Info Blog

08/12/2024 - Working at Heights in Australia's Construction Industry: A Focus on Safety

The construction industry is a vital part of Australia's economy, but it's also one of the most dangerous. Working at heights is a significant risk factor, contributing to a large number of serious injuries and fatalities each year. In this article, we'll highlight the importance of safety training and awareness for anyone working at heights on construction sites.

The Risks Are Real

Falls from heights are a leading cause of death and serious injury in the construction industry. Whether it's from a ladder, scaffold, roof, or other elevated work area, the consequences can be devastating. These incidents can lead to:

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Broken bones
• Internal injuries
• Death

Safety Measures and Training Are Essential

The good news is that many of these incidents are preventable. Australian safety regulations mandate specific measures to mitigate the risks associated with working at heights. These include:

• Fall prevention devices: Guardrails, safety nets, and personal fall arrest systems are crucial.
• Proper equipment: Ladders, scaffolds, and platforms must be in good working order and used correctly.
• Thorough inspections: Regular inspections of work areas and equipment are essential to identify and address hazards.

However, equipment alone isn't enough. Comprehensive training is critical for all workers who perform tasks at heights. Effective training programs cover:

• Hazard identification and risk assessment: Workers must be able to identify potential dangers and assess the risks.
• Correct use of safety equipment: Proper training ensures that workers know how to use fall protection equipment correctly.
• Emergency procedures: Workers need to know what to do in case of a fall or other emergency.

The Importance of a Safety Culture

Beyond regulations and training, a strong safety culture is paramount. This means that everyone on site, from management to workers, is committed to prioritizing safety. This includes:

• Open communication: Workers should feel comfortable reporting safety concerns without fear of reprisal.
• Regular safety meetings: These meetings provide a forum for discussing safety issues and reinforcing best practices.
• Continuous improvement: Regularly reviewing safety procedures and seeking feedback from workers can help identify areas for improvement.

By investing in comprehensive safety training and fostering a strong safety culture, the construction industry can significantly reduce the number of incidents related to working at heights. Let's work together to make safety a top priority on every construction site in Australia.

At 1SDO Training, we ensure that our training empowers you to work at heights safely and effectively to meet your requirements in the workplace.

29/04/2024 - Why do I need to refresh my CPR and First Aid?

Most industry employers now require you to renew your CPR and first aid, but is it really required?

Our peak resusitation body, The Australian Resuscitation Council specifies that CPR should be refreshed every 12 months according to Guideline 10.1 "All those trained in CPR should refresh their CPR skills at least annually"

But more importantly the Code of Practice for First Aid in the workplace on page 17 states "Frequency of training for first aiders - First aiders should attend training on a regular basis to refresh their first aid knowledge and skills and to confirm their competence to provide first aid. Refresher training in CPR should be carried out annually and first aid qualifications should be renewed every three years."

Although the code of practice is not mandatory, codes of practice can be used in a court of law as a reference standard as to the expected practice Codes of Practice.

In such cases, therer is the potential to prove a PCBU(employer) was negligent if they were not following the requirements of the code of practice, unless they had a documented risk assessed solution to the issue of first aid applicable to that particular workplace.

Now comes the clincher, if it gets to court because either the first aider or the PCBU failed in their "duty of care" under Part 2, Div 2, Section 28(worker)or Section 19 (PCBU) of the WHS Act) and the PCBU relies on their risk assessed solution, the very fact that they are in court means that the risk assessed solution probably failed!

Why are CPR updates so important

In a recent study of nurses (who really should understand the importance of CPR), the participants were broken into 1, 3, 6 and 12 month CPR training groups.

The training included a training session about the components of high-quality CPR and two minutes of CPR using an adult CPR torso manikin with real-time performance feedback.

The proportion of participants who were able to deliver high quality CPR was:

• 58% in the 1-month group
• 26% in the 3-month group
• 21% in the 6-month group
• 15% in the 12-month group

This clearly shows that the ability to do effective CPR drops rapidly after the first 3 months of the course and by 12 months is almost ineffective! This higlights the need for regular refresher training.

