BWF members such as yourselves frequently use our Member and Technical Helplines for assistance on a wide range of Employment, Health and Safety, Contractual and Technical issues. We’re putting up a frequently asked question every Tuesday in order to help members and illustrate the type of advice we are able to provide. If you have any questions that you would like to see featured, we would be happy to assist. This question and many others like it can be found in our Question Centre. If you want further advice on any of the issues, don’t hesitate to ring the helpline or browse our extensive publications library, which includes a sample risk assessment, briefings on accident reporting and investigations, and a model COSHH policy document. This week: Do I Need To Have A Qualified First Aider? Yes. The First Aid at Work Regulations require companies in the higher risk category (which for these purposes includes almost all woodworking companies) employing between five and 50 people, to have at least one qualified first aider. To be considered as a qualified first aider, an individual must have attended the HSE approved three-day First Aid at Work initial course (FAW which will earn them a certificate of competence, to be valid for three years. There is also a comprehensive one-day Emergency First Aid at Work course (EFAW but this is only relevant to workplaces that present few Health and Safety risks.
While the legal requirement is for one first aider, it might be advisable to think about training two staff members in due course, so that you have cover for when one or other is absent for any reason. You should also encourage your first aider to attend an annual half-day refresher training course.
In addition to having a qualified first aider, employers are also obliged to assess the risks at work, with companies of five or more employees having to record the significant findings of their risk assessment. There is also a legal requirement for all companies to have a Health and Safety policy. A company employing five or more people is obliged to have this policy in written form, with smaller companies still expected to have a clear policy in place. The easiest way for BWF members to do this is to adopt a written policy, of which you can find an example on our website. Employers also have a duty to involve their employees or their employees’ safety representatives in health and safety matters, and to provide free health and safety training or protective equipment for employees where it is needed.
You can find model Risk Assessments and Health and Safety policies in our publications library. For the BWF’s dedicated Health and Safety area, please click here. If you would like any further advice, for example, assistance in finding a suitable course, please do not hesitate to contact us.