Changes to first aid in the workplace
29 September 2009
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The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have announced changes to first aid in the workplace, which will come into effect from 1 October 2009. Here we tell you what the changes are and what you need to do to implement them.
The main changes include:
  • Revised risk assessment guidelines proposed to determine first aid provision in the workplace
  • Many organisations with five or more staff may now need qualified first aiders
  • Introduction of a new statutory one day course
  • First aid at work initial course is reduced from four to three days 
  • Introduction of a new half-day annual refresher is introduced
Risk assessment for first aid
 
New risk assessment guidelines will be published by the HSE on 1 October 2009. Only two categories of hazard will now be used for assessing risk levels in the workplace, instead of the present three (medium hazard has been removed).
 
Lower hazard environments
 
In shops or offices the risk of serious injury is low; however sudden illness or the likelihood of an accident cannot be eliminated. Consequently, the HSE states that all organisations should consider providing basic emergency life support for their staff, even if their risk assessment determines that qualified first aiders are not required.
 
Higher Hazard environments
 
With the elimination of the medium risk category, this classification is now likely to include the majority of organisations which used to be in this band, such as light engineering, food processing and warehousing.  If five or more staff (including part-time staff) are employed, the guidelines indicate a fully qualified first aider is required. 
 
A decision on whether staff will require training on the one or three day statutory course will need to be made, depending upon the severity of any injury which may occur.
 
The HSE strongly recommend that first aid provision should be considered for all those present in a workplace, not just for employees, but visitors as well.
 
One day emergency first aid in the workplace (EFAW) statutory course
 
This new course will be introduced from 1 October 2009, it replaces the present emergency aid for appointed persons course (AP or EAAP).
 
If the proposed risk assessment guidelines* are adopted, this course may be suitable where a first aider trained on the three day course is not deemed necessary if the likelihood of serious injury is low.
 
Certification on completion of this course will last for three years.
 
* Please note that the risk assessment proposals may be subject to change by the HSE and the information provided is based on the current draft guidelines.
 
Three day first aid at work (FAW) statutory initial course
 
This change is intended to reduce the burden on employers having to release staff for extended periods for training. The course content is similar to the previous four day course, but less time is required to teach the skills needed.
 
Annual refresher training
 
The HSE has discovered that skills diminish substantially in the three years between courses. Therefore, they strongly recommend an annual three hour refresher course should be taken by both EFAW and FAW certificate holders 12 and 24 months after certification. Full requalification must still be achieved in the third year. This refresher training will not be mandatory, but it will help qualified first aiders maintain their basic skills and keep up to date with any changes in first aid procedures.
 
What if I or my staff are already qualified?
 
Anyone wishing to take a first aid course from 1 October will have to take one of the courses outlined above.
 
Holders of current first aid certificates (FAW and AP) do not need to take another course until their certificate expires, when they will need to take the FAW or EFAW course.  They also need not take an annual refresher until after they requalify, although it is recommended that these are taken by existing certificate holders.
 
About the author
 
This information was provided by St. John Ambulance and HSE. For more information visit www.hse.gov.uk/firstaid


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