First Aid at Work Course (FAAW)

The First Aid at Work course aims to train employees up to the standard required by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) for the Purpose of the Health and Safety First Aid Regulations 1981.

As an employer, how can you make sure that your employees have the right training?

It is your responsibility to ensure that your workplace has a standard of first aid training that matches the hazards that are outlined on your needs assessment.

Due to changes in October of 2013, the Health and Safety Executive is no longer required to provide formal approval of first aid training and employers will have more selection of health and safety courses and providers. This means that employees will have more responsibility to ensure that the training course and provider that they choose meets the right standards. Although the HSE will no longer be formally approving all first aid training, the law still states that employers need to provide adequate and appropriate equipment and personnel who are able to provide assistance in an emergency.

First aid is always the first level of care when an accident or injury occurs. First aid is performed by a trained (but non-expert) person in order to treat the patient as much as possible until medical treatment arrives. The training teaches a number of simple yet potentially lifesaving techniques that can be performed with minimal equipment. Sometimes, the life of an individual can depend on whether the correct techniques are given within the first few minutes of an accident or illness.

Course Content

On completion of the First Aid at Work course, candidates will be able to demonstrate knowledge and skills from the First Aid Training Manual. These topics include;

  • The Aims and Priorities of First Aid
  • Burns and Scalds
  • Laws and Regulations
  • Protection From Infection
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Recognition of Illness
  • Site Survey
  • Transport of Casualties
  • Basic Life Support
  • Poisoning
  • Miscellaneous Conditions
  • Burns and Scalds
  • Casualty Examination
  • Head Injuries
  • Chain of Survival
  • Concussion
  • Communication and Delegation
  • Compression
  • Stroke
  • Legal framework
  • Wounds and Bleeding
  • Record Keeping
  • Bone, Joint and Muscle injuries
  • Drowning
  • Shock
  • Electric Shock
  • Unconscious Casualties
  • Anaphylactic Shock
  • Smoke, Gas and Chemicals
  • Angina
  • Recovery Position
  • Epilepsy
  • Heart Attack
  • Crush Injuries
  • Diabetes
  • Effects of Heat and Cold
  • Spinal Injuries
  • Control of Bleeding

What Are the Entry Requirements?

All delegates must be free of any condition that will prohibit them from participating fully during the practical aspects of the workplace first aider course.

Is the Training Assessed or Examined?

On completion of the workplace first aider course, candidates will be assessed in Practical and Theory aspects of First Aid to the required standard. Successful completion of the First Aid at Work assessment will result in the award of a First Aid At Work certificate in line with Health and Safety First Aid Regulations 1981.

First Aid at Work Refresher

The First Aid at Work certificate will be valid for three years and should be renewed by attending a two-day First Aid at Work Refresher course before the expiry date of the First Aid at Work certificate. Certificates are issued by the British Red Cross a couple of weeks after the completion date of this first aid course.

If you’re looking for a more basic level of first aid training please view the 1-day Emergency First Aid at Work qualification. The course is just one day in duration and will teach attendees the basics of first aid in the workplace.

On-Site Training

If you have a group of individuals requiring the First Aid at Work training, we can arrange to deliver the course on-site or at you premises. The maximum number of delegate per instructor is twelve, however if you have more delegates requiring the training and your venue is suitable we can provide additional instructors on the same day, alternatively at a later date.

Make an enquiry for the On Site First Aid at Work course to be held at a venue of your choice by calling 0844 5766750.

 

Tips When Choosing the Right First Aid Course

Finding a first aid course that reflects your needs can be tricky, as there are so many different options available. Here are some tips to keep in mind when you are choosing first aid courses for the employees in your business:

  • Look for a course that used to be approved by the Health and Safety Executive. If the course was approved this shows that the level of training meets the strict quality standards.
  • Ensure that the training course you choose is delivered by a professional and well-respected organisation.
  • Consider the method in which your employees will attend their training. Will they attend a course in a classroom, or would it be better for the instructor to come to your workplace?
  • Also, keep in mind that distance learning is an option. There are e-learning first aid courses which will allow your employees to receive basic training even if your location is remote and isolated.
  • When choosing a course, make sure that it is adaptable to your particular workplace and that it will cover the circumstances that your employees are in on a daily basis.
  • Check what qualifications are expected of first aid trainers and assessors. What training and experience do the instructors need in order to teach the course?
  • Take a close look at the content of the syllabus. Does it cover all of the information that is relevant to your workplace?
  • Read reviews and testimonials from previous clients in order to verify the quality of the training provider.

