Louisiana First Aid: What you need to know

The level of first-aid services maintained will depend on the hazards normally present at the worksite. Both the law and good common sense require at least a basic level of readiness. Louisiana does not require employers to provide first aid in the workplace, nor does the state have its own occupational safety and health plan for private employers. Therefore, in the private sector (private businesses and nonprofit organizations), the federal Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act) governs workplace health and safety. There are no first-aid safety rules for public sector (state and local government agencies) workplaces in Louisiana.

Note: Failure to comply with this requirement is among the top 10 violations cited by the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA). Additional information about workplace first-aid requirements is available. Please see the national First Aid section.

The state workers' compensation law requires employers with more than 15 full-time employees that are self-insured or privately insured to adopt and implement a safety plan for their workplace. The plan must include a first-aid program that provides for a trained first-aid person at each jobsite on each shift. A first-aid kit with proper supplies for the job exposures must be maintained and restocked as needed. Emergency phone numbers for medical services and key company personnel must also be maintained (LA Rev. Stat. Sec. 40:907).

A person (including a physician, nurse, or any healthcare provider, volunteer emergency medical technician, or ambulance association member) who provides emergency care in good faith at the scene of an emergency or ...