Changes to First Aid at Work guidance in 2009
Background
First aid in the workplace is regulated by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) under the Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981.
It's a legal requirement that an employer has to provide adequate first aid cover for each of their employees.
The Changes
In October 2009 the Health and Safety Executive made changes to the guidance they issue for first aid in the workplace.
The main changes are as follows ...
- Employers are now legally required to undertake an 'Assessment of First Aid Needs' appropriate to their workplace
- Two training courses for first aiders are now regulated, the existing 'First Aid at Work' course and a new 'Emergency First Aid at Work' course
- Employers are 'strongly advised' to arrange for their first aiders to undertake CPR Refresher training on an annual basis via a 3 hour course
In detail ...
Employers are now legally required to undertake an 'Assessment of First Aid Needs' appropriate to their workplace
The 'Assessment of First Aid Needs' identifies what level of first aid cover an employer needs to provide within their workplace.
The Assessment may determine that you do not need a first aider in the workplace; if it is low risk and has few employees for example. In this case you need only designated an 'Appointed Person' to take responsibility for 'first aid arrangements'.
The Appointed Person does not legally have to undertake any training for the role but should sensibly undertake either an unregulated 'Appointed Persons' or an HSE regulated 'Emergency First Aid at Work' course. We strongly recommend the latter.
If the Assessment determines that one, or more, first aiders are required then they should undertake a 'Emergency First Aid at Work' or 'First Aid at Work' course dependant on the level of risk and the number of employees.
For further guidance on how to carry out an 'Assessment of First Aid Needs' ... click here
Two training courses for first aiders are now regulated, the existing 'First Aid at Work' course and a new 'Emergency First Aid at Work' course
These two courses are the only courses which train someone as a first aider. Both are regulated by the HSE and can only be delivered by approved or accredited training providers.
The existing 'First Aid at Work' course is now delivered over a period of 3 days (or equivalent within a 10 week period). It had previously been a 4 day course but simplification of techniques has resulted in it being possible to deliver the same content in a shorter period.
The 'First Aid at Work (Refresher)' course remains a 2 day course.
First aiders trained on a First Aid at Work course are generally required in workplaces which are high risk and/or have more than 25 employees and/or have identified medical or first aid requirements which not covered on the Emergency First Aid at Work course.
The new 'Emergency First Aid at Work' course is delivered over a 6 hour period - normally a single day.
An Emergency First Aid at Work course is appropriate training for first aiders where the workplace is considered low risk and no specific medical or first aid requirements have been identified.
Employers are 'strongly advised' to arrange for their first aiders to undertake CPR Refresher training on an annual basis via a 3 hour course
The HSE strongly recommends that CPR Refresher training takes place on an annual basis. This reduces the affect of skill fade and maintains competence.
If you have completed a first aid course over a minimum of 6 hours (normally 1 day or more) with us in the last 3 years then you can complete CPR Refresher training with us free of charge once every 12 months. Simply enter the word "FREE" in the Discount Code at the time of booking.
For further information do not hesitate to Contact Us.
