Why
have the changes happened?
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 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.
What are the changes?
The old four day
First Aid at Work
(FAW) course has
been
shortened to three days and a new qualification of
Emergency First Aider
in
the Workplace (EFAW) has been established as a one
day training course. The FAW requalification remains unchanged at two
days. The HSE now strongly recommends that FAW and EFAW students
attend an annual three hour Annual refresher course to prevent 'skills
fade'. Both the First aid at work and Emergency first aid in the
workplace courses are approved by the HSE and must be taught by HSE
approved first aid
training providers.
When did the changes
take
effect?
The changes came into effect on Thursday 1st October 2009.
Does the shorter course
mean there is going to be less content trained on the course?
The HSE confirmed that the First aid at work course
will be similar to the old version in content, but will be covered
in three days, not four. Recent simplification of first aid protocols,
including CPR and casualty movement, means that less time is needed to
teach these and other subjects. The teaching techniques used by First
Aid Expert will ensure your first aiders will continue to be trained to
the highest standards demanded by the HSE.
When do
I have to do a new
requalification course?
When your current certificate is about to expire. Employers will
not be required to retrain all their first-aiders as soon as the
implementation date is reached. First-aiders with a valid first aid at
work (FAW) certificate will only enter the new arrangements when their
certificate expires. This means that it will take three years post
implementation before all first-aiders in the workplace are captured
within the new training structure.
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 recommends a three hour
Annual refresher course at the end of both the first and second year of
your First aid at work qualification.
You will not need to take the Annual refresher in the same year
that you attend a requalification course to renew your certificate.
What course will I need to
do; will I need more first aiders?
Employers are required to carry out a risk assessment to decide on the
numbers of first aiders required and the level of training needed.
When assessing your specific needs, employers need to consider:
The following table offers
guidance to minimum levels of
first aid cover in a workplace but is no replacement for a
thorough risk assessment.
What is the difference
between a first aider in the workplace and an emergency first aider in
the workplace?
The 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, first aiders
with a First aid at work certificate will be required in higher risk
sites or places with a large workforce or high perceived level of risk;
lower risk may only require Emergency first aid in the workplace.
