Undergoingfirst aidtraining is usually mandatory when starting ajob, especially if it’s a hazardous one. But despite going through training, some people might not be quick enough to react when it’s time to apply the knowledge in real life.

Luckily,this redditorwas. When he saw an injured worker, he volunteered his belt as a tourniquet and didn’t hesitate to call an ambulance. However, the injured person’s boss wasn’t too happy that he did.

Scroll down to find the full story below, where you will also findBored Panda’sinterview withDr. Russell Johnson, an MSU Foundation Professor of Management in the Eli Broad College of Business at Michigan State University, who was kind enough to answer a few of our questions on workplace safety.

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Knowing how to provide first aid can save lives

Paramedics carrying medical kits near an ambulance, ready to assist a bleeding employee.

Boss in suit looking at phone angrily, holding glasses, inside modern office setting.

Image credits:artursafronovvvv / Freepik (not the actual photo)

Image credits:Vast-Combination4046

“Safety is a dimension of job performance that is often overlooked,” expert says

Discussing the importance of safety in the workplace, Professor of Management at Michigan State University, Dr. Russell Johnson noted that safety is a dimension of job performance that is often overlooked.

“If safety is an important objective at work, then it must be made central in the workplace and HR functions. Companies need to hire for safety (for example, selecting people based on attributes that contribute to safe behavior, such as conscientiousness, emotional stability, cognitive ability, risk aversion, and so on), train newcomers and job incumbents on proper safety conduct, and, most importantly, build safety in the performance management system so that safety goals are set, safety behaviors are rewarded, unsafe practices are reprimanded, and ideas for improving safety are encouraged.”

The expert continued to point out that supervisors and managers occupy visible roles in the company that others look up to, so “If a supervisor walks the talk in terms of emphasizing safety and acting accordingly, then it provides a crystal clear picture of the importance of safety to others that they will be more likely to conform to. If supervisors ignore or otherwise fail to provide help, that lack of concern and cooperation will trickle down throughout the workgroup.”

According to Prof. Johnson, leaders play two key roles. “First, they occupy a visible role that captures the attention of others in the workplace, thus role modeling appropriate and safe conduct is a critical part of their role. When leaders engage in safe behaviors, employees are much more likely to act in a similar manner.

During the interview withBored Panda, Prof. Johnson also emphasized that a lack of safety measures or attention to them can be detrimental not only to the employees but to the company, too. “There are psychological and financial costs associated with leaders overlooking or ignoring safety,” he said.

“On the psychological side, it signals to employees that they are not valued as individuals; instead, they are just cogs in the machine and replaceable. A lack of support and care from leaders poisons the well at work, and can cause employees who were otherwise intrinsically motivated and satisfied with their jobs to switch over to lacking commitment and engagement. People leave supervisors, not companies.

“On the financial side, organizations incur a great deal of costs when an employee is injured or quits their job. Replacing a worker requires time and money to recruit, hire, onboard, and train, and meanwhile, the coworkers of those who are unable to work or quit have to pick up the slack, which hurts the morale of workers who remain,” Dr. Johnson explained.

Taking action immediately when a person needs help is crucial

Ambulance parked in front of a building under a clear sky, related to an employee being taken to the hospital.

No person is immune to an accident orhealthissues. That’s why it’s important to know exactly what to do when either happens in order to minimize the damage as much as possible. One of the best ways to prepare yourself for such scenarios is to familiarize yourself with first aid practices.

Entailing some relatively simple yet extremely important techniques and procedures (that can be performed with limited equipment), first aid is usually carried out until professional medical assistance arrives. Bearing in mind that time is of the essence in most cases, being able to react quickly and provide medical assistance during that crucial time can become a matter of life and death.

It’s often complete strangers that might have to rely on the help of those around them

A person bandaging a bleeding employee’s arm outdoors on a fall day.

Reddit conversation about speed of an ambulance taking a bleeding employee to the hospital.

Reddit comment discussing a work incident involving a bleeding employee needing hospital care and the boss’s reaction.

Text exchange about a boss’s frustration regarding a bleeding employee taken to the hospital by ambulance.

Reddit comments discussing workplace first aid kits and issues with glove availability after an employee emergency.

Fellow netizens believed the man did the right thing

Reddit user comment criticizing company after employee taken to hospital amid bleeding concerns.

Comment saying, “The employee is lucky you value his life more than his boss,” highlighting a workplace incident.

Image of a comment discussing playing Tetris after trauma, mentioning a boss’s reaction to a bleeding employee in hospital.

Text post expressing support for a brave act involving the safety of an employee taken to the hospital.

Reddit user comments about healthcare cost concerns in America after employee injury.

Text exchange discussing emotions after an emergency situation and criticizing a boss’s behavior.

Comment discussing the aftermath of calling an ambulance for a bleeding employee.

Reddit comment criticizing the U.S. healthcare and employment system related to ambulance costs and employer responsibilities.

Reddit comment discussing reactions to emergencies in the workplace.

Some people went through similar situations themselves

Online discussion about boss reaction after employee taken to hospital.

Text describing an incident where a boss denied an ambulance for an employee with a broken neck after an accident.

Text post about medical emergency and criticism for seeking hospital care.

Text exchange showing a boss discussing harsh consequences for injured employees, highlighting employer attitudes.

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