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The Law
The regulations require that, in order to provide first aid to their employees who
are injured or become ill while at work employers must have suitable people, equipment
and facilities.
Regulation 3(2) says that: For this purpose a person shall not be
suitable
unless they have undergone such training and has such qualifications as the
HSE may approve and such additional training, if any may be appropriate in the circumstances.
A Health & Safety Executive First Aid at Work Training Organisation must carry out
such training.
For information on the regulations go to www.hse.gov.uk
CHANGES TO FIRST AID TRAINING
The Health and Safety Executive have announced changes to the structure and content of training courses for First Aiders in the workplace.
From 1st October 2009 two new courses are being introduced:
· A full 3 day First Aid at Work (FAW) course, or
· A 1 day Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) course
The certificates issued will be valid for three years and during this period First Aiders should attend an annual three hour First Aid Refresher (FAR) course. At the end of the three year period it will be necessary to requalify as follows:
· A 2 day First Aid at Work Requalification (FAWR) course
· A 1 day Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) course
Selecting the appropriate course will depend on the circumstances of the workplace and will be informed by the findings of the department’s first aid needs assessment. Please see attached flowchart for this process.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ON THE CHANGES TO FIRST AID TRAINING
When will the changes be fully implemented?
The new training courses will be introduced from 1st October 2009.
If a First Aider obtains a First Aid at Work certificate just before implementation of the new training regime, will they need to be retrained as soon as the new courses are introduced?
No. They will only enter the new training regime when their three year First Aid at Work
certificate expires.
Will annual refresher training be a mandatory requirement?
No. It will be strongly recommended to employers to help qualified First Aiders maintain
their basic skills and keep up to date with any changes in first aid procedures.
The current requirement for 2 assessors for all FAW courses will be reduced to
1 assessor for courses of 6 or less trainees
FLOWCHART FOR FIRST AID COURSES OVER 3 YEAR PERIOD click here