WHAT DO

YOU NEED
TO KNOW?
CHANGES TO FIRST AID
AT WORK REGULATIONS
FROM OCTOBER 2013

Refusing to ignore people in crisis

A SIMPLE GUIDE TO CHANGES TO THE HEALTH AND

SAFETY (FIRST AID) REGULATIONS 1981

HOW WILL TRAINING STANDARDS BE REGULATED

AFTER THE CHANGES?

To help you understand the main changes to first aid at work regulations, the British Red
Cross has prepared this quick reference guide together with a due diligence checklist to
help you select and evaluate the competence of your first aid training provider.

You must ensure that where your needs assessment indicates you need first aiders, they receive
training that will teach them the necessary first aid skills and leave them feeling confident that
they could respond to an emergency. To guarantee this, you should pick a training provider you
can trust.

WHAT IS GOING TO CHANGE?

From 1 October 2013 the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) will no longer be required
to formally approve first aid training and employers will have more choices of training
provider. This means there is going to be an increased responsibility on businesses
to ensure the standards of the training and quality of training provider they choose.
Guidance on completing a needs assessment has also been updated with new
recommendations to help you decide how many first aiders you need and what training
they should have.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

The HSE will no longer be required to formally approve first aid training and
qualifications for the workplace. However, the law that employers should still provide
adequate and appropriate equipment and personnel to provide assistance to injured or
ill colleagues, and provide trained first aiders based on their own needs assessment,
has not changed. The HSE will still ensure a standard of first aid training for the
workplace is maintained.

WHY ARE THESE CHANGES HAPPENING?

The Government commissioned an independent report on health and safety laws, which
led to the Lofstedt report in June 2012. One of the recommendations from this report
was that employers should be free to choose a first aid company, rather than having to
use an HSE approved organisation.

DO I STILL NEED TO TRAIN FIRST AIDERS?

When you are choosing a training provider you should check:

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the qualifications expected of trainers and assessors

monitoring and quality assurance systems
teaching and standards of first aid practice
syllabus content and certification.

The HSE website provides a due diligence checklist that you can use when you are selecting
your training provider.

DOES THE RED CROSS MEET THE DUE DILIGENCE

CRITERIA FOR SELECTING A TRAINING PROVIDER?
Yes, take a look at the HSE due diligence checklist in this leaflet to see how we not only meet
the criteria but exceed them. We are also mentioned by the HSE in the new guidance as a
standard setter for currently accepted first aid practice in relation to the topics covered on a
first aid at work or emergency first aid at work course.

WILL MY EXISTING FIRST AID QUALIFICATIONS

BE AFFECTED BY THE CHANGES?
No, existing qualifications will remain valid until the expiry date shown on your certificate.
Qualifications should be updated after three years but we firmly agree with the HSEs
recommendation that first aiders should attend a first aid skills annual update to remain
competent and confident in their abilities.

Yes. If your needs assessment indicates that you need a first aider you should ensure
they have undertaken suitable training, have an appropriate first aid qualification and
remain competent to perform their role.
Using HSE recommendations, weve created an online first aid course calculator to help
you assess your first aid training requirements and find the right course quickly and
easily. You can access this at redcross.org.uk/HSE

0845 619 5410 | redcross.org.uk/HSE

0845 619 5410 | redcross.org.uk/HSE

THE HSE RECOMMENDS YOU CHECK

RED CROSS
MEETING YOUR NEEDS

RED CROSS
GOING THE EXTRA MILE

TRAINERS / ASSESSORS

The best way for businesses to knowthey are receiving high quality first
aid training is to use a reputable training provider thatthey can trust to
deliver good standards of training.

The HSE due diligence checklist helps you to

select and evaluate your chosen provider. It also
highlights how the Red Cross goes the extra mile to
not only meet, but also exceed these criteria.

All of our trainers and assessors have a current

First Aid at Work certificate.

Our trainers are monitored regularly and have

a documented annual refresher plan for their
knowledge and delivery.

Do the trainers / assessors have an appropriate

training / assessing qualification?

All our trainers and assessors have an internally

accredited training and assessing qualification
consistent with HSE guidelines.

All of our trainers are supported by a quality

assurance framework, ensuring their skills,
knowledge and competencies are continuously
updated.

Does the training provider have a documented

quality assurance plan designating an individual
to take responsibility for quality assurance,
including assessment of the performance of
trainers / assessors at least annually?

We have a documented and robust plan to

ensure high quality training is consistent across
our business and we are audited regularly to
maintain our ISO:9001 quality assurance award.

The Red Cross is among just two per cent of UK

organisations that holds Investors in People Gold
Standard. This is only awarded to organisations
who demonstrate excellence in developing and
supporting their staff.

Does the designated person responsible for

quality assurance have a current First Aid at
Work certificate or qualify for exemption?

Yes, the designated person has a current First

Aid at Work certificate.

All members of the training management team

are responsible for quality assurance and hold
a current First Aid at Work certificate as well
as extensive knowledge and experience in
managing effective quality assurance procedures.

Does the designated person responsible for

quality assurance have an assessing / verifying
qualification?

CHOOSING THE RIGHT

FIRST AID TRAINING
FOR YOUR WORKPLACE

Do the trainers / assessors have a current First

Aid at Work certificate or qualify for exemption?

The designated person holds the new QCF

level 4 qualification in Quality Assurance of
Assessment Processes and Practice recognised
by all leading UK awarding organisations and
regulators.

