Health and safety

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Carry out procedures in the event of fire
1) The fire brigade must be called immediately;
2) Don't panic;
3) Raise the alarm and warn other people in the vicinity;
4) Don't endanger yourself for others;
5) Follow the fire instructions of the establishment;
6) If the fire is small use the correct fire fighting equipment;
7) Close all doors and windows, turn off gas, electricity and fans;
8) Don't wait for the fire to get out of control before calling the fire brigade;
9) Get to the assembly point.

3 components are necessary for a fire to start:
1) Fuel - Something to burn
2) Air - Oxygen to sustain combustion
3) Heat - Gas, electricity, etc.

To extinguish a fire the 3 principal methods are:
1) Starving - Removing the fuel
2) Smoothering - Removing the air
3) Cooling - Removing the heat

Carry out procedures on discovery of a suspicious item or package
1) Don't panic
2) Carmly warm others in the surrounding areas
3) Do not touch the item or allow others to do so
4) Immediately inform your employers
5) Move to a safe place

Carry out procedures in the event of an accident
1) Dial 999, state that you require an ambulance
2) State exact location of the incident
3) Give both address and telephone number of location
4) Describe the accident if a heart attact is suspected, say so immediately
5) Indicate the age of casualty or casualties

BURNS
Burns are caused by fire, heated liquids, steam, sun, chemicals, and electricity. In evaluating the type of first aid appropriate for a burn, the source and extent of the injury and degree of the burn should be determined. Burns are generally classified according to their depth and degree of tissue damage.
First-Degree Burns. Limited to the outer layer of the skin (epidermis). The skin is red and tender and there may be swelling without blistering. Not generally considered serious.
Second-Degree Burns. Involve both the epidermis and underlying dermis. In addition to redness, tenderness, and pain, significant blistering occurs. These burns are not serious unless a large area is involved or secondary infection takes place
. Third-Degree Burns. Involve destruction of the full thickness of the skin and also may damage underlying tissue. Skin may be blackened or white and leathery feeling. Although these burns are always serious, there often is no pain because the nerves have been destroyed.
BURNS REQUIRING MEDICAL TREATMENT All widespread burns, including extensive sunburn. All second-degree burns greater than 2 to 3 inches in diameter or those involving the hands, face, or genitals. All-third degree burns regardless of size.
MINOR BURNS Minor burns include first-degree sunburn and small scalds or burns from hot objects.
TREATMENT FOR FIRST-DEGREE BURNS Flush the burned area with cool water from a tap or use cool, wet compresses applied to the skin. Cleanse the burned area. Aloe vera cream, aspirin, or ibuprofen may alleviate pain. Usually, further medical care is not necessary.
TREATMENT FOR SECOND-DEGREE BURNS LESS THAN 2 TO 3 INCHES IN DIAMETER Rinse the area with cool water, gently wash with soap and water, and rinse again. Spray with an antiseptic spray and cover with sterile dressing. Do not apply ointments, petroleum jelly, margarine, grease, oil, butter, or other home remedies. Avoid breaking blisters, which increases the risk of infection. If blisters become infected, seek medical attention.
MAJOR BURNS TREATMENT Remove the victim from the fire or other source of injury. Douse flames or flush chemicals off the skin surface. If clothing is ignited, lay the victim down and extinguish flames with water or by covering with a blanket or coat, or by having the victim roll over slowly. Do not allow the victim to run. Running fans the flames and spreads the burns to the upper body and face. All larger second-degree burns require medical treatment. In the case of extensive burns, check for respiration, circulation, and signs of shock, and treat appropriately. (See "Shock" in chapter 13.) Then look for other serious injuries and treat. Apply cool compresses briefly to bring skin temperature back to normal. Avoid prolonged cooling of a large area because it can lead to excessive body cooling. Wrap the victim loosely in a clean sheet and call 911 for an EMS rescue team or, if not available, transport to an emergency room. Do not try to remove burned clothing or objects that adhere to the burned area, and do not apply any ointments or other medication. Loss of body fluids, pulmonary complications, and infection are major dangers of extensive burns. All extensive burns should be treated in a medical treatment center with a specialized burn facility.
CHEMICAL BURNS TREATMENT If the chemical container contains first-aid instructions, follow them. Start treatment immediately by placing the burned area under cool running water and continue flushing for at least 15 minutes or longer. If the chemical has splashed into the eye, irrigate the injured eye with cool water. Make sure the eye is open and the head is positioned so the water will not run into the other eye. (If both eyes are involved, flush them simultaneously by tipping the head back and pouring water into both.) Irrigate for at least 15 minutes, then cover the eye with a sterile compress and take the victim to a hospital emergency room. Note: Not all chemical injuries are burns. Some injuries, such as those caused by liquid hydrocarbon (e.g., Freon), cause freezing. In these cases, the person should be treated for frostbite (see information on frostbite in "Overexposure" later in this chapter). Other chemicals are absorbed through the skin and produce a toxic reaction. When working with hazardous chemicals, wear protective work gloves and other safety clothing. If the skin is exposed to chemicals, wash the exposure area immediately and thoroughly and call your local poison control center for further guidance. (See appendix C for a listing of poison control centers).
ELECTRICAL BURNS Electrical burns are often deeper and more serious than they seem.
TREATMENT First-aid treatment is the same as for other types of burns. All electrical burns should be examined by a physician. Victims of electrical burns should be evaluated for other injuries. When a person is struck by lightning or comes in contact with a high-tension wire, respiratory muscle paralysis, cardiac arrest, and bone fractures may result. These serious injuries must also be cared for.

