Can employers be held liable for the first aid it renders to workers?

OSHA addresses this issue in a December 11, 1996 LOI, which states:

“Question 2: “If an emergency situation were to occur where first aid was necessary and a trained employee were to panic, forgetting all of their training, and no first aid or improper first aid was administered could the employer be cited?”

Answer: If a trained employee were to panic in an emergency situation and not administer first aid or administer improper first aid, OSHA would not cite the employer. The employer would have met his obligation under the standard by having individuals trained to render first aid. The standard only requires employees to be trained in first aid, but does not address the actual performance of first aid in an emergency situation. Please note, however, that OSHA would conduct an investigation, if deemed necessary, to ensure that proper training certification, e.g., First Aid and CPR certificates were in order.”

Employees themselves would be covered under a state’s Good Samaritan law if applicable.

This does not entirely address the issue of liability, however. A company can be sued by nearly anyone at nearly anytime for nearly anything. Injuries in the workplace usually fall under Workers’ Compensation laws though.