The recent high-profile injury suffered by Buffalo Bills defensive back Damar Hamlin during an NFL football game focused national attention on sudden cardiac arrest which, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), kills more than 2,000 people under 25 years of age annually. The consensus of a medical panel from the University of Central Florida (UCF) is that Hamlin suffered a commotio cordis, which can occur when young athletes are struck violently in the chest by a hard object, such as a hockey puck, baseball, or, in this case, receiving a sharp blow to the heart area when Hamlin and an opposing player collided. The impact occurred at just the right time during his heart’s cardiac cycle to disrupt its electrical signals which caused it to stop beating. Fortunately, he is on the road to recovery, thanks to the quick action of a team medical staff members who used an automated external defibrillator (AED) to revive him after his cardiac arrest. In the aftermath of the incident, enrollment skyrocketed in AED training classes across the country as ordinary citizens were motivated to learn how to use an AED and how to perform cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Considering the efficacy of AED’s, New York State has established some of the most comprehensive rules (codes) on where these devices must be available for use in the event of a cardiac arrest. Public schools, public institutions and buildings, places of public assembly (75 or more occupant load), health clubs, dental offices, and public swimming facilities, all must be equipped with AED’s. What are employer’s responsibilities, if any, to provide them on company premises or jobsites to protect their employees? OSHA considers AED’s first aid devices and, as such, would fall under 29 CFR 1910.151 (General Industry) and 29 CFR 1926.50 (Construction). The agency addresses the topic in the commentary below:  The Medical Services and First Aid Standard, 29 CFR 1910.151, requires that a person or persons should be adequately trained to render first aid. Adequate first aid supplies shall be readily available. The standard does not specifically require that AEDs be included in first aid supplies. The adequacy of first aid supplies and training can vary widely, depending on the type of employment and workplace conditions. It is the responsibility of the employer to make an assessment of the workplace and all first aid needs for expected injuries and illnesses. Therefore, employers are not mandated by OSHA to have AED’s available, but the common-sense approach should prevail because the agency enforces minimum standards. Going beyond minimum standards is every employer’s prerogative and, in this case, having this equipment available at jobsites could be a lifesaver.

Apprenticeship Training Linked to Safer Workers

Statistics confirm that new workers in all occupations are more prone to having accidents than their experienced co-workers. Over one-third (35%) of workplace injuries occur during the first year of employment, regardless of age or experience, according to a report by Travelers Companies Inc., after analyzing more than 1.5 million workers compensation claims filed between 2015-2019. Moreover, reportable injuries are occurring 18% earlier in employment tenures compared with 10 years ago.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), in 2020, 114,430 new workers on the job less than three months sustained a workplace injury or illness that was serious enough to require lost work time. Many of them filed worker’s compensation claims, and restaurant workers were at the top of the list, but construction workers were not far behind in second place. The problem is compounded by many young workers (16-24) jumping from job to job, which does not allow them time to gain enough experience to perform potentially hazardous construction tasks safely. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), one of the consequences of the increasing flexibility in contemporary labor markets is that individuals change jobs more frequently than in the past. As this career fragmentation trend is increasing, workers find themselves at high risk for injury, especially during their first six months of employment.

A new study, however, by the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries, found that workers who completed a plumbing apprenticeship program had a better chance of avoiding injury than non- apprenticed workers. L&I’s researchers compared registered apprenticeship data with worker’s compensation claims filed between 2000-2018. Most significantly, claim rates were an impressive 31% lower among those who completed apprenticeship training than those who did not. I’s findings were also peer reviewed and validated by the highly respected Journal of Safety Research (SHARP), an organization dedicated to reducing worker injuries. “This study provides support for what many believe: there are fewer injuries among apprentices,” said Dr. Dave Bonauto, SHARP manager. Epidemiologist Dr. Sara Wuellner, who led the SHARP analysis of the L&I report, said, “While the study focused on plumbers, it indicates apprenticeships not only provide well-trained workers, they also contribute to a safer workplace,” she said.

The benefits of apprenticeship training are considerable, and this new information seems to corroborate what many who sponsor these programs had already suspected. Young people working with seasoned professionals in an unhurried, supportive, and closely supervised environment not only acquire valuable job skills that may be applied to whatever trade they choose, but also learn how to work safely.
Ultimately, employers are responsible for the health and safety of all their employees, and special care should be given to incorporating new ones into the company organization. Steps must be taken to onboard and mentor them, whether they successfully completed an apprenticeship training program or not. Employers should note that graduate apprentices not only have a solid skills foundation as they enter the work force, but another positive byproduct of their training is their greater awareness of hazards and how to prevent accidents. Fortunately, more candidates with these credentials soon will be entering the workforce because the number of youth apprentices who enrolled in a program has grown 113% between 2010 and 2020 and continued expansion is expected for 2023 and beyond.

Please direct any questions or concerns to:
The Safety Division at Hamond Safety Management
Anthony Vacchio, [email protected] 516-762-4224