Workplace first aid changes - questions and answers
Why are the changes happening?
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE), carried out an evaluation
of first aid in the workplace and found that 'although first aid
awareness and penetration in workplaces was good, compliance was
found to be more "in spirit" rather than the letter of the
regulations and this exposed some important deficiencies in the
format and content of guidance and in the proportionality of the
current regulatory requirements for lower risk employees'. The new
'recommendations are made regarding the development of the
regulations and associated guidance and on the frequency and length
of first aid training'.
The changes have been developed in consultation with employers
and training providers and it is hoped that the new format will
make it easier for employers to comply with the regulations.
When will the changes come into effect?
The changes will come into effect on Thursday 1 October
2009.
Will they change again?
This is the first major change to the first aid training
requirements in 25 years, so although there is always the
possibility of further changes, they are not expected for some
time.
What are the changes?
The current initial four day First Aid at Work
(FAW) course will be shortened to three
days and there will be a new qualification of
Emergency First Aider in the Workplace (EFAW) that
will require a one day training course.
The FAW requalification remains unchanged at
two days.
The HSE will also strongly recommend that FAW and EFAW
students attend an annual three hour Basic Skills
Update (BSU) course to prevent 'skills fade'.
Is my current FAW certificate still valid?
Yes, up until the expiry date even if this is after 1 October
2009.
Does the shorter course mean there is going to be less content
trained on the course?
The HSE has not, as yet, formally announced the content of the
EFAW/FAW/BSU
courses, but St John Ambulance are confident that the training that
has been developed to support the current FAW/Emergency Aid for
Appointed Persons (EAAP) training, will cover most if not all of
the content of the revised courses.
Can I wait for the new course?
No, you will need to maintain trained first aiders in your
workplace between now and October 2009. Also we do not envisage
that there will be anything included on the new course that is not
already covered but we are waiting for the HSE to confirm this. The
current qualification will still be valid for three years. The HSE
has already stated that the new system will take three years from
October 2009 to implement.
When do I have to do a new requalification course?
When your current certificate is about to expire.
Will I have to attend refresher training?
The HSE recognise that 'skills fade' does occur during the three
year validity of current certificates and strongly recommend a
three hour basic skills update annually. You will not need this
update the same year that you attend a requalification course, but
would undertake a BSU course in years one and two before taking a
requalification course in year three.
Is the insurance cover that St John Ambulance gave to me when I
completed my course still valid?
Yes and will remain valid for the life of the certificate.
What course will I need to do; will I need more first
aiders?
To decide on the numbers of first aiders required and the level
of training needed, employers are required to carry out a risk assessment
When assessing your specific needs, employers need to
consider:
- workplace hazards and risks
- the size of the organisation
- the organisation's history of accidents
- the nature and distribution of the workforce
- the remoteness of the site from emergency medical services
- the needs of traveling, remote and lone workers
- employees working on shared or multi-occupied sites
- annual leave and other absences of first aiders and appointed
persons.
The HSE will provide updated guidance for employers before the
changes are implemented.
What is the difference between a first aider in the workplace
and an emergency first aider in the workplace?
A risk assessment will highlight the
level of risk in the workplace, using this information you will be
able to decide what course is required for your first aiders.
Generally speaking, FAW trained first aiders will be required in
higher risk sites; lower risk may only require EFAW trained staff,
but this will dependant on other factors. Further information will
be available from the HSE website www.hse.gov.uk/firstaid nearer
the time of implementation.