ASSESSMENT OF FIRST AID NEEDS

With various types of first aid and medical training available, it is vital to align the appropriate level of training suitable for your workplace in order to provide the required medical cover.

Employers are required to carry out an assessment of first aid needs in order to determine the type of first aider cover required. This involves consideration of the type of workplace activities undertaken, hazards and risks, the size of the organisation, how many people might need first aid and the kinds of injuries that may arise. Other relevant factors should be taken into account in order to determine what first aid equipment, facilities and personnel should be provided.

In the event of injury or sudden illness, failure to provide first aid could result in a casualty’s death. The employer should ensure that an employee who is injured or taken ill at work receives immediate attention.

The Health & Safefy Executive (HSE) will prosecute in cases where there is a significant risk, a disregard for established standards or persistent poor compliance with the law.

The two main types of first aid training for the workplace are:

Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW)

Accredited training, usually the course is of a one day duration.

The one day Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) course is most suited to those in small, low hazard work environments. This course will give you the basic skills you need to deal with, as the name suggests, emergency first aid situations.

Completing the course will make you a qualified emergency first aider. You will know what to do in a variety of emergency first aid situations like cuts, burns, broken bones, bleeding and shock. You’ll learn CPR and the recovery position and how to apply bandages.

This course does a pretty good job of covering the basics.

First Aid at Work (FAW)

Accredited training, usually the course is of a three day duration.

The three day First Aid at Work course is the qualification required for larger or higher hazard work environments. This course will give you a more thorough First Aid knowledge along with considerable practical skills.

This course covers the emergency First Aid at Work (one day course), but also focuses on how to deal with a variety of minor and major illnesses including situations like fainting, spinal injuries, stroke, chest pains, heart attack and other medical problems that may arise at work.

First Aid at Work Requalification (FAWR)

The First Aid at Work requalification (FAWR) is a two day training course for First Aiders that require to renew their existing First Aid at Work (FAW) certificate for another three years.

For the purposes of the Health and Safety (first aid) regulations 1981, should your First Aid at Work certificate expire, you are no longer able to act as a First Aider in your workplace. If you wish to continue as a First Aider you will need to attend a two day First Aid at Work requalification course or, if you have not used your skills for a period of time you may prefer to attend a full three day First Aid at Work course. You will not be qualified until you have completed your requalification training.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) strongly recommends that you requalify within 28 days of your certificate expiring.

The course revisits all the subjects covered in the initial three day FAW course, giving Students the opportunity to refresh knowledge and skills they may not have used for some time, updating Students on any clinical changes that may have been introduced to medical intervention practices and making sure that persons providing First Aid are still capable to do so safely.

The training covers a range of essential First Aid skills that are suitable for larger or higher hazard workplaces, such as construction, manufacturing and some healthcare settings.

Trauma Intervention Training

For high hazard facilities including the construction industry, demolition sites, chemical manufacturing, oil and gas facilities, heavy industry where typically medical emergencies may occur including significant trauma situations, the level of medical intervention training and competency would be of a higher level as provided in the three day first aid at work course.

This advanced level of medical knowledge, skills and competency prepares responders for those more complicated medical emergencies. Training course durations align with the competencies required and medical equipment used on site.

Trauma Intervention training is a blend of theory and practical skills aligned with credible workplace incidents.

EPS offers a range of accredited first aid and medical intervention training courses, meeting the needs of the varied sectors of commerce and industry.