Welcome Guest! The IOSH forums are a free resource to both members and non-members. Login or register to use them

Postings made by forum users are personal opinions. IOSH is not responsible for the content or accuracy of any of the information contained in forum postings. Please carefully consider any advice you receive.

Notification

Icon
Error

Options
Go to last post Go to first unread
danderson666  
#1 Posted : 16 November 2022 10:48:25(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
danderson666

What is the legal status if no one wants to be a first aider for your company? We have sufficient at the moment but I have noticed a reluctance when trying to replace those who have left. What happens if you end up with no first aiders are you breaking the law? I cannot force anyone to be a first aider.

achrn  
#2 Posted : 16 November 2022 11:37:18(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
achrn

If your assessment concludes you need a first-aider on site, and you don't have one, I think yes it would be breaking the law to operate the site.

You'll be able to find volunteers if the operation of the site is important enough to management.  While I note from press reports that the going rate for an agency nurse seems to be peaking above £2k per shift in some cases, I'm sure you'll get volunteers to be first aider at a much lower spend.

Kate  
#3 Posted : 16 November 2022 11:40:07(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Kate

Well, you can force people to be first aiders (not that I am recommending this).

You can force yourself to be a first aider.

You can write it into new contracts of employment that the employee must become a first aider.

You can tell managers that if they don't have any first aiders, they are indeed breaking the law, and that if no one can be persuaded to do it, they will just have to do it themselves.

A Kurdziel  
#4 Posted : 16 November 2022 11:46:42(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
A Kurdziel

Good Question -

“An employer shall provide, or ensure that there are provided, such equipment and facilities … for enabling first-aid to be rendered to his employees if they are injured or become ill at work”

Then “shall” sounds open and shut but where you get them from is not clear.

Do actually need trained first aiders: will an appointed person plus first aid kit not suffice ?

​​​​​​​https://www.hse.gov.uk/firstaid/index.htm

    

Roundtuit  
#5 Posted : 16 November 2022 14:01:38(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Roundtuit

Originally Posted by: Kate Go to Quoted Post
You can write it into new contracts of employment that the employee must become a first aider.

How do you ensure equal contractual terms free from bias towards an individual or group of employees?

Roundtuit  
#6 Posted : 16 November 2022 14:01:38(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Roundtuit

Originally Posted by: Kate Go to Quoted Post
You can write it into new contracts of employment that the employee must become a first aider.

How do you ensure equal contractual terms free from bias towards an individual or group of employees?

Kate  
#7 Posted : 16 November 2022 19:19:05(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Kate

By offering the same contractual terms to everyone whoever they are?

Roundtuit  
#8 Posted : 16 November 2022 21:07:46(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Roundtuit

Originally Posted by: Kate Go to Quoted Post
By offering the same contractual terms to everyone whoever they are?

So forcing existing employees on to new contracts matching those being applied to new starters?

Roundtuit  
#9 Posted : 16 November 2022 21:07:46(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Roundtuit

Originally Posted by: Kate Go to Quoted Post
By offering the same contractual terms to everyone whoever they are?

So forcing existing employees on to new contracts matching those being applied to new starters?

Kate  
#10 Posted : 17 November 2022 02:04:13(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Kate

No.  There is no reason why you can't offer different terms to new starters than existing staff  - being a new starter is not a protected characteristic.

achrn  
#11 Posted : 17 November 2022 07:50:27(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
achrn

Originally Posted by: Roundtuit Go to Quoted Post

Originally Posted by: Kate Go to Quoted Post
You can write it into new contracts of employment that the employee must become a first aider.

How do you ensure equal contractual terms free from bias towards an individual or group of employees?


I'm curious.  Does your employer have absolutely identical contracts for every single member of staff?

Users browsing this topic
Guest (2)
You cannot post new topics in this forum.
You cannot reply to topics in this forum.
You cannot delete your posts in this forum.
You cannot edit your posts in this forum.
You cannot create polls in this forum.
You cannot vote in polls in this forum.