Frequently Asked Questions
We get asked many questions by our customers, so we have compiled a list of frequently asked questions. Please click on the questions below to reveal the answer. If you can't find the information that you are looking for then please do not hesitate to call us on 0845 644 5154 or drop us an email.
How many first aiders does my company need to have?
First aid cover in the workplace is a legal requirement. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) introduced a new set of regulations which came into force on 1st October 2009. These revised regulations require you to provide 'adequate and appropriate equipment, facilities and personnel to enable first aid to be given to your employees if they are injured or become ill at work'. What is 'adequate and appropriate' will depend on the circumstances in your workplace and you should assess what your first-aid needs are.
The Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 Approved Code of Practice and Guidance (L74 second edition) sets out the aspects of first aid that employers need to address, offering practical advice on what they need to do, and aims to help employers understand and comply with the Regulations.
This second edition provides details of a new training regime for first-aiders in the workplace. It has been revised to give employers greater flexibility in determining their first-aid provision and to recommend annual refresher training for first-aiders to help maintain their skills.
Read the The Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 Approved Code of Practice and Guidance (L74 second edition). (The PDF opens in a new window).
First Aid Assessment Tool
http://www.hse.gov.uk/firstaid/assessmenttool.htm This tool is designed to help employers determine the number and type of first-aid personnel to provide in their workplace. It complements the detailed guidance in found in the previously mentioned PDF.
I can't release my staff for 3 consecutive days, can courses be split over a longer period?
fast™ will always try to arrange training around your particular needs. Please email or phone us on +44 (0)845 644 5154, if you wish us to make special arrangements.
Can you arrange courses to be run in the evening or at weekends?
Yes – again, Please email or phone us on +44 (0)845 644 5154, if you wish us to make special arrangements.
Can a person who is pregnant, has a back problem, or is disabled, train to be a First Aider?
Anyone can learn First Aid - however, your selection of suitable people should be based on their ability to respond in an emergency to the benefit of your work force. The HSE advises that the selection of First Aiders for First Aid at Work purposes depends on a number of factors, including an individuals':
- reliability, disposition and communication skills;
- aptitude and ability to absorb new knowledge and learn new skills;
- ability to cope with stressful and physically demanding emergency procedures;
normal duties allow that they may be left to go immediately and rapidly to an emergency.
Where can I obtain further information about First Aid at Work?
fast™ will always be happy to answer any queries you may have and to offer any advice we can. A free leaflet First Aid at Work - your questions answered INDG214(rev1), revised 10/09 can be downloaded from the link or a printed version is available from HSE Books.
More detailed guidance on complying with the Health and Safety (first-aid) Regulations 1981 is given in the Health and Safety Commissions First Aid at Work: Approved Code of Practice and Guidance (L74 revised October 2009) ISBN 978 0 7176 6260 9 (also available from http://www.hsebooks.co.uk.)