The training team is coached and observed on a

quarterly basis to ensure the assessment criteria
are fulfilled.

Is there a documented course evaluation

procedure?

Yes. Our evaluation procedure is documented

and available upon request.

We provide post course feedback for those

organisations that require it so they can assess
how our training impacts on their learning and
development programmes.

Is there a documented
complaints procedure?

We take any complaint any complaint seriously

and all customer feedback is directed to our
dedicated customer care manager to be
reviewed and acted upon within stringent
timescales.

We monitor, and analyse all attendee feedback,

enabling us to understand and implement
customer led best practice, ensuring continual
improvement. 99.3% of attendees say they would
recommend our courses.

QUALITY ASSURANCE

TEACHING CURRENTLY ACCEPTED FIRST AID PRACTICE

Is the First Aid at Work and Emergency First
Aid at Work taught in accordance with current
guidelines on adult basic life support published
by the Resuscitation Council (UK), and for
other aspects of first aid, in accordance with
current guidelines published by the Voluntary
Aid Societies (e.g British Red Cross) or other
published guidelines that are supported by a
responsible body of medical opinion?

Yes, as a voluntary aid society (VAS) we are

acknowledged by the HSE in the new guidance
as a standard setter for currently accepted first
aid practice in relation to first aid at work or
emergency first aid at work courses.

In addition, we produce the First Aid Manual

along with the other Voluntary aid societies
the UKs only comprehensive guide to treating
casualties in all first aid emergencies.

Does the course content adequately meet the

needs of your workplace as indicated by your
first aid needs assessment?

No matter what size your business is, a range of

flexible training options make sure our courses
can meet the needs of your workplace.

As well as the needs of your workplace, we meet

the needs of your first aiders on an ongoing
basis. We are the only training provider to offer
free, post course support with our Safe Hands
members community.

For First Aid at Work, does the syllabus include

the topics listed by the HSE and does the
course include at least 18 hours of training and
assessment over three days?

Yes. Our First Aid at Work course includes all

HSE specified content and has 18 hours of
training and ongoing assessment.

To meet the needs of our customers we offer this

course as a flexible, one day a week option and
can also provide bespoke courses tailored to
your individual workplace.

For First Aid at Work requalification, does the

syllabus include the topics listed by the HSE
and does the course last at least as 12 hours of
training and assessment over two days?

Yes. Our requalification course includes all HSE

specified content and has 12 hours of training
and ongoing assessment.

Keeping your records up to date is easy with

the Red Cross. If you have trained with us in the
past we send you a reminder before you need to
requalify.

TRAINING SYLLABUS

For further information please get in touch today:

Call: 0845 619 5410
Email: redcrosstraining@redcross.org.uk
Web: redcross.org.uk/HSE

WHAT IS A NEEDS
ASSESSMENT?
All employers should make an
assessment of their first aid needs
based on the hazards and risks involved
in their work. First aid can, and does,
save lives and your level of provision
should be adequate and appropriate to
your circumstances. To decide what is
adequate and appropriate for you, you
should think about things like the nature
of your work and how hazardous it is, the
nature of your workforce, if you have staff

with pre-known medical conditions, the

size of your organisation and the needs
of travelling, lone or remote workers.*

HOW WILL THIS AFFECT

FIRST AID TRAINING IN
THE WORKPLACE?
Employers have a legal duty to make
arrangements so that their staff receive
immediate care if they are taken ill or
injured at work.

WHY CHOOSE THE RED CROSS?

The Red Cross has been delivering first aid at work courses for more than 30 years and has
an enviable reputation for quality and excellence. We hold ISO:9001 2008 quality management
accreditation and Investors in People Gold Standard, demonstrating the quality of service and
training you can expect to receive when choosing the Red Cross.
We are committed to providing a quality learning experience above and beyond your
expectations. We achieve a customer satisfaction rating of 99.3 per cent and are the only UK
training organisation to offer a unique, free online support programme to keep you updated after
completion of your course.
We are the only national first aid training provider with 180 training venues, providing national
coverage with local service. Our experienced trainers can also come to your workplace what
could be easier than that?

Advice on completing a needs assessment for your workplace is available from the HSE at hse.gov.uk

For more information on completing needs assessments for different workplace environments you
can also visit the Red Cross website at redcross.org.uk/HSE
*This is not an exhaustive list. For more information on needs assessments you can visit the HSE website or see some
examples we have prepared to help you on our website.

For further information please get in touch today:

Call: 0845 619 5410
Email: redcrosstraining@redcross.org.uk
Web: redcross.org.uk/HSE

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO NOW?

If you have questions about first aid courses, the training you need or the new
changes, you can email us at redcrosstraining@redcross.org.uk or call us
on 0845 619 5410.
To ensure you stay up-to-date, sign up to our monthly e-newsletter by visiting
our website redcross.org.uk/HSE. You will receive regular legislation news
and guidance on first aid, along with the latest training course information.
If you need to book a course or update an existing qualification, you can do
this by visiting our website at redcross.org.uk/HSE or contacting one of our
advisers on 0845 619 5410.
The full HSE guidance on first aid at work regulations is available on the HSE
website at hse.gov.uk

British Red Cross

44 Moorfields
London
EC2Y 9AL
Tel 0845 619 5410
Fax 020 7562 2000
redcross.org.uk
Ref no: BRC 110
Published 2013
The British Red Cross Society, incorporated by Royal Charter 1908,
is a charity registered in England and Wales (220949) and Scotland (SC037738)