Sudden cardiac arrest on the worksite — what would you do?

Imagine you’re on the worksite and one of your employees suffers an electric shock. They suddenly fall to the ground — unconscious, not breathing, with no pulse. What would you do?

If the answer is “I don’t know”, the tragic reality is that without immediate CPR and a shock from a defibrillator, that person — your employee — would likely die within minutes.

As an employer, you’re responsible for the health and safety of your staff, but in order to be fully prepared you must first understand the number one risk facing Australia today — sudden cardiac arrest.

What is sudden cardiac arrest? Isn’t it the same as a heart attack?

Sudden cardiac arrest is the largest cause of death in Australia and is far more lethal and unpredictable than a heart attack. A heart attack occurs when the blood supply to part of the heart stops and thus causes a section of the heart muscle to begin to die; whereas a cardiac arrest occurs when the heart stops beating effectively. In other words, the heart attack victim is awake and the heart is beating. In contrast, the sudden cardiac arrest victim is not awake and the heart is not beating.

Without an immediate response from a first aider and a defibrillator shock, the chances of survival are a miniscule 2 to 5%. For every minute that passes, survival rates reduce by 10%. In other words, in just 10 minutes without any response, death is almost certain — cardiac arrest is that significant.

Defibrillators on the worksite

Currently, defibrillators are not compulsory on Australian worksites, which is particularly alarming for the construction industry where workers risk their lives every day when navigating loose wires, operating machinery and generally working in unpredictable environments.

Electrocution can cause sudden cardiac arrest and requires urgent application of a defibrillator; yet tragically, 15% of all workplace deaths in construction occur as a result of electrocution.

Having a defibrillator on-site and an adequate number of trained first aiders is the best way to ensure employees are safe in the event of a workplace emergency. Safe and healthy workplaces can also boost staff morale, lower levels of absenteeism, reduce job stress and encourage higher organisational commitment — a win-win for all involved.

But when it comes down to actually buying first aid equipment such as defibrillators, most employers think “it will never happen to me”. What they may not realise is that it doesn’t matter how old a person is, what they do for a living or whether they’re physically fit, cardiac arrest can (and does) strike anyone, anywhere, at any time.

The cost of being unprepared

Small businesses take a range of cost-effective precautions to minimise risk in the workplace and boost productivity. Let’s take a look at how defibrillators stack up against other workplace risk solutions:

• Staff sickies cost $340 per day per person in lost productivity — solution: a $25 flu jab.
• An IT system fail costs $670 per hour in lost productivity — solution: a $180 server back-up.
• A false fire alarm costs $2000 — solution: a $50 smoke detector.

The cost of cardiac arrest without a defibrillator is insurmountable (with employers facing staff recovery, mental health, sick leave, and fatality).

How do I get prepared?

Understand your duty of care

By law, employers must provide a safe working environment so far as is reasonably practicable — this includes having an adequate number of trained first aiders, equipment, procedures and facilities needed to create and uphold a safe workplace for all employees at all times. Failure to provide adequate first aid facilities exposes businesses to financial liability and reputational damage.

Get first aid ready

Ensure you have enough trained first aiders in the workplace at all times. It’s also important to make sure you’ve got an adequate number of first aid kits that are fully stocked, easily accessible and replenished often.

Insist on having a defibrillator on-site

While a defibrillator is not compulsory, it is a vital piece of emergency first aid equipment and the only definitive first aid treatment for cardiac arrest.

In the event of cardiac arrest, the correct response follows the DRSABCD (danger, response, send for help, airway, breathing, CPR, and defibrillation) Action Plan with CPR administered prior to a shock from a defibrillator. While using a defibrillator is very simple (the user follows audio instructions), and anyone can and should use one in an emergency, having the knowledge and confidence to administer a defibrillator shock correctly is crucial to ensure the best outcome.

While you can’t control when and where cardiac arrest strikes, there are simple steps you can take to ensure your employees lives are not at risk in the event of a workplace emergency.

*Anthony Hasphall is the Training Manager for St John Ambulance Victoria. Businesses can visit the St John website for more information.