Changes to First Aid Training
Jan 1, 2010
The changes to first aid training requirements, announced by HSE in April 2009, come into effect on 1 October 2009. These changes mainly relate to the training of first aid staff.
First Aid at Work: The current four day First Aid at Work course is to be reduced to a three day course. Simplification of some first aid techniques has allowed the course content to be similar in both courses but the shorter course will benefit employers, as trainees need to spend less time away from the workplace. First aiders qualified to this standard are appropriate for higher risk workplaces.
First Aid at Work – Re-qualification: This course is to remain as a two day course to be carried out every three years for First Aid at Work staff to maintain their qualification.
Emergency First Aid at Work: This is a new qualification to be recognised by the HSE. It is a one day course aimed at first aid staff working in lower risk industries.
Annual Refresher Training: The HSE has recognised that “skills fade” is a concern amongst first aid staff. First aiders may have not used their skills or re-read their training notes for many months when suddenly presented with an accident victim. To address these concerns, the HSE now strongly recommends all first aid staff attend annual, one-day refresher training course. This refresher training is strongly recommended, but not mandatory.
New guidance for employers on the provision of first aider staff is to be issued in October. Employers are required to provide sufficient trained first aiders as appropriate to the specific needs of their workforce. Currently workplaces are assessed as high, medium or low based on the types of accidents, number of employees, shift patterns, remoteness from the emergency services etc. The new guidance is expected to have only high or low categories.