FAINTING
Fainting (syncope) occurs when the brain temporarily does not have adequate blood flow, causing the person to black out. When the head is lower than the heart, blood rushes to the head and consciousness is restored. There are many causes of fainting, ranging from benign to very serious. Some people faint at the sight of blood, after experiencing intense pain or emotional shock, or as a result of severe anxiety or fatigue. These spells are due to reflexes that slow the heart and dilate blood vessels, resulting in a drop in blood pressure. Fainting is not uncommon during the early stages of pregnancy. Cardiovascular, neurological, and metabolic problems (such as hypoglycemia) and adverse drug reactions are other causes of fainting. Anyone who experiences a fainting episode or blackout should immediately consult a doctor about the cause.
TREATMENT Lay the person on her back with the head lower than the heart and legs. Check for breathing and feel carefully for a pulse, which may be slow and weak immediately after the person faints. If you cannot detect a heartbeat or breathing, begin CPR.
If breathing and pulse are present, raise the legs higher than the head to promote the flow of blood to the heart and brain. This should quickly revive the person.
Loosen clothing and make the victim comfortable.
When the person revives, color returns to the face, and pulse is normal, suggest lying or sitting quietly for a few minutes before attempting to stand. A weak or "washed out" feeling after a faint is common.
Determine if there are other symptoms, such as chest pain, palpitations, difficulty breathing, headache, vertigo, weakness or loss of sensation on one side of the body, or difficulty speaking. Try to determine if there is an underlying medical condition such as diabetes or heart disease. If so, or if this is the first episode of fainting or if more than a few minutes elapse before complete recovery, transport the person to a hospital as soon as possible.
If the faint feeling returns, have the person lie down again.
Do not give an alcoholic drink or splash cold water on her face. (That works only in the movies.) A cold compress may be applied to the forehead.

CUTS
All cuts should be covered immediately with a blue cloured waterproof dressing, after the cut has been washed.

Fractures
A person suffering from broken bones should not be moved until the injured part has been secured so that it is immobile. Medical assistance should be obtained.

Maintain a safe environment for customers, staff and visitors
Responsibilities of the employer 1) Provide and maintain premises and equipment that are safe and without risk to health;
2) Provide supervision, information and training; 3) Issue a written statement of safety policy to employees to include: general policy with respect to health and safety at work of employees; the organisation, to ensure the policy is carried out; and how the policy will be made effective;
4) consult with the employees' safety representative and to establish a Safety Committee.