What is an Appointed person in the workplace and their first aid duties?
By law, in every work place an employer needs to assess his emergency first aid needs. When an employer’s emergency first-aid needs assessment, done according to the laws set down by the HSE Health and Safety Executive, identifies that a trained and HSE certified emergency first-aider in the workplace is not necessary, the minimum requirement is to appoint a person in the workplace to take charge of emergency first-aid arrangements. The role of this very important emergency first aid appointed person in the workplace includes: looking after the emergency first-aid equipment and facilities and calling the first aid emergency services when required. They can also provide first aid emergency cover, within their responsibility and competence, where a trained, qualified and HSE Health and Safety Executive certified first-aider in the workplace is absent due to unforeseen situations. First aid appointed persons in the work place should also provide support to a trained, qualified first aider who has done the HSE Health and Safety Executive approved First Aid Training certificate course.
Do appointed persons in the workplace need to undertake HSE emergency first-aid training?
To fulfill their first aid appointed persons role, first aid appointed persons in the workplace do not need emergency first-aid training. However, emergency first-aid training courses are available as well as other first aid training courses that are under scribed by the HSE (Health and Safety Executive). First aid appointed persons in the workplace are not HSE qualified or certified first-aiders and should not attempt to give emergency first aid for which they have not been trained.
There use to be a first aid course for emergency aid for appointed persons in the workplace but the HSE (short for Health and Safety Executive) have changed the laws regarding to first aid in the workplace and do not link to this course any more. This course is now being replaced by the Health and Safety Executive approved First Aid Training at work certificate course.
If you are not interested in the Health and Safety Executive approved First Aid Training at work certificate course, there is however a one day first aid course available, called the appointed persons in the workplace first aid training course. The certification and assessment is guided by current European Resuscitation Council guidelines.
The advantage of doing the HSE emergency First Aid training at work certificate course as opposed to the one day emergency first aid course for appointed persons in the workplace, is that it is more comprehensive and prepares you for all emergencies and accidents that may happen and how to take action and supply emergency first aid care.
To book either the Health and Safety Executive approved First Aid Training certificate course or the appointed persons in the work place first aid training course, or if you need more first aid training course information on any of our other first aid training courses, please contact one of our friendly first aid course assistants for help.