What Else Should I Check?

  • the qualifications expected of trainers and assessors
  • monitoring and quality assurance systems
  • teaching and standards of first aid practice
  • syllabus content and certification.

These are just a few important factors to consider when you are determining which training courses are appropriate for the employees within your business.

 

A First Aid Training Provider You Can Trust

You must ensure that where your needs assessment indicates you need first aiders, they receive training that will teach them the necessary first aid skills and leave them feeling confident that they could respond to an emergency. To guarantee this, you should pick a training provider you can trust.

British Red Cross

All scheduled First Aid at Work courses advertised on our website are delivered by the British Red Cross. The British Red Cross is a volunteer-led humanitarian organisation that helps people in crisis, whoever and wherever they are. They are mentioned by the HSE in the new guidance as a standard setter for currently accepted practice in relation to the topics covered on first aid courses. They are one of the worlds leading first aid training organisations delivering first aid courses of the highest quality and standard to some of the worlds leading organisations. When you book a course with Envico you are helping to fund their humanitarian work and the first aid advice and support continues after your course ends.

 

Changes to the Health & Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981

From 1 October 2013 the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) will no longer be required to formally approve First Aid at Work training and employers will have more choices of training provider. This means there is going to be an increased responsibility on businesses to ensure the standards of the training and quality of training provider they choose.

Guidance on completing a needs assessment has also been updated with new recommendations to help you decide how many first aiders you need and what training they should have.

What Does This Mean?

The HSE will no longer be required to formally approve training and qualifications for the workplace. However, the law that employers should still provide adequate and appropriate equipment and personnel to provide assistance to injured or ill colleagues, and provide trained first aiders based on their own needs assessment, has not changed. The HSE will still ensure a standard of First Aid at Work training for the workplace is maintained.

Why Did These Changes Happen?

The Government commissioned an independent report on health and safety laws, which led to the Lofstedt report in June 2012. One of the recommendations from this report was that employers should be free to choose a first aid company, rather than having to use a HSE approved organisation.

Do I Still Need to Train First Aiders?

Yes. If your first aid needs assessment indicates that you need a first aider you should ensure they have undertaken suitable training, have an appropriate first aid qualification and remain competent to perform their role.

How Are Training Standards Regulated After the Changes?

You must ensure that where your needs assessment indicates you need first aiders, they receive training that will teach them the necessary first aid skills and leave them feeling confident that they could respond to an emergency. To guarantee this, you should pick a training provider you can trust.

Are My Existing First Aid Qualifications Affected by the Changes?

No, existing qualifications will remain valid until the expiry date shown on your First Aid at Work certificate. Qualifications should be updated after three years but we firmly agree with the HSE’s recommendation that first aiders should attend a first aid skills annual update to remain competent and confident in their abilities.

 

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

FAW or EFAW certificates that expired after 16 March 2020 can remain valid until 31 October 2020 or 6 months from date of expiry, whichever is later. All re-qualification training for these certificates should be completed by 31 March 2021.

To qualify for the extension, employers must be able to demonstrate that:

  • they have made every effort to arrange re-qualification training as soon as possible and can explain in detail why they have not been able to do so. For example, they must show evidence that staff with expired certificates are booked on to EFAW or FAW re-qualification courses,  if requested by an inspector
  • they have adequate and appropriate equipment and facilities to give first aid to any employee who is injured or becomes ill at work
  • the level of first aid cover provided remains appropriate for their particular work environment
  • the level of first aid provision necessary in high risk settings is fully maintained, eg in construction, agriculture, engineering and chemicals

This guidance now applies to employers in England, Scotland and Wales.