The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has published new draft guidance to help employers get to grips with proposed changes to workplace first aid.
Two pieces of guidance have been published following a consultation on proposals to amend the First Aid Regulations (1981) and remove the requirement for HSE to approve first aid training providers.
The changes are expected to take effect on 1 October 2013, subject to final approval by the HSE Board and Ministers.
It is anticipated that 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 work place, based on their needs assessment and their individual business needs.
The draft guidance documents provide practical support to help businesses assess and understand their first aid needs and find a provider best suited to them.
Until the regulations are changed businesses requiring first aid training will still have to use a HSE approved provider.
Also employers will still have to ensure that they have adequate first aid provision, based on an assessment of their individual business needs.
HSE will retain a role in setting standards by controlling the syllabus content for the basic first aid at work qualifications.
The guidance documents are available on the HSE website at: http://www.hse.gov.uk/firstaid/proposed-changes-first-aid-regulations.htm