Cardiac arrest at work describes a sudden cardiac arrest that occurs in a workplace setting. It raises specific considerations for both the survivor and employer, including legal duties, return to work planning, and psychological recovery.
For employers, a cardiac arrest at work triggers duties under health and safety legislation. All workplaces with 50 or more employees are encouraged to have a trained first-aider and an accessible AED. Following an arrest, the employer may need to conduct an incident investigation and review their emergency response procedures. The Resuscitation Council UK provides workplace resuscitation guidelines.
For the survivor, returning to the same workplace where the arrest occurred can be psychologically difficult. Workplace triggers such as stress, noise, or the specific location may provoke anxiety, intrusive memories, or avoidance behaviour. A phased return, agreed reasonable adjustments, and Occupational Health Service support are all important. Access to Work funding may also be available. Survivors should discuss their specific situation with their Cardiac Nurse Specialist and their employer’s HR or Occupational Health team before returning.
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