Mike, For me, personally, I’m always astounded that people at work will not want to attend a first aid course. The skills gained cannot only have a positive outcome for their/your work colleagues, but, for their friends and family! I’m aware that these ‘additional’ courses sometimes attract more money, within their workplace, and sometimes it’s this conflict that people refuse to attend. This coupled with peer pressure! That said, can an employee refuse to work? That’s always going to be a ‘yes’ answer. However, it’s the consequences thereafter of doing this! I know only too well having done the same thing, in another workplace – under different circumstances. The fact is the employer has a legal responsibility to ensure their first aid is addressed at work. If I were running the show there I would ask for volunteers first. Then I would be instructing employees to attend, should I not be able to get the appropriate number. Those that refuse or do not attend I would deal with it then. I certainly would not allow it to get to this stage. You need to give the management more time to respond to your questions. Your H&S (I’ll assume that’s the union) should be on it quite quick and should resolve it soon.

Mike, Its impossible to make a judgement without knowing what your company does. It is possible that you may not need a first aider and could simply have an Appointed Person John

Also bear in mind some organisations operate multi site and won't train every member of staff to ensure that there is always a first Aider present. We operate multi site and have a good number of first aiders at each location however, holiday, sickness, general absence and training may mean that a site does not have a first aider present. To overcome this we have provided site specific instruction based on the location of the nearest A & E or minor injuries unit, coupled with if necessary use the 999 emergency services. To date we have not had to resort to dialling 999. Regards Geoff

Hi Bob, Whilst I see the predicament (and come across the issue daily responding for the ambulance service) Gender can never come into it. First aid be it a faint or full on cardiac arrest can never be gender specific or we open up all sorts of problems. And I can see how the scene you described could appear, so please don't think I'm having a go 😀 Company of make workers with one female employee as receptionist. Do we have to employ another female just incase the female needs first aid? Any interventions must be carried out with as much dignity as possible, and as a male placing defib pads under a females breast in the middle of a packed shop, this is challenging to say the least. It's a bit like the C Spine debate, Think C spine but DO airway Think dignity, but save life first. Phil

One really has to question the management that knows it works 3 shifts and days and yet manages to continue to appoint F/aiders to days but fails to consider the shifts. Seems they were simply ticking a box that states simply the total number required is X. Even saw one organisation that had a Nurse and a Deputy nurse employed plus 2 first aiders at half time. All on days but none for the four shift groups. They did formally have adequate numbers though for the size of the organisation..