From the Rolls-Royce experimental archive: a quarter of a million communications from Rolls-Royce, 1906 to 1960's. Documents from the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation (SHRMF).
First Aid procedures and the importance of preventing sepsis from workplace injuries.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 176\2\ img264 | |
| Date | 1st November 1940 guessed | |
| Both the Factory Department and the National Safety First Association have published pamphlets dealing in very much greater detail with the whole subject of works safety organisation. References to them will be found in a special supplement to the November Industrial Safety Bulletin. PART III.—FIRST AID Special attention is drawn to casualties arising from sepsis. Lack of First Aid treatment, or of adequate treatment, results in an enormous and unnecessary loss of time on account of injuries that were originally trivial and which need not have stopped anyone working for more time than it would have taken to get First Aid treatment. In peace time there are about 20,000 actual cases of sepsis a year, and all sufficiently serious to cause at least 3 days lost-time. Sepsis is thus a serious problem, especially in the smaller works. This is the more regrettable as the preventive measures are essentially so simple. They are :— (a) Adequate arrangements for First Aid treatment in the works, including some proper system for redressings. (See Home Office Welfare Pamphlet No. 4, “ First Aid and Ambulance in Factories,” and the British Medical Association’s “ First Aid in Industry.”) (b) A firm determination on the part of the management that all injuries, however trivial, shall be reported for First Aid treatment. (c) Continuous propaganda to remind workers regularly of the need for First Aid. Provided that (a) and (b) are properly covered (and this is a straight-forward matter of works organisation) it is very easy to arrange a propaganda campaign either on an intensive scale to combat a high sepsis rate, or spread over a period to prevent one. Incidentally, the need for intensive campaigns may be specially great in war-time owing to the pressing claims of production tending to lead employees to disregard the fact that a few minutes spent on First Aid is not a waste of time, but an insurance against sepsis and against prolonged lost time at a later date. Included in the sample literature of this service is a leaflet “ Blood Poisoning.” This may be used for mass distribution to workers. Alternatively, a supply can be kept in First Aid Rooms or by First Aid Boxes, and a copy given to those who are late in reporting injuries. The firm may also send a copy to each foreman with a note that it gives the reasons why the firm insists on prompt reporting of even trivial injuries. Page Seven | ||