February is National Heart Month

During challenging times for businesses, it's more important than ever to ensure that the appropriate first aid provision is in place to support your staff and business infrastructure.

With an increased awareness of infection control, health and wellbeing in the workplace, this offers an opportunity to check your processes for first aid are in place. Demonstrating some professional love, care and attention can benefit your employees and support HR and Compliance functions.

DID YOU KNOW... it is a legal requirement for employers to provide adequate first aid provision should a staff member have an accident, injury or emergency in the workplace?

For businesses, the HSE offers a comprehensive range of guidance to help employers ensure first aiders are confident that they can help someone ill or injured at work during the Coronavirus pandemic.

For any business, the first place to start is with a workplace first aid risk assessment. This provides a framework and structure to support the exact needs for your business.

The Health and Safety Executive cannot tell you what provision you should make for first aid. You, as an employer are best placed to understand the exact nature of your workplace and decide what you need to provide. First aid provision must be adequate and appropriate in the circumstances. This means that you must provide sufficient first aid equipment (such as a first aid kit) facilities and personnel at all times. In terms of personnel, this is referred

To ensure your first aider(s) /appointed persons can adequately and appropriately perform their role, workplace training and education is offered throughout the UK. To support professionalism, many training providers are regulated through an Ofqual regulated awarding body who are in turn regulated by the Department for Education. This means that training must be taught within a regulated framework and demonstrate quality assurance standards.

What this means for employers is it that staff are being taught to a fit and proper standard with current and precise education and training. Given the subject matter, this is absolutely vital. Workplace first aid content must include set elements and includes practical engagement and training particularly in the fields of unconscious casualty, CPR including current Covid-19 best practice, the safe use of a defibrillator, By law these must be taught face-to-face by a qualified trainer assessor. Such training courses are usually a Level 3 qualification, broadly equivalent to an A- Level and are valid for three years.

As Ofqual regulated specialist training providers throughout England and Wales in workplace first aid, we welcome any queries you may have.

From risk assessments to re-qualifications and HSE extension deadlines, we offer a wealth of expertise and guidance.

For more information about anything you have read you can - Visit Tidal Training Direct Ltd, Cheltenham. Call us on 01242 371 999. Head to tidaltrainingdirect.co.uk. Or email on firstaid@tidaltraining.co.uk