Further to an evaluation and consultation period, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have made changes to the First Aid Regulations. These were effective from the 1st October 2009.
These changes will affect your organisation and it is important that, in particular, training and HR managers are aware of the new duties and requirements.
First Aid at Work
First aid can be divided into two areas, first aid and emergency first aid. Emergency first aid is designed predominantly to extend life whilst awaiting healthcare professionals (i.e. Paramedics). The skills required for an Emergency First Aider are normally limited to:
- A basic understanding of the legislation (first aid in particular)
- Ability to manage an accident and prioritise treatments
- Resuscitation
- Dealing with common injuries in the workplace and the consequential symptoms such as shock and stress
In low risk environments such as offices and retail outlets, people can now be trained on the new approved one day emergency first aid at work course. This will ensure you have the relevant skills in-house to deal with minor incidents.
With the changes in legislation and course outlines, you may wish to consider conducting a fresh risk assessment in order to determine whether you may be able to limit expenditure at certain locations, providing the risk is low.
The standard first aid at work course has been reduced in duration from four days, to three. The content of such a course remains similar, as it is designed to cover a broad range of injuries and incidents at your organisation. These will include:
- A basic understanding of the legislation (first aid in particular)
- Using common workplace first aid equipment such as a first aid kit
- Record keeping
- Resuscitation
- Burns
- Fractures
- Seizures
- Allergic reactions
- Faints
- Eye injuries
- Common poisons
Are Current First Aid Qualifications Still Valid?
Yes, first aiders who retain a certificate obtained before the 1st October 2009 are still considered competent.
What are the Requirements for Refresher Training?
There is no mandatory requirement for refresher training. However, it is strongly recommended that any first aiders receive a three hour annual refreshment in order to retain their skills edge.
Where can I go for assistance?
A number of bodies are helpful in providing guidance for first aid at work. Some key contacts are:
HSE:
St John’s Ambulance:
British Red Cross:
CARE also offers a range of risk management assistance, including assistance with risk assessment of first aid requirements. Should you wish to discuss any such services, please contact Glenn Trafford on freephone 0800 328 7213.