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eaway  
#1 Posted : 03 September 2022 12:40:13(UTC)
Rank: New forum user
eaway

Is employer legally bound to provide first aid course For all homeworkers.It is their place of work and we, as their employer are responsible to ensure their work space is safe, should that include providing them with a first aid qualification. I can find nothing specific in regulations but would appreciate others thoughts?
peter gotch  
#2 Posted : 04 September 2022 10:33:00(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
peter gotch

Hi eaway

As you indicate I don't think there is much specific about this but you would have to consider where the home worker is (compared to eg access to emergency services) and what the risks are.

However the guidance L74 on the Regulations includes this 

"21 Employers are responsible for meeting the first-aid needs of their employees working away from the main site, for example those who travel regularly or who work elsewhere. The assessment should determine whether those who travel long distances or are continuously mobile should carry a personal first-aid kit. Organisations with employees who work in remote areas should consider making special arrangements such as issuing personal communicators and providing additional training. Where employees work alone, other means of summoning help, such as a mobile phone, may be useful to call for assistance in an emergency."

Now, if you had for example lots of homeworkers using dangerous machines and located in places without mobile phone coverage, then perhaps it needs some very careful thought.

For the rest, perhaps a travelling first aid kit (as what they have at home is probably not compliant with the recommendations) and you might think about a bit of training. Not going to define "a bit"!!

thanks 1 user thanked peter gotch for this useful post.
eaway on 07/09/2022(UTC)
achrn  
#3 Posted : 04 September 2022 11:53:10(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
achrn

We focus primarily on what hazards does the work the person does introduce into the home.  All our home workers are home working clerical work on computers.  This doesn't (reasonably foreseeable, in my opinion) introduduce hazards into the home that the provision of a first aid kit or having goine through first aid training would mitigate.  That is, focus on foreseeable hazards arising out of the work activity.  I'm much more worried about posture and suitable workstations than I am about bandages, slings and CPR training.

We don't fisrt-aid-train every employee who works at home.  Nore do we issue them first aid kits (nor, for that matter, do we issue them fire extinguishers or install fire alarms in their home).

I note HSE guidance aimed at home workers: "If your work is low-risk, such as desk-based work and you work in your own home, you don't need any first aid equipment beyond normal domestic needs." (https://www.hse.gov.uk/simple-health-safety/firstaid/first-aid-home-workers.htm)

I further note that HSE guidance clearly anticipates that even a non-home workplace with multiple workers  might conclude that no trained first-aider is needed (again according to HSE guidance) "As a minimum, a low-risk workplace such as a small office should have a first-aid box and a person appointed to take charge of first-aid arrangements,such as calling the emergency services if necessary. Employers must provide information about first-aid arrangements to their employees.  Workplaces where there are more significant health and safety risks are more likely to need a trained first-aider."  (https://www.hse.gov.uk/firstaid/index.htm)

thanks 4 users thanked achrn for this useful post.
Kate on 04/09/2022(UTC), A Kurdziel on 06/09/2022(UTC), eaway on 07/09/2022(UTC), mihaibertea on 12/09/2022(UTC)
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