Standards UK HSE

First Aid Training Standards in the UK

The United Kingdom has a government body responsible for "Health and Safety", UK Health and Safety Executive (UK HSE). It is 40 years since the Health and Safety at Work Act received Royal Assent, providing a new regulatory framework for work place health and safety in Great Britain.

This has helped make Britain one of the safest places in the world to work, saving thousands of lives, preventing many more injuries at work and reducing the economic and social costs of health and safety failures.

• 1-Day First-Aid at Work Program, link here
• 3-Day First-Aid At Work Emergency care program link here
• 2-Day refreasher / re-certification First-Aid course program link here

IHMP First Aid UK Standards

All IHMP First Aid and medical training is based on the UK HSE standards and requirements for national and international compliance.

IHMP UK Offers "At Work First Aid" and many other training and certification programs, see Courses on the tab at top of page... 

Link here to the UK HSE Web site for 2011 First Aid Standards

Extract from the UK First Regulations follow:

Legislation

• Employers' legal duties
• Special requirements for offshore work
• Special requirements for diving

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.

HSE's Enforcement Policy Statement .

Employers’ legal duties

The Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 require employers to provide adequate and appropriate equipment, facilities and personnel to ensure their employees receive immediate attention if they are injured or taken ill at work. These Regulations apply to all workplaces including those with less than five employees and to the self-employed.

What is ‘adequate and appropriate’ will depend on the circumstances in the workplace. This includes whether trained first-aiders are needed, what should be included in a first-aid box and if a first-aid room is required. Employers should carry out an assessment of first-aid needs to determine what to provide.

The Regulations do not place a legal duty on employers to make first-aid provision for non-employees such as the public or children in schools. However, HSE strongly recommends that non-employees are included in an assessment of first-aid needs and that provision is made for them.

Further guidance can be found making adequate and appropriate provision for first aid in First aid at work: The Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 - Guidance on Regulation.

Assessment of first-aid needs

Employers are required to carry out an assessment of first-aid needs. This involves consideration of workplace hazards and risks, the size of the organisation and other relevant factors, to determine what first-aid equipment, facilities and personnel should be provided.

• First aid at work: your questions answered
  A free HSE leaflet, which contains a useful checklist covering the points employers should consider when carrying out the assessment.

Link here to the UK HSE Web site for 2011 First Aid Standards