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Is First Aid refresher training really necessary?
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Paul911  
#1 Posted : 14 October 2016 13:31:17(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
Paul911

Hi All,

We have around 6K employees in the UK working in our large retail environments. I have just been challenged by one of our location managers 'why do we spend about £100K every year sending first aid trained employees on annual refresher courses? Did someone die as a result of our first aid being insufficient?'

I was just about to rattle off my response about the HSE’s strong recommendation for this policy and how there does not have to have been a previous incident for us to be doing the right thing, when I thought hold on, has he actually got a point?

We are a fairly low/medium risk environment with some exposure for employees to FLT’s and other WPT, but I just wanted to put it out there and ask if anyone else had experienced any actual quantifiable incident of incorrect or poor first aid being administered as a result of this refresher training not being done and any subsequent injury or liability being experienced as a result.

Or just generally your own opinions on whether it is really justified.

Thanks all and enjoy the weekend!

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Ian Bell2  
#2 Posted : 14 October 2016 13:50:28(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Ian Bell2

Is this an example of the practicalities of h&s clashing with corporate statements?

No doubt your stated company/corporate policy has some nice words about complying with the law and best practice etc - whereas in reality other pressures want less?

I had a good environmental example this week - stated aim of my employer is to limit environmental harm... so this week 15 people had to each drive about 120miles to attend a training course.

So there was 15 x car exhaust emissions, 15 people at risk of a road traffic accident.

Whereas it would have been more environmentally friendly and safer for the (1) trainer to make 2 journeys.

My company policy.....we seek to reduce risk at every opportunity etc etc.

I'm sure many of us can quite similar double standards policy statements compared to safety reality.

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Mr.Flibble2.0  
#3 Posted : 14 October 2016 13:55:27(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
Mr.Flibble2.0

Technically you only have to do it every 3 years, the annual requirement is good practice but not mandatory.
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WatsonD  
#4 Posted : 14 October 2016 14:05:08(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
WatsonD

And now you can get a gold star by reviewing company policy and saving them a truck load of money!!

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spenhse  
#5 Posted : 14 October 2016 14:23:27(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
spenhse

Paul911

If your company spends £100k a year on refresher training, why do you not put a proposal forward for an individual(s) to be trained as First Aid Instructor’s Qualifications. Our organisation training for the Employees on 3 yearly courses, refresher if the techniques change drastically, which is communicated from the SHE Department. Just because the training is not done annually, does not make us any better or worse.

Your Manager has a valid point, especially considering, in experience during a server incident the persons carrying out the first aid treatment on the injured party, usually are not the nominated first aiders for the Project. Have seen nominated first aider stand back and did not get involved. Some people have the qualification, but never get involved with treating the injured persons, unless necessary.

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thanks 1 user thanked spenhse for this useful post.
Paul911 on 14/10/2016(UTC)
Paul911  
#6 Posted : 14 October 2016 14:29:01(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
Paul911

Thanks for the responses, So called best practice in my experience with the HSE can be nothing more than a CYA exercise with little or no condiseration having been given to the actual practicalities of running a business. I am not trying to be inflamatory here, but I have yet to hear any actual argument for doing this.

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Roundtuit  
#7 Posted : 14 October 2016 14:49:54(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Roundtuit

A low risk environment would provide minimal opportunity for practical application of FAAW skills

Annual refresher is overkill, three yearly is timely "reminder" as very occassionallly the advice on response does get updated e.g. First Aid Manual is now in its 10th edition as of July 2016

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Roundtuit  
#8 Posted : 14 October 2016 14:49:54(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Roundtuit

A low risk environment would provide minimal opportunity for practical application of FAAW skills

Annual refresher is overkill, three yearly is timely "reminder" as very occassionallly the advice on response does get updated e.g. First Aid Manual is now in its 10th edition as of July 2016

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