First Aid at Work Changes
On the 1st October 2009 the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) introduced new guidance on undertaking a first aid needs assessment. The updated guidance has seen the introduction of a new HSE approved 1 day Emergency First Aid at Work course to replace the current Appointed Persons course and a new 3 day First Aid at Work course.
The qualifications of all First Aiders trained under the current system (before October 2009) will remain valid and can be counted in the new first aid needs assessment.
The Changes
- There are now two types of HSE Approved First Aider.
- The introduction of ‘strongly recommended’ annual refresher training.
What happens to my existing 'First Aid at Work' first aiders?
Existing First Aid at Work Certificates will still be accepted by HSE, so you only need to retrain existing staff as their certificates expire (when they will move onto the new training regime). You may wish to consider annual refresher training for your existing first aiders, which falls in line with the new guidance.
My First Aid Needs Assessment says I need Emergency First Aiders. Do I have to retrain
my Appointed Persons on this course?
If your staff have been taught an Appointed Persons course by Peak Skills in the last 2 years we guarantee that they have completed all the topics on the EFAW course, so you can justify using them as 'Emergency First Aiders' until their existing certificates expire, when you should re-train them on the EFAW course. You may however wish to consider annual refresher training for your appointed persons to fall in line with the new guidance.
Can my existing First Aider at Work attend the new 2 day FAW requalifying course?
Yes.
What if a First Aid at Work Certificate has expired?
Your First Aider at Work (FAW) can attend the 2 day requalification course up to 3 months before or 28 days after their current certificate expires. The new certificate will be valid from when the old one runs out. If the certificate expires by more than 28 days the First Aider must attend the full 3 day initial course.
The Emergency First Aid at Work course doesn't cover all the topics that my first aiders need to learn. Can you add topics to this course?
Yes. If we run a course at your premises we can tailor it to your needs. We may need to add extra time to the course to cover extra topics however. Please give us a call if you would like to discuss your needs.
Who should attend annual refresher training?
From October 2009, the HSE recommend that all First Aiders and Emergency First Aiders attend annual refresher training. If you have existing first aiders, they will officially join the new training regime when they renew their certificates. Due to the wealth of evidence on the severity of ‘first aid skill fade’ it is good practice to provide update training to existing first aiders.
Annual Refresher Training is also intended to speed up the introduction of new first aid guidelines that are based on the latest medical studies. New international first aid guidelines were released in October 2010 and they will be implemented by training providers as quickly as possible after they were announced.
