Pub. 2 Issue 3

15 FALL 2014 emergency medical assistance will be promptly available when injuries occur. While the standards do not prescribe a number of minutes, OSHA has long interpreted the term "near proximity" to mean that emergency care must be available within 3-4 minutes of the workplace, an interpretation that has been upheld by the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission and by federal courts. The blood borne pathogens standard at 29 CFR 1910.1030(g)(2) requires employers to provide training to any employees who have occupational exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials, such as employees assigned medical or first-aid duties by their employers. The standard at 29 CFR 1910.1030(b) defines "occupational exposure" as "reasonably anticipated skin, eye, mucous membrane, or parenteral contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials that may result from the performance of an employee's duties." If an employee is trained in first-aid and identified by the employer as responsible for rendering medical assistance as part of his/ her job duties, that employee is covered by the blood borne pathogens standard. Summary: Cal-OSHA has defined “near proximity” in the code to be that employees be able to receive CPR or first- aid within 4 minutes. This is based on data from medical literature that suggests that following the occurrence of a cardiopulmonary arrest from any precipitating cause, those who receive CPR within the first 4 minutes do far better than others who do not receive care within that time frame. In urban areas, most of the paramedic facilities are located/ planned to meet the 4 minute deadline. If the dealership is beyond the 4 minute distance from the paramedics, first-aid and CPR training is required for facility personnel. AUTOMATED EXTERNAL DEFRIBILLATOR (AED) AEDs are getting installed in locations like airport, gymnasiums, and physician offices. Is it a good idea for dealers to install an AED in their showrooms? We discuss the pros and cons of an AED at automobile dealerships here. Legal Requirement: No state or federal agency mandates the installation of an AED at an automobile dealership. What Does An AED Do: An AED is a portable device that checks heart rhythms. If needed, it can send an electric shock to the heart to try to restore a normal rhythm. AEDs are used to treat sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). SCA is a condition in which the heart suddenly and unexpectedly stops beating. When this happens, blood stops f lowing to the brain and other vital organs. SCA usually causes death if it's not treated within minutes. In fact, each minute of SCA results in a 10 percent reduction in survival. Using an AED on a person who is having SCA may save the person's life.  First-Aid — continued on page 16