News

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has recently made updates to its first aid at work guidance.

Whilst the updates do not change what is required to comply with the law, it is important that employers familiarise themselves with the changes to the HSE guidance. It is also a good opportunity to go back over existing guidance to ensure nothing has been forgotten or overlooked.

First aid at work: Guidance on regulations (L74)

First aid at work: Guidance on regulations (L74) covers what employers must do to address first aid provision in the workplace.

L74 accompanies the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981. It covers: 

• Managing the provision of first aid, including first aid kit requirements, equipment, rooms, etc.
• First aider training and requirements
• Appointed persons requirements
• Making employees aware of first aid arrangements
• First aid and the self-employed
• Situations where the first aid regulations do not apply

 

In 2018, the third edition of the guidance was reissued with subtle amendments with the aim of: 

• Adding clarity to the significance of the 2013 amendment concerned with ending the need for HSE to approve the training and qualifications of appointed first aid personnel.
• Updating guidance on the use of automated external defibrillators.
• Updating guidance on blended learning in first aid training.
• Factoring in additional amendments in line with other previous legislative changes.

 

The third edition has been further updated for 2024. The guidance now: 

• Emphasises employers' responsibilities in taking account of employees' mental health within their first aid needs assessment.
• Changes the term ‘catastrophic bleeding' to ‘life threatening bleeding', and provides added guidance for employers on what to do if they identify it as a risk within their workplace.
• Simplifies guidance on first aid training providers.

 

Selecting a first aid training provider: A guide for employers (GEIS3)

Selecting a first aid training provider: A guide for employers GEIS3 has been designed to help employers identify and choose a competent training provider to help deliver their first aid training needs.

This guide has been updated for 2024 to help employers better understand what they should consider when choosing a provider.

It sets out the various options available, including using external training providers or organising in-house training, as well as useful e-learning considerations. It also provides a checklist for evaluating the competence of first aid training organisations, and explains what constitutes an appropriate training course syllabus.

External first aid training providers

The HSE guidance says that training providers must show an employer that they are competent to deliver first aid training, and that they have the relevant quality assurance processes in place.

Whilst there is no requirement to formalise or record the checks carried out when selecting a training provider, the HSE suggests it may be useful to keep a written record. This will help demonstrate to employees, a safety representative, HSE or a local authority the process followed in making the choice.

In-house training

Employers opting to provide in-house first aid training are advised to ensure the training is fit for purpose. This entails making sure: 

• The content is appropriate and that the elements associated with first aid at work and emergency first aid at work are delivered in line with currently accepted standards.
• Individual in-house trainers or assessors possess the necessary skills, qualifications and competencies expected of those working for an external training provider.
• A system of quality assurance is in place to check trainer/assessor competence is regularly reviewed by competent verifiers.
• Class sizes are appropriate and consider the needs and capabilities of those being trained.
• Certificates, equipment provided and training time comply with the guidance provided. 

Training with an e-learning element

As online or e-learning learning is becoming increasingly common, HSE has set out guidance for employers providing first aid training with an e-learning component.

‘Blended learning' is the term given to training that involves a mixture of electronic and face to face learning.

HSE says that employers must conduct the necessary additional due diligence checks to ascertain whether this method of training is suitable, namely: 

• Make sure the individual being trained is comfortable with the technology being used to deliver the course.
• Ensure the training provider has a suitable means of supporting the individual during training.
• Check that the training provider has processes in place to prevent identity fraud.
• Make sure adequate time is allowed for in-person training and assessment of the practical elements of the syllabus.
• Satisfy yourself that the provider has a suitable means of assessing the e-learning element of the training

 

The above is a simplified version of just some of the guidance included in GEIS3. It is highly recommended that employers take time to study the guidance in its entirety to ensure legislative compliance.

First aid at work - further reading

Our Employer's Guide to First Aid at Work sets out the core employer responsibilities regarding first aid in the workplace, including how to assess first aid needs.

 The HSE's first aid at work Guidance on Regulation for employers is an easy-to-navigate, web-friendly version of L74.

Other helpful HSE guidance includes:

First aid at work: Your questions answered
Basic advice on first aid at work
Accident book