Draft Guidance Unveiled on Workplace First Aid Changes

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has published new draft guidance to help employers get to grips with proposed changes to workplace first aid. Two pieces of guidance have been published on the HSE website following a consultation on proposals to amend the First Aid Regulations (1981) and remove the requirement for HSE to approve first aid training providers. The draft guidance can be found on HSE's Website

A review, commissioned by the Government and chaired by Professor Ragnar E Löfstedt recommended that 'The Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981' should be amended to remove the requirement for HSE to approve the training and qualifications of appointed first-aid personnel.”

Professor Löfstedt’s opinion was that the current HSE approval process went beyond the minimum requirement laid out in EU legislation.

The HSE website explains:

Subject to Parliamentary approval, amended Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations will come into force on 1 October 2013 (subject to ministerial approval). Subject to consent of the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, the Approved Code of Practice (ACOP) will also be withdrawn on that date.

The second edition of L74 applies up to and including 30 September 2013 (subject to ministerial approval). You can download it for free or buy a printed version.

From 1 October 2013, if the amended Regulations come into effect, the guidance in the third edition of L74 will apply. A draft version of the third edition is available for download, or you can order a printed copy, which will be despatched after 1 October. Please note that if you download a copy before 1 October, the draft may be subject to further change before the third edition comes into effect.

This guidance is for employers. It sets out what employers need to do to address first-aid provision in the workplace.

It provides guidance on:

• managing the provision of first aid (first-aid kit, equipment, rooms etc)
• requirements and training for first-aiders
• requirements for appointed persons
• making employees aware of first-aid arrangements
• first aid and the self-employed
• cases where first-aid regulations do not apply

It is interesting to note that the amendments will be subjected to 'ministerial' consent and not a person with health and safety knowledge and background.

Further, the associated ACOP will be withdrawn in October and further amendments to these regulations may well be expected. No doubt Government policy will mean the withdrawal of the majority of ACOPs which now exist.

Both publications can be downloaded from the E-Library Database using search category 'First Aid'

Source: HSE / Unionsafety

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