FIRST AID FOR WORKERS

Grey River Argus, 8 September 1945, Page 7

FIRST AID FOR WORKERS

DRIVeTi?' BRITAIN iNDUSTRJALj AMBULANCE POST (Form Herbert Tracey of British T.U.C.) LONDON, July 5. One of the virtues of Britain’s parliamentary system is that General Elections and changes of Government do not interfere, except to a very limited extent, with continuity oil administration, .where legislation exists in relation to particular fields of social policy. An instructive example of this is the way in which factory welfare arrangements are being developed under 1 the supervision of the Ministry of Labour and National Service. Factory legislation, enacted in 1937, requires first-aid arrangements to be developed in all factories. By administrative orders and regulations special arrangements are also required foi’ various classes of factories. Practical steps are being taken by the Ministry to give effect to the first-aid provision of the Factories Act.

Under the Act, passed in 1937, owners of factories where 150 workpeople (or less)) are employed, are required to provide and maintain a first-aid box or cupboard of prescribed standard; with an additional box oi’ cupboard for every additional 150 employees. These boxes are to be readily accessible. In the smaller factories where the risk of injury is slight there has been a tendency in the past to neglect the provisions of this Act. GUIDANCE FOR FACTORY OCCUPIERS The Ministry feels that it is extremely important to counteract any tendency to neglect the first-aid provisions of the Factories Act. In a welfare pamplet issued fox; the guidance of occupiers of factories it is pointed out that a few minor but neglected injuries in each factory means a large amount of serious industrial disablement. Emphasising the importance of first-aid in industry, the Ministry directs the attention of factorv owners to the fact that the annual cost of industrial accidents is extremely high. For workmen’s compensation alone, it is estimated to exceed 17J million a year. Factory occupiers are reminded by the Ministrv that they have to beai’ the brunt of a large portion of this cost, and there is no doubt that it could be considerabW reduced if an efficient first-aid service were provided in every factory. (1) Suffering is alleviated. (2) The workman who has met with a slight accident is enabled to return to work almost immediately and in comfort, and with a sense of security, avoiding loss of wages and interference with production. (3) Minor accidents are prevented from developing mm serious injuries as a result of septic infection or blood poisoning. Experience shows that it is not always a severe accident that in the end proves the most serious. Neglect or inefficient treatment of an injury apparently trivial may cost the worker the loss of a limb, an eye, or even of his life, and these losses inevitably give rise to the suffering of the worker and his dependents. (4) The recovery of a worker and his return to work after a severe accident may be materially expedited. GENERAL SCHEME The Ministry’s pamplet then goes on to explain the general scheme by which the requirements of the Factories Act are tb be met. 'The schenxe comprises: (1) First-aid boxes which are to be conveniently -situated in different part of the works and placed under the charge of a responsible person. These are intended to serve for the treatment of minor injuries. In factories where no ambulance room is provided, the firstaid boxes will also provide, with certain additional equipment which is recommended, fox’ preliminary treatment of’more serious cases such as haemorrhage, fractures and the like before removal to hospital or pending the arrival of a doctor.. (2) For larger works a central ambulance room, ox' combined ambulance room and first-aid post should be provided. It should be placed under the charge of a qualified nurse or othei- person trained in first-aid. It is to be the main centre of treatment in the works, serving in particular’ fox- the preliminary treatment of more serious cases, and also for any subsequent treatment that may be required in cases dealt with at the first-aid boxes. Supervision of minor injuries, the Ministry insists, is not. less important than theii’ initial dressing. An injured worker' should be taken to the nurse or attendant at the ambulance room, who will examine such dressings and decide whether they are sufficient. The 'authorities have been sufficiently enterprising to arrange fox 1 a fully equipped ambulance room, specimen first-aid boxes and stretchers to be exhibited at the Home Office Industrial Museum in London. This institution deserves to be better known than it is, even to industrialists, trade unionists and works managers. Every kind of safety appliance is exhibited there, and the latest developments in factory welfare receive theii’ appropriate illustxation in exhibits. SPECIAL ATTENTION TO EYE INJURIES The Ministry’s statement sets forth in detail the requirements of an effective first-aid service, the' number and position of first-aid boxes, and their contents. It lays down good sound rules foi’ first-aid attendance in work rooms. Special attention is directed to injuries to the eyes. ihe first-aid equipment provides to two kinds of injury—those caused by a ’foreign body in» the eye, and those caused by splashes of acids or canstics. Full and precise information is given for the establishment of a propex- ambulance room, with the necessary equipment. T he . P rinci requirements are specified in tions and orders of the Mmisti . Occupiers of the largei' wor *<s axe urged to provide additional accommi dation. such as a room whe e patients can wait when the ambulance. room is already occupxed, ana a recovery room foi’ cases of sickness x’eauiring rest and wai’mth, particularly desirable in works where nxany women are employed. A start loom for the Use of a nurse or attendant is among the more obvious needs. Reference is made to the fact that in some ambulance rooms in many or the larger industrial establishments there provision for dental units ana the service of a dental surgeon at agreed times; and even'of facilities for chiropody and ultra-violet and infra-red ’ radiation.