Stop and calmly deal with a workplace emergency | Haz-Ed

Stop and calmly deal with a workplace emergency

haz-ed-admin
17 July 2023

Stop, think, organise and, prepare and protect

A workplace emergency can happen at any time; this is an unavoidable fact of life. The fact is that there is nothing that can really be done to prevent some accidents. Sure, you can take the proper precautions to limit these types of situations and even if you are lucky enough to never face one, being ready is half the battle!
How you handle an emergency situation is going to make all the difference in the world, to take it to the extreme it is often the difference between life and death. Thankfully, there is a four-step method that we like to use as a broad framework to explain emergency response.

The framework very nicely and conveniently sits in the acronym STOP. In the event of an emergency, such as the injury of a co-worker or customer, the first thing that you are going to want to do is STOP.

Stop what you are doing immediately

You are going to want to halt all activities in the area of the accident. The safety of the bystanders and yourself is the most important thing. Ignoring this step will likely lead to more accidents.

Think about what has just happened and what the cause was

Take the proper steps to prevent the situation from escalating, with more accidents occurring. Keeping your cool is important. Objectively decide who is injured and who needs immediate assistance, what the extent of the injuries are, and what emergency services need to be contacted.
You are going to want to locate the closest first aid kit and take stock of what supplies are available to you. The last thing to think about is who is most qualified to handle the situation, it may be you, but it could just as easily be another co-worker.

Organise your efforts, getting disheveled or flustered is not going to help anyone in this situation

Give calm clear instructions to anyone involved. Make sure that your supplies are laid out and ready. Organise the treatment as well. Start by administering first aid to the most critical injuries that present.

Prepare & protect the victim and their injuries.

After you administer first aid, it is likely that the victim is going to be transported to a hospital or another medical facility.
You are going to want to make sure that the area is prepared for medical personnel, free of all obstacles and clutter. You are also going to need to make sure that the victim is protected from further injury, take steps to keep anyone who is nonessential away from the area. Remember to keep everyone calm while waiting for the professionals.

Dealing with a workplace emergency can be difficult, but that does not mean that you are not up to the task. Just remember what you have reviewed and keep a cool and level head.

This is a good starting guide but all emergencies are different. Having a dedicated plan and proper training simply cannot be skipped. If you feel like your workplace emergency response isn’t up to scratch you may need to get in contact with us.

We can help set up, plan and coordinate your workplace health and safety requirements.

A properly stocked first aid kit is the first step in handling any workplace accident or emergency.

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