At 1SDO Training, we ensure that our training empowers you to do first aid and CPR effectively to meet your requirements in the workplace.

28/01/2024 - Conquering Heights with Confidence: Why Safe Work at Heights Training is Your Ticket to Success

Australia's vibrant landscape, from bustling cities to rugged natural wonders, presents endless opportunities for those who work at heights. But with breathtaking views come significant risks. Falls remain a leading cause of workplace injury, making proper safety training a crucial investment for any business.

At 1SDO Training, we empower your workforce to conquer heights with confidence and competence. Our nationally accredited courses, tailored to your industry's specific needs, equip your team with the knowledge and skills to navigate any high-rise challenge, safely and effectively.

Here's how we elevate your safety standards:

Investing in safe work at heights training isn't just about ticking compliance boxes; it's about protecting your most valuable asset – your people. It translates to:

Don't let breathtaking views become a source of worry. Choose 1SDO Training and let us be your partner in building a resilient safety culture that takes your business to new heights, one secure step at a time.

Enrol in our Working at Heights Course or Contact us today and discover how we can tailor a program that empowers your team to reach for the sky, with their feet firmly planted on the ground of robust safety.

Remember, in the world of working at heights, preparation is everything. Let's work together to make safety a shared summit, not a precarious cliff edge.

07/11/2022 - Why emotional support for you and your patients is critical.

The value of emotionally supporting and reassuring your patient is greatly understated.

Taking the time to talk and meet them at their level is an important communication tool essential in all patient care, especially in first aid.

A patient who has experienced any trauma either physical or emotional needs a compassionate First Aider to supply an abundance of well worded emotional care on top of the regular patient care. When we really think about it, we should not be separating them, both emotional and physical care should be incorporated into the one treatment every time for every patient. Especially the young and ageing.

When we experience a Trauma, a flight and fight response can take hold. A sudden large and sustained release of adrenaline is surging through our bodies causing tremors. Our pupils dilate and we enter survival mode. During the fight or flight response your body is trying to prioritise, so anything it doesn't need for immediate survival is placed on the back burner.

This process is very normal, but each patient will experience it differently.

Communication between you and the patient needs to be targeted at their level. For example, use their words. If they claim to feel fearful that's a tool that we can use. Refer to that but stating, "feeling fearful is normal,". Use words that they understand at that stressful moment. Try not to be too clinical or overly professional. Avoid words or phrases that cause further stress, such as, "Trust me, you're not going to die". This phrase draws thoughts of death.

Compassion and understanding are not taught in the classroom. Use your experiences and resources around you if you get stuck on what to say. Take a deep breath and try to be calm and collective.

Children commonly look to a loved one or a friend for comfort. It is good practice not to separate them from this help. Be inclusive and supportive to the patient and their support network. Ideally, consent from a parent or guardian must be sought but, in an emergency, treat while waiting for this to happen.

Have you heard of a Trauma Teddy? Most if not all Australian Emergency Ambulances carry one. A cute toy teddy really bridges trust and makes treatment easier for both the child and the first aider; a familiar and good choice in care.

Let's now focus on you the First Aider.

Rendering care is sometimes tough and very emotional. Most first responders will have had stressful days where they might come home and have difficulty concentrating or may experience flash backs of what happened. At times they may even break down with tears, or have trouble sleeping. This is not an uncommon response to stress. Early recognition that this is possibly a post incident stress reaction is very helpful. Confiding with a trusted loved one or a friend is a great start. Please see your GP. If it's a work-related incident, report this to your manager or appropriate official. There are processes in place to help you.

Remember, the First Aider is always the highest priority so please look after yourself.

01/08/2022 - The first 10 minutes of a Heart Attack

We often hear the term Time is Muscle. What does this mean?

