Pit & Quarry, May 2013

BY CARL METZGAR A ggregate producers are battered and gifted with the same standards Within the training standards for surface and underground mining there are the requirements for first aid training One firmly held belief is that people who are first aid trained experience fewer injuries The problem is that this belief is not supported by data It may or may not be true but it is not supported by research data Every senior manager has a strong preference for demonstrable facts to support policy or resource consuming recommendations Lord Kelvin said it best saying When you can measure what you are speaking about and express it in numbers you know something about it but when you cannot measure it when you cannot express it in numbers your knowledge is of a meager and unsatisfactory kind it may be the beginning of knowledge but you have scarcely in your thoughts advanced to the stage of science We can believe that first aid training helps prevent injuries but we cant jump to the conclusion that it does without demonstrable data First aid can minimize the harm of injuries until professional help arrives Often making sure victims can breathe and stopping the bleeding turn out to be lifesaving Serious thinkers and supporters of broad CPR training programs have been troubled by the fact that trainees have some drop off in skill after a month and a more serious decline in skill after three months The most troubling part of the skills deterioration challenge is that trainees retain the theoretical aspects meaning they IT IS VITAL TO INVESTIGATE THE QUALITY OF FIRST AID AND CPR TRAINING BEING GIVEN TO THE MINERS ISTOCKPHOTO COM JAN WOLAK can do well on a multiple choice test but they do not fare so well demonstrating actual physical skills that are supposedly taught A serious review of CPR training turned up sobering facts Practice time on manikins was limited Errors during practice time were not corrected The two person team practice sessions were ineffective Students and instructors had inflated ideas about the effectiveness of the training The training was faulty but neither the instructors nor the trainees were aware of it Some instructors felt they were introducing innovative techniques The innovative techniques are the rub Outsiders or the administrating agency had not evaluated the techniques Enthusiasm is not a valid substitute for competence in CPR OK anecdotes dont make science but in my personal case in the years I taught first aid and CPR nobody ever SPONSORED BY Many plant managers will find that the local EMS and fire department standard for response might very well be in the eight minute range Still their promptness may not change the need for prompt delivery of first aid came to a class and did a follow up evaluation of my skills or delivery All the agency ever saw was the written tests and the students evaluations Because I read the evaluations before I turned them in I was doing fine There is a serious issue for the aggregate producer It is vital to investigate the quality of first aid and CPR training being given to the miners All of us recognize that the delivery of medical attention has changed radically Mines that were once remote have an urgent care clinic close by Upon checking many plant managers will find that the local EMS and fire department standard for response might very well be in the eight minute range That has not changed the need for prompt delivery of first aid Professionals emphasize the critical nature of care between injury and the arrival of expert help New miner and refresher training both have a requirement for first aid At the risk of being political trust your first aid supplier But verify the quality P Q First aid still a necessity Carl R Metzgar CSP has more than 30 years of safety and health experience in the aggregates industry He provides consulting services with a specialization in program evaluation training compliance and loss control and can be reached at 336 766 1218 cmetz46840@ aol com 48 PIT QUARRY May 2013 www pitandquarry com