First Aid at Work (FAW) Refresher Training

Organisations and childcare providers must follow the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981. This law requires them to provide adequate first aid resources, which include equipment, facilities and trained staff, to promptly care for employees if they get injured or fall ill at work. The amount of first aid resources needed depends on the specific risks of each workplace. Employers must evaluate their first aid needs via a first aid risk assessment, either carried out by themselves or with external help. If this assessment shows a need for trained first aiders, employers must ensure staff receive the proper training.

First aid training is crucial because it gives people the skills to offer immediate medical help, which can sometimes be a matter of life or death while waiting for the emergency services. It prepares individuals to handle emergencies confidently, such as severe bleeding or shock. The training also helps them address minor issues like small burns or cuts, which don’t need expert attention. This way, serious cases can get the focus of hospitals or emergency services. In addition, knowing first aid is valuable, as emergencies can happen at anytime, both at work and in daily life.

As an employer, the type of first aid training you offer your staff depends on several factors and conducting a first aid needs assessment will help determine the level and type of training necessary for your workplace. These are the types on factors you need to consider:

1. Work Environment and Industry: The nature of your workplace significantly influences the kind of first aid training required. A construction site or chemical plant has different hazards compared to an office environment.
2. Number of Employees: In larger workplaces, more first aiders might be necessary, especially if employees are spread across different areas.
3. Specific Risks: If your workplace has specific risks like hazardous chemicals, heavy machinery or is in a remote location, you might need specialised first aid training.
4. Legal Requirements: You will need to be aware of and comply with your legal duties.

Generally, there are different types of first aid training:

1. Emergency First Aid at Work training: This training covers first aid procedures for common injuries and illnesses.
2. First Aid at Work training: This comprehensive training is designed for workplaces with higher risks and covers a broader range of scenarios than Emergency First Aid at Work training.
3. Pediatric First Aid training: If you work with children or infants, this training is crucial. It focuses on first aid procedures specifically for children.
4. Specialised First Aid training: This might include deep diving first aid etc.
5. CPR and AED training: This training focuses on cardiopulmonary resuscitation and using an Automated External Defibrillator (AED).
6. Workplace First Aid Training: This training is for anybody who is looking to learn or refresh their first aid skills, but is not used as an official qualification for an appointed First Aider (they should take a EFAW or a FAW course), but anybody can take this type of training (including an appointed First Aider) if they want an overview/introduction of first aid methods.

First aid training equips individuals with the skills and knowledge to respond effectively in various emergency situations. It must be remembered that there are a range of different types of first aid training, which means the content of each course varies. Here is a broad overview of what may be taught in a first aid training course, although there are specialised first aid courses that delve deeper into specific areas or cater to specific sectors, such as pediatric first aid and Automated External Defibrillator training:

1. Introduction to First Aid:

• Role of a first aider: Understand the importance and responsibilities of a first aider in different scenarios.
• First aid kit overview: Familiarise yourself with the contents of a standard first aid kit, learning the purpose and application of each item.
• Incident reporting: Introduction to the required forms and documentation for workplace accidents.

2. Basic First Aid Scenarios:

• Minor injuries: Dealing with minor cuts, scrapes and bruises.
• Serious conditions: Handling situations like unconsciousness, seizures and other major medical emergencies.

3. Key First Aid Topics:

• Allergic reactions: Recognising and managing severe allergies and anaphylaxis.
• Respiratory emergencies: Treating asthma attacks and choking incidents.
• Circulatory emergencies: Performing CPR, using a defibrillator and responding to heart attacks and strokes.
• Other areas: Dealing with bleeding, burns and shock.

4. Essential First Aid Skills:

• Emergency management: Staying calm, assessing the situation and determining the appropriate response.
• Calling the emergency services: Knowing when and how to call for professional medical assistance.
• Immediate care: Offering support and care until the medical professionals arrive.

A first aid training certificate, like many professional qualifications, has a limited period that it lasts for before you have to take a refresher or requalification course. The length of validity often depends on several factors, including the training provider you use and the type of training you get. Although if you feel unsure or lack confidence in your first aid abilities, irrespective of when you did your training, it may be a good idea to take a refresher course as soon as you can.

