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Dav  
#1 Posted : 23 July 2014 08:47:53(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
Dav

We currently have 10 depot locations across the UK each with more than 5 staff at each all have a trained first aider on site with the exception of one all staff have refused to undertake the training unless they are paid an additional fee for being a trained first aider, is there an industry standard payment for a trained first aider and is this standard practice to pay an employee to be a first aider we have had conflicting information from various sources most outside the industry.
jodieclark1510  
#2 Posted : 23 July 2014 09:52:21(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
jodieclark1510

Hi Dav,

Plenty of places pay extra for First Aiders, but as far as I know it isn't a necessity. One point that recurs through these forums is reminding staff that First Aid is not just for work but may be needed anywhere, and so it is always a useful skill to have. In my last place of work they decided as staff were not willing to be first aid trained, the management would be instead, and me bcause I had been trained before. It seemed to work quite well, but I know it is not the answer for all places. I hope someone on this forum can be a help in this situation.

Good Luck

Jodie
Farrall900153  
#3 Posted : 23 July 2014 09:56:24(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
Farrall900153

Hi Dav,
I'm not aware of any national scheme or industry standard regarding payment of first aiders. However, there is one argument which you might like to try with these staff members.

The fact is that first aid training can be used not just in the workplace but in all situations, including the home. And it's possible that their first patient would be not a fellow employee but a loved one or a family friend.

At the risk of "shroud waving", how would they feel if they rejected the free training opportunity and then found themselves helpless to assist a family member who'd been injured or taken ill?

I'm not trying to be melodramatic - just realistic.

Andy
achrn  
#4 Posted : 23 July 2014 10:04:13(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
achrn

We don't pay anything. We have have lots more volunteers than we need, and in fact I've spent more time declining volunteers to be first aid trained than asking people.

The main attraction is use of skills outside the workplace - and indeed in the 20 years or so that I was first-aid trained I used it at work only once, but out of work several times (I was in a motorway pile-up, an old lady collapsed in the street in front of me, daughter fell in a spectacular fashion, etc).
MadiB  
#5 Posted : 23 July 2014 11:28:25(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
MadiB

We pay our FAW first aiders £300pa whilst their certificate is current and our Emergency first aiders £100pa, after all it is a considerable responsibility. we do how ever expect them to perform additional tasks (such as maintaining their knowledge between courses and keeping the kit closest to them in date and full) for which they have a separate job description.
Animax01  
#6 Posted : 23 July 2014 11:31:17(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Animax01

I don't paid any extra for doing this, other than the sense of well being :-)

My Wife gets paid £50 a quarter from her employer.

Pete
Dav  
#7 Posted : 24 July 2014 13:29:01(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
Dav

thanks to all for your quick response to my question this goes along way in helping us to decide on our next move
Canopener  
#8 Posted : 24 July 2014 17:16:37(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Canopener

While I believe that there used to be 'purple book' arrangements for a first aider payment (I think £8 per month) and some Councils operated a similar scheme for NPT&C, we moved away from paying fees years ago. Although there initially some 'fuss' and resistance. I don't have any problem getting volunteers to be UNpaid first aiders. Actually we often have more volunteers than we have places sometimes, but we try to accommodate them all rather than deter them from volunteering another time.
teh_boy  
#9 Posted : 25 July 2014 09:19:43(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
teh_boy

Show them this SJA campaign video-

EMOTIONAL CONTENT WARNING!! It's not a happy advert, do not watch if you are in sight of colleagues!

Steve W1  
#10 Posted : 25 July 2014 16:37:23(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
Steve W1

Teh boy

Think that video says it all
Swygart25604  
#11 Posted : 29 July 2014 16:01:41(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
Swygart25604

Before I got into H&S, I was a senior quality engineer working for a global Tier 1 supplier in the automotive industry in the late 1990's & early 2000's. I can remember getting paid £100 every 6 months for being a first aider, which was taxable. It wasn't much, but at least it was an acknowledgement for your efforts. I had to deal with some interesting injuries and situations for that, though!

Fast forward to today, and I am a member of an EHS Forum on Wrexham Industrial Estate (one of the largest in Western Europe, so I am given to understand) and this question arose a few years ago. Out of around 25 major companies responding to a survey, only 2 made payments to their first aiders. The company I was working for at the time had a "points make prizes" scheme for the number of jobs or skills that shop-floor people managed to attain, and being a first aider was one of those skills that attracted a payment. Staff didn't get paid for being first aiders, which was a somewhat ridiculous anomaly, but there you go. My current company don't pay anything either, and the "you can use it outside" arguments probably hold true as the reason why payments are not made nowadays. It's a good skill to have that I put to use relatively regularly, I have to say.

It was always quite amusing to go on a refresher course and hear the person instructing it say that your skills were worth £x per week to an employer...........just try getting it in this day and age!
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