First-aid guidance published ahead of regulation changes

Guidance documents clarify legal requirements to help firms put in place appropriate arrangements

A MONTH ahead of changes to first-aid regulations, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has published guidance to help businesses put in place appropriate arrangements for the provision of first aid.

From 1 October 2013, the Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981 will be amended to remove the requirement for the HSE to approve first-aid training and qualifications, although the legal requirement for employers to ensure they make adequate provision for first aid, in accordance with their first-aid needs assessment, will remain unchanged.

The changes are part of the HSE’s work to make it easier for businesses and other users to understand how to comply with health and safety law, while maintaining standards. They apply to businesses of all sizes and from all sectors.

Andy McGrory, the HSE’s policy lead for first aid, said: ‘From October, the HSE will no longer approve first-aid training and qualifications. The guidance documents clarify what the law requires and provide practical help to businesses in assessing and understanding their first-aid needs. Where a first aider is required, the guidance documents make it clear that the employer is free to select a training provider who is best suited to those needs.

‘We have taken on board comments and suggestions that we have received through our public consultations on the changes, and from extended stakeholder discussions and business input, to ensure the guidance provides everything an employer will need to manage their first-aid requirements.’

Advance copies of ‘The Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981’, ‘Regulations and Guidance (L74)’ and ‘Selecting a first-aid training provider (GEIS3)’ are now available on the HSE website.

L74 is aimed at all industries and takes account of the amendment to regulation 3(2), which removes the requirement for the HSE to approve the training and qualifications of appointed first-aid personnel, and incorporates some additional amendments brought about by other previous legislative changes.

GEIS3 will help employers identify and select a competent training provider to deliver any first-aid training indicated by their first-aid needs assessment. The guidance on selecting a training provider outlines the options available to employers and includes a checklist for evaluating first-aid training organizations, covering trainer competence, quality assurance systems and syllabus content.