Here’s a general overview regarding how long your first aid training certificate may be valid for:

1. Practical First Aid at Work (FAW) training or Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) training: Typically, this certification is valid for three years from the date of completion. However, it’s widely recommended that first aiders who take these practical courses attend an annual refresher course (this could be online) to keep their skills and confidence levels up-to-date.
2. CPR and AED training: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) certifications generally last for roughly two years. This shorter validity period reflects the importance of having current knowledge and techniques for these life-saving procedures.
3. Specialised first aid training: For first aid courses tailored to specific environments or scenarios validity can vary.

A first aider is an individual who has undergone specific practical training to become a qualified first aider and should have a certificate to illustrate they have completed relevant training. There are no specific requirements for the number of first aiders needed in a workplace but it’s an employer’s responsibility to select the right training guided by their first aid needs assessment coupled with HSE guidance. A first aider’s responsibilities should include:

1. Providing care for employees with minor injuries or illnesses.
2. Calling an ambulance when a medical emergency occurs.
3. Offering immediate first aid when a serious medical incident occurs.
4. Overseeing first aid equipment and facilities.

To be able to give first aid a person must have a practical first aid training qualification. There are two primary types of training for first aiders:

1. Emergency First Aid at Work Training: This course prepares individuals to handle basic injuries or illnesses at work.
2. First Aid at Work Training: This course goes beyond the basics, equipping individuals to tackle a wider array of injuries and illnesses.

Training is usually valid for around 3 years but it’s highly recommended that refresher training is taken annually. So our online FAW training is ideal if you need an annual refresher course.

Some organisations might also require first aiders to undergo specialised training tailored to their specific workplace needs.

As an organisation , based on your first aid needs assessment, you will understand whether you need trained first aiders and if you do, the level of first aid training required, this training is typically First Aid at Work (FAW) training, Emergency First Aid at Work training (EFAW) or perhaps specialist training. Both FAW and EFAW training must include a practical training element. On completion of either training course, the individual will be certified as a qualified first aider. Requalification training must take place every three years. It is also recommended that first aiders undergo annual refresher training between qualifications. Annual refresher training doesn’t need to involve in-person training. Instead, our online EFAW Training would be suitable. In the following section, we look at the primary differences between EFAW and FAW training.

EFAW training:

• Suitable for employees in ‘low risk’ settings like offices, where accidents are uncommon.
• Topics include essential first aid training, covering all the common scenarios.
• Trains individuals to handle emergency medical situations confidently.
• Requalification is required every three years covering the same content.

FAW training:

• Encompasses EFAW content and additional training for specific injuries and illnesses.
• Allows for broader first aid application, not just emergencies, this could include recognising major illnesses such as heart attacks and epilepsy and administering first aid for specific injuries like head, spine and broken bones as well as eye injuries, poisoning and more.
• Requalification is required every three years.
• This training often takes more than a day to complete.

No, our online FAW (First Aid at Work) refresher course is intended for annual completion within the three-year period after completing practical FAW training. Alternatively, it can serve as an introductory course in first aid before you begin your practical FAW training.

Under Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 you must provide adequate first aid resources, facilities and staff to handle any employee injuries or illnesses. What’s deemed ‘adequate’ depends on workplace conditions. While low-risk businesses with few staff might need only basic provisions, sectors like the offshore oil and gas industry and the diving industry may have specific requirements. If your risk assessment indicates that you only need basic first aid provisions then at a minimum your organisation should have:

1. A well-stocked first-aid kit. (Check Q4 in HSE’s First Aid at Work – Your Questions Answered for contents).
2. A designated contact who coordinates with emergency services if required, maintains supplies and ensures first aid advice is on hand, but they are not required to be trained in first aid and they are not expected to administer it.
3. Information for staff about available first aid provisions.

