First Aid Needs Assessment: Do I Need to Train my Staff?

First Aid provision in the workplace is legally required. That doesn’t just mean providing a First Aid kit (though you do need one!). You need to consider several things, like:

• First Aid Room - If a person becomes unwell, would a private space to look after them be helpful?

• AED (Defib) - How many staff do you have on-site? Do you know if there’s a defib nearby? Could you get it and bring it back in around 3-5 minutes? If you have a defib, is the battery full? Are your pads expired? Do you have a razor and other necessary items in the pack?

• First Aid Equipment - There’s no list of stuff that you have to include by law, though there is guidance on a minimum level of stock. But you might need extra items depending on your workplace. For example, you might specialist dressings for life-threatening bleeding, or some eye wash if you work with chemicals. Also - when did you last stock it up, and check the dates? Make sure you have a process.

• Mental Health - Earlier this year, the HSE clarified that First Aid provision includes a requirement for you to consider your employees’ mental wellbeing, not just their physical, so Mental Health First Aid or Mental Health Awareness training could be helpful.

• Members of the Public - If you work with members of the public - for example a shop, pub, cafe or theatre - you should consider what you’ll do if a visitor gets hurt. Will you provide them first aid support? It’s certainly a good idea, and we hope you’ll agree (oh, and no - you’re not likely to get sued for it! Ask us for more info).

• Emergency Planning - Does your site have a layout that means it can be tricky for emergency services to find you? Using a service like ‘What 3 Words’ can be really helpful, and you could also think about having somebody to meet them at the front gate / door to direct emergency services.

• Training - Depending on the types of risk in your environment, you might need an ‘EFAW’ (Emergency First Aid at Work; a one-day course) or an ‘FAW’ (First Aid at Work; a three-day course). You might also need to provide additional or specialist training - for example, if you work with children, or if you need specialist training for life-threatening bleeding.

Now, when it comes to First Aid at Work courses, you have to make sure the training provider you select is appropriate. But how do you know? Well, there’s a really useful document called ‘Selecting a First Aid Training Provider’ - see the link below - which gives guidance on this. You can choose accredited training, which means that the provider is following a stringent, thoroughly quality-assured process in relation to the course. But that doesn’t mean that non-accredited training is sub-par; in fact, some of the biggest providers of First Aid Training in the UK don’t even offer accredited courses as an option - because they don’t have to, the proof is in the pudding. So ultimately, your decision comes down to whether the training provider meets the standards required, and whether you feel you can trust them.

Chatfield Training is incredibly open and honest about our processes because we know that employers want that transparency. Our ‘About Us’ section tells you exactly what you can expect, but in short, we meet all of the requirements (see page 3 on the ‘Selecting a First Aid Training Provider’ link) and are only too happy to tell you more and to help you carry out your due diligence checks. We are passionate, experienced and enthusiastic in all of our training, too, and that makes an enormous difference for your learners.

Whatever you decide is right for you, make sure you take the time to carry out a proper assessment of your needs, and tailor it specifically - an ‘off the peg’ assessment isn’t likely to be sufficient. After all, if your employees aren’t in safe hands then you’re putting you, your business, and your people at risk, so set aside an hour or two a year and make sure your assessment is still fit-for-purpose.

Links:
First Aid at Work: Guidance on Regulations (HSE)
Selecting a First Aid Training Provider: A Guide for Employers (HSE)