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Work in agriculture, construction or transport? Then it’s time to learn first aid, says the Red Cross.
The British Red Cross are urging people to learn first aid for the workplace, especially those working in high risk industries such as agriculture and construction.
According to recent statistics from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) across Great Britain 133 people died at work and 79,500 injuries were officially reported. People working in agriculture, construction and manufacturing reported the most accidents, as well as people working in accommodation, transport and food services.
The Red Cross will be offering advice on first aid at work at the Health and Safety Scotland exhibition between 22 and 23 April at the SECC in Glasgow.
Paul Stoddart from the charity said: “Last year 4.7million working days were lost across the UK as a result of workplace accidents. While this cost businesses millions of pounds, the real cost is human. No-one would ever want to be in a situation where a colleague was injured and they didn’t know what to do.”
A report released by the HSE showed the most common injuries are due to slips and trips (28%), handling, lifting or carrying (24%), and being struck by moving objects (10%).
Stoddart added: “It’s clear that more heavy duty industries are of course the more dangerous in terms of injuries, especially for people using heavy machinery and working alone. However we would urge everyone to learn how to save a life. Learning first aid is more than just a box-ticking exercise, it could make the difference between life and death, or help someone recover faster from an injury.”
Manning stand 144, hall 5, staff from the Red Cross will be attending the exhibition to provide information about first aid at work training in the UK. As a leading supplier of first aid courses, the Red Cross has been helping companies apply health and safety guidance in practice for more than 30 years and offers a number of options to help support staff with health and safety responsibilities.
The British Red Cross helps people in crisis, whoever and wherever they are. It is part of a global voluntary network, responding to conflicts, natural disasters and individual emergencies. We enable vulnerable people in the UK and abroad to prepare for and withstand emergencies in their own communities. And when the crisis is over, it helps them to recover and move on with their lives.
For more information on the British Red Cross: www.redcrossfirstaidtraining.co.uk www.redcross.org.uk @BritishRedCross www.facebook.com/BritishRedCross
Published: 08-04-15