A Heart Attack is a common term describing an event within the Heart Muscle. As with all muscles in the body, it needs a generous supply of Oxygen. So, if we look at the blood vessels that give the heart muscle its vital oxygen, a sudden complete blockage of one will stop the flow of blood to a section of cardiac muscle eventually resulting in the destruction of heart tissue otherwise known as a Heart Attack or medically, Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI). Acute = Sudden, Myo=muscle, Cardial=Heart, Infarction=Death. (Myocardium is a layer of the heart muscle).

A clot within a Coronary (Heart) blood vessel is generally caused by plaque (mainly Cholesterol and Calcium) deposits rupturing along the lining of the coronary vessel's surface. When this happens our sticky blood platelets begin the clotting process and a blockage occurs.

So, the longer that the Heart Attack goes untreated, the greater the damage to the heart muscle, hence the term Time is Muscle.

What can the First Aider do to significally change the outcome with a Heart Attack patient?

The Australian Resuscitation Council as with many other peak bodies recommends a simple life saving treatment, Aspirin.

Anyone who presents with chest pain, regardless of the complexities of other signs and symptoms should be administered 1 whole Aspirin tablet (300mg) to be chewed in the mouth. The Aspirin is rapidly absorbed and enters the blood stream causing the platelets to stop clotting, typically within about 5 minutes.

As the clot breaks down, normal blood supply begins to flow to the damaged heart muscle. The restoration of circulation doesn't repair the damage, rather it helps to reduce any further damage occurring.

Anyone who presents with chest pain must immediately rest and be made comfortable. Generally, if the symptoms wane and disappears with rest within 10 minutes, this is deemed a non-heart attack event. Rather this is most likely an Angina Attack. Angina is a non-life-threatening event An emergency ambulance (call 000) should be called for any chest pain that persists for more than 10 minutes.

The Chest Pain patient needs to be watched closely as if the Heart is damaged, the pumping action of the heart will be affected, hence the blood flow around the body will be affected. This may lead to shock and even death (Cardiac Arrest).

What to look for?.

Call 000 immediately while waiting with your patient.

01/04/2022 - Why is the Unconscious Patient a life-threatening emergency?

For what ever reason we become unconscious, it is deadly! But why?

It’s all to do with what happens to Airway.

If a victim who appears unconscious is left lying on their back and is not assessed for DRSABCD, they will most likely not survive.

This is where the First Aider is most powerful especially in the first few minutes of a victim collapsing.

In basic life support (BLS) terms, there are 4 levels of consciousness.

More commonly referred to as AVPU, it is often seen in First Aid Patient Care Reports.

Sleeping is not regarded as being Unconscious. That’s a story for another day.

We tend to use the C.O.W.S acronym to check for a response. It is well known.

This approach is well rounded and should arouse anyone who will respond. To obtain a good response in Infants (0-1 years), try squeezing or tickling their feet.

If you’re not getting any feedback from your unresponsive patient, try a Sternal Rub. This is where you rub your knuckles along the breastbone/sternum, as this causes significant pain, this works well for an intoxicated patient (Drugs and/or Alcohol).

If your patient still doesn’t respond, this is an emergency.

When you are Unconscious, we lose some very important reflexes and our Muscle Tone.

Our Upper Airway (inside our throat) is supported by muscles. When we lose consciousness, these muscles become flaccid and are no longer supportive. (Particularly the large tongue relaxes, falls back, and obstructs)

We also lose the ability to swallow, cough, and gag (Reflexes). When this happens, we stop breathing.

We must act quickly.

If we Hyper-extend the Airway (tilt) to open the Airway before it is cleared, the patient may inhale what is sitting in the mouth and upper Airway causing a blockage. (Full Tilt for an Adult, Half Head Tilt for a Child 1-8 years, and NO head tilt for an Infant 0-1 years)

Quite often, the patient is not breathing well or not at all because the Airway is blocked by the Tongue which is attached to the lower Jaw. Achieving a head tilt pushes forward the lower Jaw opening the space to breathe. This can trigger a sudden deep breath or inhalation on occasion and thankfully resuscitation is not required.

Remember to regularly check the ABCs of your patient. ALL unconscious AND breathing patients must be rolled into the recovery position regardless of any other injury. This protects the Airway.