The Health and Safety Executive (HSE), carried out an evaluation of first aid in the workplace and found that 'although first aid awareness and penetration in workplaces was good, compliance was found to be more "in spirit" rather than the letter of the regulations - and this exposed some important deficiencies in the format and content of guidance and in the proportionality of the current regulatory requirements for lower risk employees. The new recommendations are made regarding the development of the regulations and associated guidance and on the frequency and length of first aid training'.

The changes have been developed in consultation with employers and training providers and it is hoped that the new format will make it easier for employers to comply with the regulations.

The changes will come into effect on Thursday 1 October 2009.

The current initial four day First Aid at Work (FAW) course will be shortened to three days and there will be a new, HSE-accredited, qualification of Emergency First Aider in the Workplace (EFAW) that will require a one day training course. The HSE will also strongly recommend that FAW and EFAW students attend an annual three hour Basic Skills Update (BSU) course to prevent 'skills fade'.

This is the first major change to the first aid training requirements in 25 years, so although there is always the possibility of further changes, they are not expected for some time.

Yes, your certificate is valid up until the expiry date, even if this is after 1 October 2009.

The HSE has not, as yet, formally announced the content of the new courses, but fast are confident that the training that has been developed to support the current First Aid at Work/Emergency First Aid/Appointed Persons training will cover most, if not all, of the content of the revised courses.

No, you will need to maintain trained first aiders in your workplace between now and October 2009. Also we do not envisage that there will be anything included on the new course that is not already covered - but we are waiting for the HSE to confirm this. The current qualification will still be valid for three years. The HSE has already stated that the new system will take three years from October 2009 to implement.

The 2 day First Aid at Work Requalification course will remain unchanged.

You will still be required to attend this course when your current FAW certificate is about to expire.

The HSE recognises that 'skills fade' does occur during the three year validity of current certificates and strongly recommends that you attend a three hour basic skills update every year. You will not need this update the same year that you attend a requalification course, but would undertake a BSU course in years one and two before taking a requalification course in year three.

To decide on the numbers of first aiders required and the level of training needed, employers are required to carry out a ‘risk assessment’, which will highlight the level of risk in your workplace - using this information you will be able to decide what course is required for your first aiders.

When assessing your specific needs, employers need to consider:

• workplace hazards and risks
• the size of the organisation
• the organisation's history of accidents
• the nature and distribution of the workforce
• the remoteness of the site from emergency medical services
• the needs of travelling, remote and lone workers
• employees working on shared or multi-occupied sites
• annual leave and other absences of first aiders and appointed persons.

The HSE will provide updated guidance for employers before the changes are implemented.

First Aid at Work trained first aiders will be required in higher risk sites; lower risk may only require EFAW trained staff, but this will be dependent on other factors.

Further information will be available from the HSE website www.hse.gov.uk/firstaid nearer the time of implementation.

Our existing Q&A pages contain information which is currently relevant – please note that these pages will be updated nearer the time of the changes.

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Changes to workplace first aid