From time to time we will detail any relevant changes that are either proposed or imminently to be advised by The HSE that are specific to first aid training at work

HSE changes specific to first aid training at work

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Article for Chamber magazine re: important changes to the First Aid regulations concerning all businesses


October 2009 will see the Health and Safety Executive make the first changes to the First Aid Regulations (1981) in 25 years, in the hope of improving First Aid skills and regulation compliance in the workplace.  These changes have been developed in consultation with all current training providers, including Live for Work, a Cheshire based HSE approved First Aid training organisation and Chamber member. Claire Dalton, business owner, explained:


“The changes will affect all organisations that require First Aid provision.  The first major change will be that the current 4 day First Aid at Work (FAW) course will be reduced to a 3 day course. A new level of First Aid provision will be introduced; the Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) course will be a mandatory 1 day course similar to the Emergency Aid for Appointed Persons course that is currently recommended”.


Employers must decide the level of First Aid required in their workplace based on a Risk Assessment (updated guidance on this will be available from the HSE before the regulations are enforced on October 1st 2009). However, as research shows that First Aiders’ skills fade dramatically during the 3 year period before their next course, the HSE are recommending that ALL levels  of First Aiders attend a 3 hour update course on a yearly basis so they can learn the latest protocols and  ‘brush up’ on their skills.  Claire added;


“This idea has been met enthusiastically by all candidates that have attended our courses.  They all agree that 3 years is too long as an interim period before their refresher training, because their confidence in their ability to deal with an emergency situation dwindles over time”.


All certificates will still be valid for 3 years, after which time the candidates will attend either the EFAW again or the 2 day FAW refresher (which has remained unchanged).


Live for Work will be helping Cheshire based businesses to meet their requirements by providing these courses either at Chamber venues or in-house.  One of their clients, Ambassador Packaging, have already decided to introduce additional refresher training, and opted for a more imaginative approach than sending staff on the usual First Aid course.  They commissioned Live for Work to provide various accident scenarios on site, using a live casualty for their First Aiders to practice on – all of whom had no idea what they were walking into when called to the scene!  Bev Rolfe, HR manager, spoke for all their First Aiders:


“We all enjoyed the First aid training and felt as if we learnt more than the usual classroom style.  Particular thanks go to the casualty for his acting skills!”


If you would like more information about First Aid training please contact Claire on 07989 655 280, or email Claire@liveforwork.co.uk  or visit our website at www.liveforwork.co.uk.

Proposed HSE changes (general) for information

The Health and Safety Executive’s mission is, “to prevent death, injury and ill health in Great Britain’s workplaces.”

Its work involves research, information and advice, promoting training, new or revised regulations and codes of practice, inspection, investigation and enforcement.

In 2005 HSE decided to implement changes that arise from within the UK bi-annually – at the start of the new tax year and on the 1st October. With two ‘Common Commencement Dates’ it is hoped that businesses and other stakeholders will be more informed of forthcoming changes, able to plan for them effectively and more equipped to manage their rollout.

Please be aware that commencement dates could alter subject to consultation with stakeholders or HSE Board and Ministers’ consideration.

Changes to occupational health and safety law and practice – due to commence April 2009

Health and Safety (Miscellaneous Amendments and Revocations) Regulations
• Regulations on the manufacture and storage of explosives (April 2005)


To correct issues that have arisen since these new regulations came into force; to extend the maximum periods of validity of explosives certificates and storage licences (thus reducing administration); to revoke redundant and outmoded local mining regulations; to correct an omission in the Control of Noise at Work regulations.

Please visit http://www.hse.gov.uk/mining/legislat.htm for more details.


Factories Act 1961 and Offices, Shops and Railway Premises Act 1963 (Repeals and Modifications) Regulations

Proposed changes would reduce administration (chiefly form filling) requirements that apply to factory, office or shop based businesses (and some railway premises) with employees on site.

HSE considers the following two requirements to be no longer necessary and that their removal would be in no way detrimental to health and safety protection:

1. Premises notification – at present, employers must notify HSE or their local authority of any factory, office, shop or certain railway premises where staff work.

2. The general register – a set of record and forms that factory employers are required to keep.

The Health and Safety Information (Amendment) Regulations


As per 1989 Regulations, Employers must provide posters in the workplace or leaflets for all employees outlining health and safety information for employees that include contact details for the local health and safety enforcing authority and Employment Medical Advisory Service office (EMAS).

HSE can approve or publish new posters and leaflets that no longer require the above mentioned respective contact details.

Please visit http://www.hse.gov.uk/business/law.htm for more details on the health and safety law poster and leaflet.

Chemical (Hazard Information and Packaging for Supply) Regulations 2009 – to be known as CHIP 4


Amendments are required due to introduction of the European Regulation on the Classification, Labelling and Packaging of Substances and Mixtures (the CLP Regulation). In the European Union the CLP adopts the Global Harmonised System (GHS) on the classification and labeling of chemicals.

Proposed amendments will allow CHIP to be aligned with the transitional period of the CLP Regulation and ensure that the provisions of the CLP Regulation can be enforced in Great Britain.

The requirements of the Regulation for classification, labelling and packaging (ie the new GHS based system) become mandatory from 1st December 2010 for substances and from 1st June 2015 for mixtures.

Changes to occupational health and safety law and practice – due to commence 1st October 2009


There is at present no legislation coming in to force from this date.


Source for all material on this page: www.hse.gov.uk/legislation