First Aid, CPR, and OSHA Recordkeeping — Construction (general)

Objective. Students demonstrate adult CPR with an AED, control bleeding with direct pressure and tourniquet application, and correctly identify which construction injuries require OSHA 300 log recording.

Why First Aid and Recordkeeping Matter on a Construction Site

Construction is one of the most hazardous industries in the United States. Workers face falls, struck-by hazards, electrical shock, and severe bleeding every day. Knowing how to respond in the first few minutes of an emergency — and knowing how to document it correctly afterward — protects lives and keeps job sites legally compliant. This lesson covers adult CPR with an AED, bleeding control using the STOP THE BLEED protocol, and OSHA injury recordkeeping requirements.

Adult CPR and AED Operation

Cardiac arrest can happen anywhere, including on a construction site. Survival rates drop sharply with every minute that passes without CPR. The American Heart Association (AHA) and the American Red Cross both teach a consistent sequence for adult CPR:

1. Check the scene — Make sure the area is safe for you to enter. Do not become a second victim.

2. Check responsiveness — Tap the person's shoulders firmly and shout. If there is no response, call 911 (or have someone call) and retrieve an AED.

3. Open the airway — Tilt the head back and lift the chin.

4. Check for breathing — Look, listen, and feel for no more than 10 seconds. Occasional gasping is not normal breathing.

5. Begin chest compressions — Place the heel of one hand on the center of the chest (lower half of the sternum). Place the other hand on top, interlace fingers, and keep arms straight. Compress at least 2 inches deep at a rate of 100–120 compressions per minute. Allow full chest recoil after each compression.

6. Give rescue breaths — After 30 compressions, give 2 breaths (1 second each, watch for chest rise). If you are untrained or unwilling to give breaths, hands-only CPR is acceptable for adult victims.

7. Continue the 30:2 cycle until an AED arrives, the person shows obvious signs of life, or EMS takes over.

AED Operation: Automated External Defibrillators are designed for any trained bystander to use. When the AED arrives: power it on, attach the pads to bare skin as shown in the diagram on the pads, let the device analyze rhythm (stop CPR and do not touch the patient), follow the voice prompts — deliver a shock if advised, then immediately resume CPR. AED trainer units used in class simulate this sequence safely with no real electrical discharge.

Bleeding Control: STOP THE BLEED

Severe bleeding from a traumatic wound can be fatal in minutes. The national STOP THE BLEED campaign teaches three core actions:

1. Call 911 — Do this first or have a bystander do it.

2. Apply direct pressure — Use gloved hands, a clean cloth, or gauze. Press firmly and do not let go. For a wound with depth (a cavity), pack the gauze tightly into the wound and maintain pressure.

3. Apply a tourniquet — For an extremity (arm or leg) with life-threatening bleeding that cannot be controlled with pressure alone, apply a commercial tourniquet (such as a CAT or SOFTT-W style) 2–3 inches above the wound. Tighten until bleeding stops. Note the time of application on the tourniquet or the patient's skin. Never remove a tourniquet once applied — that is a job for medical personnel.

PPE reminder: Always don nitrile gloves before making contact with blood or body fluids. If gloves are not immediately available, use the thickest barrier available and wash hands thoroughly as soon as possible.

OSHA Injury Recordkeeping

Federal OSHA requires most employers with more than 10 employees to keep records of work-related injuries and illnesses. The key document is the OSHA 300 Log. Understanding the recording decision keeps your employer compliant and provides data that drives safety improvements.

First Aid Case (NOT recordable): Treatment limited to: one-time wound cleaning, non-prescription medication at non-prescription strength, bandages, non-rigid splints, tetanus shots, or similar minor treatment. The worker can return to full duty without restriction.

Recordable Case (must be entered on the OSHA 300 Log): Any work-related injury or illness that results in:

Days away from work
Restricted work or job transfer
Medical treatment beyond first aid
Loss of consciousness
Diagnosis of a significant injury or illness by a healthcare professional

Reportable to OSHA Directly (phone or online, within required timeframes):

A work-related fatality must be reported to OSHA within 8 hours.
A work-related in-patient hospitalization, amputation, or loss of an eye must be reported within 24 hours.

Use the OSHA recordkeeping decision-tree (found in OSHA publication 3245) to work through borderline cases step by step: Was it work-related? Was it a new case? Does it meet one of the general recording criteria? If all three answers are yes, it is recordable.

Safety Points for This Lab

Treat all manikins and training equipment as if real; follow your instructor's start/stop commands.
Wash hands before and after manikin use; use individual manikin face shields.
Use only trainer-grade AED units and tourniquet simulators — never practice with live defibrillators.
Wear gloves during the bleeding-control scenario.
If you feel lightheaded during compressions, stop and notify the instructor immediately.

Key terms9

Cardiac ArrestSudden loss of heart function in which the heart stops pumping blood effectively; requires immediate CPR and defibrillation to prevent death.

AED (Automated External Defibrillator)A portable device that analyzes heart rhythm and delivers an electrical shock to restore a normal rhythm; designed for use by trained bystanders.

Chest Compression Rate and DepthAHA-standard adult CPR requires compressions at 100–120 per minute and at least 2 inches deep with full chest recoil between compressions.

TourniquetA device applied tightly around an extremity to compress blood vessels and stop severe, life-threatening bleeding; time of application must always be recorded.

STOP THE BLEEDA national bleeding-control awareness campaign teaching three actions: call 911, apply direct pressure or wound packing, and apply a tourniquet for uncontrolled extremity bleeding.

OSHA 300 LogThe official OSHA form on which employers record work-related injuries and illnesses that meet OSHA's recordability criteria throughout the calendar year.

Recordable CaseA work-related injury or illness resulting in days away from work, restricted duty, medical treatment beyond first aid, loss of consciousness, or a significant diagnosis — must be entered on the OSHA 300 Log.

First Aid CaseA work-related injury treated with only minor, one-time care (e.g., a bandage, over-the-counter medication at labeled dose) that does not meet recording criteria and is not entered on the OSHA 300 Log.

Reportable EventA work-related fatality (report within 8 hours) or in-patient hospitalization, amputation, or eye loss (report within 24 hours) that must be reported directly to OSHA beyond standard recordkeeping.

In class: American Heart Association or Red Cross-aligned hands-on CPR and AED skills session on manikins: each student completes at least two full CPR cycles and one AED scenario to certification standards. · Simulated bleeding-control scenario using wound-packing trainers and commercial tourniquets; students follow STOP THE BLEED sequence and are timed and evaluated individually. · Case-study exercise: students review five construction incident narratives and decide, using OSHA recordkeeping decision-tree guidance, whether each is a first aid case, a recordable case, or a reportable fatality/amputation — answers discussed as a class.
Materials: CPR manikins (adult), AED trainer units, bleeding-control trainer kits, commercial tourniquets (CAT or SOFTT-W style), first aid kits, OSHA recordkeeping guidance publication (OSHA 3245), NCCER Core Module — Basic Safety
Check: Instructor-evaluated CPR/AED skills checkoff using certification provider rubric — pass requires correct compression rate, depth, and AED operation with zero critical-step errors; OSHA recordkeeping quiz scored at 80% or higher.

Practice check8

Answer each question, then check it. Nothing is recorded; this is your own practice.