An AED is an Automated External Defibrillator. This device can provide a life-saving "shock" to a pulseless victims heart. For more information on these devices, or to become trained it their use, please contact Fred Ellinger.

OSHA or Occupational Safety and Health Administration is a government entity enacted by Congress on December 29, 1970 to develop, implement, and enforce policies and procedures to provide the more then 100 million working men and women with safe working environments.

Yes, according to Section Title: Applicability of This Act Section Number 4 (a): "This Act shall apply with respect to employment performed in a workplace in a State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Wake Island, Outer Continental Shelf Lands defined in the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, Johnston Island, and the Canal Zone. The Secretary of the Interior shall, by regulation, provide for judicial enforcement of this Act by the courts established for areas in which there are no United States district courts having jurisdiction."

Yes. The OSHA requirement at 29 CFR 1910.151(b) 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 shall be adequately trained to render first aid. First aid supplies approved by the consulting physician shall be readily available."

OSHA's regulation does not set specific response time requirements for the term "near proximity", however, in areas where accidents resulting in suffocation, severe bleeding, or other life-threatening or permanently disabling injury or illness are likely, a 3-4 minute response time, from time of injury to time of administering first aid, is required. In other circumstances, i.e., where a life-threatening or permanently disabling injury is an unlikely outcome of an accident, a longer response time, such as 15 minutes, is acceptable. The rationale for requiring a 4-minute response time is brain death when the heart or breathing has stopped for that period of time.

Record Type: Interpretation Standard Number: 1910.151, Subject: Interpretation of the First Aid standard, Information Date: 12/11/1996

All industries are required to comply with 1910.151 regardless of the type of work performed by employees; however, the hazards and related first aid/medical services required would be less for offices than, for example, steel mills. In summary, the employer's first aid program must correspond to the hazards which can be reasonably expected to occur in the workplace. The employer must evaluate the potential work-related hazards and provide for first aid accordingly.

Record Type: Interpretation Standard Number: 1910.151, Subject: Clarification of training requirements under 1910.151 (Medical Services and First Aid), Information Date: 07/24/1995

There are no exemptions from 1910.151 due to a company's size. Many hazardous jobs are performed by smaller firms, and their employees are entitled to equal first aid protection.

Record Type: Interpretation Standard Number: 1910.151, Subject: Clarification of training requirements under 1910.151 (Medical Services and First Aid), Information Date: 07/24/1995

Not at all. With current federal and state AED laws there is almost no liability for lay persons or corporations who possess these life-saving machines.

With current legislation, proper training, and a well written response plan liability is typically no more then helping a person on the street who was injured.

Fact is, a popular trend emerging is reverse liability. Serveral corporations have been sued for NOT having these devices. In the future it is expected that some states, or even at the federal level some business types will be mandated to have AED's.

Contact a SafeTec Training Services representitive today to learn more.