Workplace defibrillator guidelines to save lives

In a bid to improve safety in all Australian workplaces and counter the incidence of cardiac arrest, new guidelines for the proper deployment and use of Automated External Defibrillators (AED) have been unveiled by The Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Financial Services and Superannuation, The Hon. Bill Shorten MP.

The establishment of the AED Deployment Register (AEDDR), a new national policy authority and regulatory body, was also announced at an official launch in Canberra on 29 November.

Cardiac arrest is the leading cause of sudden death in Australia, ahead of prostate cancer, bowel cancer, breast cancer and road deaths. Many lives could be saved with the use of an Automated External Defibrillator.   

While there has been a proliferation of AEDs in the workplace there has been a lack of adequate instruction and safeguards and unfortunately there have been many fatalities resulting from malfunctioning or poorly deployed devices.

According to US research, more than 21% of nearly 386,000 defibrillators surveyed between 1996 and 2005 were made so defective by electrical, software and other problems that they could not defibrillate a victim when needed. In Australia, the number of deployed AEDs is not even known, let alone their level of reliability.

The AEDDR has developed Australia’s first guidelines on the proper deployment of defibrillators. The Defibrillator Guidelines are designed to provide minimum compliance standards and a certification programme for AEDs in Australia.

The new guidelines governing the use and application of AEDs will contribute to a safer workplace for all Australians.

Former Qantas Chief of People Safety and AED Deployment Registry President Dr Graeme Peel said cardiac arrest is the leading killer in western society and AEDs are critical to survival. 

“Government and business workplace managers will welcome clear and concise directions which establish best practice standards on the use and maintenance of AEDs,” Dr Peel said.

“The only thing worse than not having an AED; is having an AED that doesn’t do the job when it is needed.

“Our long term goal is to have workplace regulatory bodies across Australia mandate these guidelines. In the US in 2000 for example, President Bill Clinton mandated that AEDs were to be required in all Federal buildings,” Dr Peel said

Based in Canberra, the AEDDR is a not for profit organisation which has been established to ensure that AEDs throughout Australia meet standards of safety, reliability, effective capability and ease of use. It will also ensure that all associated training is effective, of a high quality standard and delivered with sufficient regularity and efficiency so that users in the workplace and elsewhere will be enabled to confidently save lives.

The AEDDR will be funded through the sales of the guidelines and AED registrations.

Guidelines can be purchased via the AEDDR website: www.aeddr.com