Accidents can happen at any time.
Seeing as the vast majority of adults in the UK are engaged in full or part-time employment, there can be no surprise over the fact that a significant number of medical accidents will happen whilst at work. Health and safety regulations have long been derided over the effect that they have on working practices, but the fact is that the rules exist for a reason and are designed to keep people safe. However, thanks to an amendment in the law last year, businesses now have more flexibility when it comes to how they manage their provisions of first aid in the workplace.
Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
The Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981 no longer requires businesses to get the HSE to approve their first aid training courses and qualifications. By injecting a bit of common sense back into health and safety, the HSE has managed to reduce the burden on businesses whilst ensuring that standards are maintained. Andy McGrory, HSE’s policy lead for First Aid, said:
“HSE no longer approves first-aid training and qualifications. Removing the HSE approval process will give businesses greater flexibility to choose their own training providers and first aid training that is right for their workplace, based on their needs assessment and their individual business needs. Employers still have a legal duty to make arrangements to ensure their employees receive immediate attention if they are injured or taken ill at work.”
First Aid Courses
Demand for first aid training is always high and there are several quality training providers available who are ready to help people gain more medical knowledge. Removal of red tape procedures is a development that has to be welcomed. Businesses are hardly going to want their staff to attend dodgy courses when they could get punished in more ways than one. Firstly, if there is a real medical emergency on-site, there must be a fully trained first aider ready to respond. Nobody knows when they are going to have an accident, so why would any sane boss want to risk their own health and the health of their employees by having poorly trained first aiders?
Secondly, trusting adults to behave like adults significantly reduces the levels of resentment towards bodies which are seen to put unnecessary roadblocks along the paths to progress. Most staff thoroughly enjoy the opportunity to attend a first aid training day. They get to acquire lifelong skills which may have a huge impact on somebody else’s life in the future. Any business that needs to arrange a new training session for their staff can look online to find local providers.
There is no need to book a course that is miles and miles away. There should always be at least one provider in your area that is happy to teach staff new skills. If you have any questions regarding first aid courses, contact a local St John Ambulance representative who’ll be able to help.