Appointed person changes
On 1 October the HSE (Health and Safety Executive) released its
new guidance to first aid training in the
workplace, and based on this, St John Ambulance no longer
runs an Appointed persons course in England and Wales.
We recommend the HSE’s new regulated course –
Emergency first aid in the workplace -
to those interested in Appointed persons.
The HSE do not classify Appointed persons as first-aiders and
state the following: ‘The role includes looking after the first-aid
equipment and facilities and calling the emergency services when
required. The Appointed person should not attempt to give first aid
for which they have not been trained’.
A company without a trained first aider puts the
wellbeing of staff at risk and there is always a
possibility of accidents or sudden illness in the workplace,
whatever an organisation’s size.
Our recommendations
Steps to comply with the new guidance to first aid training in
the workplace:
- Use our workplace training guide to quickly see the training
courses on offer
- We strongly recommend you review your first aid provision in
light of the new guidance to help you choose the most appropriate
course.