Under the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981, employers must provide the necessary first aid equipment, facilities and trained personnel. They must also decide what’s ‘adequate and appropriate’ for first aid. This applies to all workplaces, regardless of size and includes the self-employed. While the law doesn’t require employers to provide first aid for non-employees like the public or school children, the HSE strongly recommends considering their needs in the first aid assessment.

To determine first aid requirements, employers should consider:

• The nature of the work and its hazards.
• The workplace’s size and layout.
• Proximity to medical facilities.
• Shift patterns or irregular working hours.

At a minimum, every organisation should have:

1. A well-stocked first aid kit.
2. Designated individuals overseeing first aid.
3. Information available to all employees about first aid procedures.

Employers should regularly revisit and update their first-aid provisions, especially if workplace conditions or the nature of work changes.

High-risk employers, such as those on offshore sites, should familiarise themselves with specific safety laws.

Universal legislation includes:

Health and Safety At Work Act 1974: Employers should ensure the well-being of their employees at work, as reasonably possible.

Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999: Employers need to assess risks and manage them effectively.

RIDDOR 2013: Both employers and self-employed must report certain injuries. While not all incidents fall under RIDDOR, it applies universally. Workplaces with 10+ employees must also have accident report books.

Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981: Directs employers to have necessary first-aid provisions for any illness or injury at work.

Changes to legislation mean it’s important to stay updated on any alterations that may impact your industry and business.

There aren’t strict rules regarding specific numbers; it varies based on your workplace environment and the role of your employees. Your workplace should complete a first aid risk assessment to get an idea of how many first aiders or first aid appointed people they will need. By law under the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981  employers must make sure they provide adequate and appropriate first aid equipment, facilities and trained staff in their workplace.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) does offer guidance on how many first aiders you may need.

The number of first aiders you need depends on your first aid needs assessment. Considerations include:

• Work nature and hazards.
• Workforce size and patterns.
• Past accidents in your organisation.
• Absences of first aiders.

Employers will also need to think about:

• Remote or lone workers’ needs.
• Worksite distances from medical services.
• Shared or multi-occupancy sites.
• First aid for non-employees, like the public.

In low-risk settings like small offices, one person might just oversee first aid essentials like maintaining a first aid kit and calling the emergency services. Conversely, high-risk workplaces with machinery or hazardous materials, like factories or construction sites, need trained first-aiders. Workplaces with chemical risks may require specialised training. An employer will also need to ensure there is first aid coverage during the absence of a trained first aider. Based on your first aid needs assessment, your employees may be trained in the standard First Aid at Work (FAW), Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) training or a specific first aid training related to their sector.

A first aider and a person appointed to oversee first aid provisions have different responsibilities and require different training.

A first aider must take specific training such as the nationally recognised and regulated qualifications in First Aid at Work training or Emergency First Aid at Work training and provide medical assistance when somebody becomes unwell or is injured. But a person appointed to take responsibility for a workplace first aid provision, does not have to officially be trained in a first aid qualification. Although an appointed first aid person is responsible for managing and maintaining first aid provisions and may have basic first aid knowledge but not to the level of a first aider. They may also be asked to call the emergency services or support a first aider if a medical incident occurs.

The Heath and Safety Executive no longer offers or approves first aid training. This gives employers flexibility in choosing training providers. However, to meet the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981, your choice of training must be based on a first aid needs assessment and thorough due diligence.

Any training providers you choose should demonstrate:

1. Competence in first-aid training.
2. Qualified trainers.
3. Relevant and correctly delivered course content.
4. Proper quality assurance.

Violations of the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 are addressed based on their severity. Depending on the situation, enforcement measures might range from issuing a formal notice to legal prosecution.

While health and safety regulations don’t specify that workplaces have to have an automated external defibrillator, if an employer decides to provide one based on their first aid needs assessment, then they must adhere to the Provision and Use of Workplace Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER). Under PUWER, employers should offer information and written guidelines, typically from the AED manufacturer on its proper use. However, comprehensive training is recommended, as it boosts an individual’s confidence if they ever have to use one. This training is now included in the First Aid at Work (FAW) and Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) course programmes.