Rank: Super forum user 
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Good morning I am hoping that someone out there can give a bit of advice on calculating the number of First aiders required for a workplace. I would like to know if there is a definite list of First aid qualifications that are acceptable under the First Aid regs.
Before I get a helpful link to the HSE and L74 I will give a little background- This is a workplace in excess of 1500, many of these already have first aid qualifications & experience but not First aid at work. The workplace is occupied 24/7, although the number of people present varies according to circumstances at the time.
The safety officer for the workplace is basing his calculations on the total workforce, I believe that the experience and qualifications of the workforce as a whole should be taken into account, reducing the number of First aid at work qualified people needed and making the provision of FA cover for out of hours or shift working much easier.
Thanks for your time,
Annic
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Rank: Forum user 
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With a workforce that large it might be appropriate to split the workplace into section and assess each one separately - for example:
Offices - low risk, generally 9 - 5: sufficient appointed persons (suggest minimum of the 1-day "Save a life" type course) to ensure there's always one on site during working hours.
Chemical plant - recent record of accidents and near misses, shift system working 24/7/365: Sufficient first aiders to ensure cover during working hours (including holiday and sickness cover), with FAAW or better and top up courses covering particular chemicals in use. May be appropriate to have your first aiders respirator trained in this area...
Despatch section - good accident record and well controlled area with low risk of injury. Shift system covering 6 AM - 10 PM 6 days/week: Combination of first aiders and appointed persons with appropriate skills to deal with the sort of accidents that are likely to happen.
Of course this is a fairly simple example - if despatch is right next door to the offices then it may be possible for a despatch first aider to also be the office appointed person, and so on. My point is, look at your areas, decide what treatment is likely to be needed there and how long it's likely to take for professional help to arrive if needed, and cover appropriately.
As for alternatives to FAAW - if you decide first aiders are required (as opposed to appointed persons), look for retained firefighters, or of course people who outside work are members of St John or Red Cross, mountain rescue etc - these are all likely to be FA trained to a much higher standard than FAAW.
And then once you've decided what cover you need - have enough of that cover to make sure there's someone on site during working hours, including holiday/sick cover etc.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Thanks Paul, your thoughts on retained Firemen etc might be the best path to take to reassure the site SHEF advisor. Most of the "other qualified persons" are exceeding the requirements of AP in training and many I suspect exceed FAAW.
The problem is in perception of SQEP in this instance. Because they do not have FAAW certificates it is believed that we will not be meeting the requirements of the regs and therefore liable to be critised by the HSE.
Annic
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Rank: Super forum user
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We have had a similar experience from one of our clients who has refused to have one of our staff cover an industrial site as they don't have FAW but are a registered Paramedic with HPC...We have also seen an increase in pressure from some union members recently on the subject....
The key is the syllabus for the training...Get hold of a copy and do a little matrix with the FAW as one column and the others and just mark where they meet and don't and take a view from that.. This will show due diligence and there may be an action plan from it..? Just seems a logical route to go down...
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Nic. Yes I think there is CURRENTLY a list of first aid qualifications that are accepted for the workplace, FAW and EFAW both of which can be found in L74, to which you allude but strangely don't appear to wish us to refer to. Appointed Persons are not required to hold any first aid qualification nor are hey required to have training for the same.
While wishing us to avoid L74, you nevertheless expect someone to provide the magic answer on the basis of the 'little background' you have offered. For instance what activities are taking place, what substances are being used, are there any 'special' or unusual risks, are you close to other forms of medical assistance etc. All of which may be relevant.
I don't disagree with Paul's comments, in essence you need to have a sufficient number of first aiders at any one time to be able to deal with any incidents that might arise. You should consider those aspects I have mentioned above, as well as others, and take into account any 'reasonably foreseeable' absences, leave, sickness, different shifts when determining the number of first aiders required.
Although you seem somewhat reluctant, L74 isn't a bad place to start, as it does generally provide reasonable direction and I am trying to understand what else you might be after.
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Rank: Forum user
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stevedm wrote:The key is the syllabus for the training...Get hold of a copy and do a little matrix with the FAW as one column and the others and just mark where they meet and don't and take a view from that.
I wish I'd said that
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Rank: Super forum user
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Paul -Thanks for the vote...it doesn't always happen like that on this forum...
Nic I am making the assumption you know the regs you just need a simple process to demonstrate compliance based on the numbers, qualifications and cover you have...
I have done started for 10 as the one I did covers EMT & Paramedic so is more involved...if you want a copy PM me and I will send it on..
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