News
The HSE has Changed the First Aid at Work Regulations.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has announced the biggest changes to the first aid at work regulations for over a quarter of a century, Bostock Health Care is working hard to implement these changes and offer advice about the changes to our customers.
In 2003 the HSE commissioned some research into the First Aid at work regulations. This research included a survey, which was sent to representative employers as well as other people and organisations with a direct interest in first aid provision in the workplace. Interviews were conducted with some employers and others; their opinions were taken into consideration when the report was produced. The HSE hopes that the revised first aid courses will reduce the burden on employers while providing a more proportionate response to their first aid needs.
What changes are planned?
The four-day first aid at work (FAW) course will become a three-day course
How will we be able to refresh this qualification?
Once this first aid at work qualification has been completed it will be valid for three years. The refresher course for this qualification remains at two days at the end of this three year period.
Are there any other changes to the FAW course?
The HSE strongly suggest that the first aiders also attend annual half day refreshers at least twice during the three year period (preferably year one and two). This annual update will be called the Basic Skills Update (BSU) and it is hoped that this will prevent “skills fade”.
When will these changes take place?
These changes took effect from 1st October 2009.
Is my current certificate still valid?
Yes, your current FAW qualification will remain valid until the expiry date printed on the certificate.
The HSE proposes to introduce a new one-day Emergency first aid at work (EFAW) course, which will replace the currently unregulated one-day Appointed Person course. Training organisations offering this qualification will need to be registered either by the HSE or the QCA. This qualification will last for three years at which point another EFAW course will need to be completed. As with the first aid at work qualification they “strongly suggest” that the first aider completes two half-day refreshers during the period before the qualification actually expires.
The old FAW and EFA certificates will remain valid for three years. Courses attended prior to the changes in 2009 will not need to be refreshed until three years from the date of their exam, and the annual update will not be a requirement.
The British Safety Council believes that businesses need “clear and simple guidelines so that measures such as training for health and safety are seen as an asset, not a burden”. They say that “last year in Britain six million days were lost due to workplace injury - and 241 people were killed, the highest-recorded overall figure since 2001/2. That equates to one death at work every working day. The annual bill for employers in payouts and costs for accidents and injuries at work is £7.8 billion which is the equivalent of £250 a second.” Bostock Health Care have been training and advising our customers on their health and safety obligations for 25 years and aim to make the changeover period as painless as possible by offering clear and straight-forward advice and explanations to all of our customers.
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