AEDs in Manufacturing

Each and every working industry poses different risks for both the employers and employees. However, some companies, even in the most dangerous of industries overlook some of the most important health and safety measures. This sadly includes defibrillators.

Some of the reasons behind why these life-saving devices are overlooked are:

Many employers are unsure of what AEDs do Many don’t feel informed enough about the devices to invest Many people are worried that by using a defibrillator on a casualty, it may cause them further harm.

Employees who are employed in the manufacturing industry can expect to work in busy, loud environments that pose a variety of hazardous risk factors. The hustle and bustle and pressured-nature of this environment can put employees in the manufacturing industry at risk of falling victim to Sudden Cardiac Arrest.

This is one of the many reasons why employers in this particular industry should equip the working environments with everything required to act in a medical emergency, including a defibrillator.

The Importance of Defibrillators in the Workplace

Unlike other cardiac events, Sudden Cardiac Arrest does not discriminate and usually occurs without any prior warning. Aspects such as the patient’s current health condition, age, gender and ethnicity do not factor when it comes to determining the cause of the cardiac arrest, therefore everyone is at risk.

The manufacturing industry is one of the more physically demanding industries people can work in. From food manufacturing to car manufacturing, in all sectors of this industry, employees can expect to work 5 days a week, performing repetitive tasks, putting themselves under more physical strain than those who work in environments such as offices.

The repetitive nature of the labour could potentially affect the employee’s muscles which in turn could lead to the labour affecting the employee’s heart as the heart has to meet the demands of the muscles in use.

It could be assumed that the strain on the heart to meet the demands of the muscles performing the repetitive tasks could lead to the employee falling victim to Sudden Cardiac Arrest and without a readily available defibrillator to help restart the victim’s heart back into a regular rhythm, the victim’s chance of survival would decrease 10% per minute.

Unlike offices and restaurants that are situated in the centre of cities and towns, manufacturing factories are usually located in industrial estates which usually reside further away from the centre. It is also highly likely that these locations can only be accessed by authorised personnel (staff) unless stated otherwise. It’s not unusual for these locations to span across large areas of land, in some cases over 1000ft2.

If someone in a manufacturing factory fell victim to sudden cardiac arrest whilst working, these simple aspects could make it extremely different for the Emergency Services to arrive at the scene without delay. The longer the treatment is delayed, the lower the victim’s chance of survival. For every minute that they do not receive treatment, their survival chance decreases 10% per minute.

This statistic alone explains the importance for all business types to have a readily available defibrillator on site.

Manufacturing & Sudden Cardiac Arrest Statistics

Every year in the UK, there are approximately 30,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests. It is estimated that 80% of these events occur at the victim’s home whereas the remaining 20% occur in a public place, such as a park or shopping centre. Only 20% of these patient’s hearts are in a shockable rhythm when the Emergency Services arrive.

This figure could be increased if more people were aware of cardiac arrest and treatment was delivered immediately by a bystander. Treatment in the form of effective CPR would help to maintain the patient’s heart rhythm in a shockable rhythm, ready for treatment from a defibrillator.

A successful rescue can only be executed if both aspects of the treatment are delivered. This includes the delivery of effective CPR, performed on a ratio of 30 chest compressions to 2 rescue breaths and the shock from a potentially life-saving defibrillator. Many people are unaware, but a shock from a defibrillator will stop the heart completely, allowing the body’s natural pacemaker to take over and restart the heart in a regular rhythm.

For every minute that the patient does not receive the definitive treatment, their survival chance decreases 10% whereas if treatment is delivered within 3-5 minutes of the patient collapsing, their chance of survival increases significantly from 6% to 74%. However, sadly, 90% - 95% of Sudden Cardiac Arrest casualties do not survive as treatment is not delivered.

EEF stated that there are currently 2.6 million employees in the manufacturing industry and Britain boasts the 8th largest manufacturing output in the entire world. The HSE reported that in the financial year of 2016 – 2017 there was a total of 19 fatal injuries in the manufacturing industry. In the previous 5 years, fatalities in this particular industry were caused by:

Fall from heights (20%) Contact with machinery (18%) Struck by an object (14%) Trapped by something collapsing/ overturning (10%)

Despite there not being an exact figure for the amount of Sudden Cardiac Arrests suffered within the manufacturing industry, having a readily available AED is equally as important as having a fire extinguisher and fire blanket on site. By equipping your workplace with an AED, you’re prepared for almost any emergency scenario.

Industry Essential

In a manufacturing factory, it important that the employees are protected in every single aspect of their job. It’s important that the employees wear the correct footwear and wear overalls to protect their clothing too to help avoid the known safety hazards.

With these simple, common-knowledge aspects in mind, we prompt employers in this specific sector to consider the additional protection of a defibrillator for not only their employees but for themselves and visitors too.

Equipping your site with an AED and ensuring it is accessible to everyone will demonstrate how you’ve gone above and beyond in your health and safety precautions and in the investment in the lives of the workers.

Do you think defibrillators should be a mandatory piece of equipment for manufacturing sites? Has your workplace already invested in a life-saving device? Share your comments below on the matter below or head on over to our Twitter page @defibshop and share your thoughts on AEDs in the workplace.

defibshop are committed to equipping everyone with the skills and knowledge to save a life. Speak to one of our Product Specialists on 0161 776 7422 or fill out our Contact Form.Learn more about defibrillators