide a wide variety of access equipment courses, health and safety courses, and first aid courses to ensure that you and your employees are armed with the very latest in health and safety knowledge, to help reduce the risk of a workplace injury.
With that in mind, here are some common injuries, as well as a few basic first aid techniques to remember going forward.
Sprains and stains
These can be categorised as injuries to the muscles or ligaments of a particular area on your body. If you think you’ve experienced a sprain, then remember: RICE (rest, ice, compression, elevation). However if you find yourself experiencing, significant swelling and discolouration, then you may need to take a trip to hospital to make sure it’s nothing more serious. In most cases though, rest and anti-inflammatory medicine like ibuprofen can help the area heal within a few days or week.
Soreness and pain
One of the most common sources of soreness is poor ergonomics. This is particularly true for those who work in an office, and can include things like bad posture or repetitive motions. These issues can lead to repetitive strain injuries (RSI), which are the result of a gradual buildup of damage to muscles, tendons, and nerves caused by repetitive motions.
These are fairly easy to address though, and you can immediately improve your overall well-being by identifying the root cause of the issue, and addressing it accordingly by providing the affected area with a supportive brace. If the problem persists for more than two weeks, it’s best to visit a healthcare professional for a full diagnosis.
Cuts and lacerations
Right off the bat it’s important to mention that cuts and lacerations can often be very serious, so it’s important to be mindful of this fact if you ever find yourself dealing with one. Firstly, with any sort of cut or laceration, you want to clean the wound as soon as possible with soap and water to reduce the risk of infection. After, you’ll want to cover the wound with a sterilised gauze and seal it in place with adhesive tape. If the wound continues to bleed, then apply direct pressure to it to reduce the bleeding as much as possible. As a side tip, we wouldn’t recommend attempting to remove any objects or debris from a wound, as this could lead to more profuse bleeding. If there’s blood spurting from the wound, apply pressure to it immediately and call an ambulance.
These are just a few of the basics to keep in mind, should any incidents occur in your place of work. For a more in-depth exploration of the potential injury risks you face at work, book yourself and your workforce onto one of our first aid courses.
Our courses are specifically designed to help you and your staff re-familiarise yourselves with some of the principles of safety in the workplace, so you can cut down on the risk of accidents or injuries. Your safety is our priority, so if you’re looking to get started, you can book your places by clicking on the link above. Alternatively, just give our team a call on 01282 937120, and we’ll get you sorted!
