How often should you refresh your first aid training?

In the fast-paced world of business, many employees find themselves working shift work or irregular hours. In addition to this irregularity, these workers are often required to complete tasks outside their usual job scope. As a result, many companies require employees to have some level of first aid training. However, not all companies provide this training or offer it frequently enough to remain relevant. If you find yourself working shift work or outside your normal job scope, it is important that you refresh your first aid knowledge every year to remain compliant with regulatory bodies such as OSHA and MSHA.

Why is first aid training important?

The primary reason why employers mandate first aid training is because it is a legal requirement. However, first aid training is more than a legal obligation. It is a necessity for any organization that has employees working outside of their typical job scope. For example, if your job is administrative support and you are asked to work in a warehouse without direct access to a first aid box, you will need to know how to treat basic injuries and illnesses.If you are working in a job that requires you to wear a high-risk-of-injury or high-risk-of-exposure garment, such as a hazmat suit or fire-resistant clothing, you will need to know how to perform chest compressions and administer oxygen to a patient. If you are working in a job that requires you to operate heavy machinery, such as a crane, you will need to know how to respond to an accident involving that machinery.

How often should you refresh your first aid training?

If you work in a job that requires you to work within your typical job scope on a regular basis, you only need to refresh your first aid training once or twice a year. However, if you are working in a high-risk-of-injury or high-risk-of-exposure job that requires you to work outside of your typical job scope, you will need to refresh your first aid training more frequently. If you work for a mining company and are regularly working in a high-risk-of-injury or high-risk-of-exposure environment, you will need to refresh your first aid training every six months.If you work as a security guard and you are regularly working with people who are under the influence, you will need to refresh your first aid training every six months.

Conclusion

The frequency with which you should refresh your first aid training varies based on your job description and the type of work environment that you are regularly exposed to. If you work for a mining company and are regularly working in a high-risk-of-injury or high-risk-of-exposure environment, you will need to refresh your first aid training more frequently than if you only work in a typical office environment.The frequency with which you should refresh your first aid training is an important consideration for anyone who works in a job that requires them to work outside of their typical job scope.