First aid regulation and the Löfstedt review

Following a recommendation in the Löfstedt review of health and safety regulation, in October 2012 the HSE launched a consultation on plans to remove the requirement for its approval of first-aid training providers under the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981. The HSE Board approved the proposed changes to the regulations and subject to Parliamentary approval, amended regulations are due to be in place from 1 October 2013. Until then first aid training for the purposes of work can only be delivered by HSE approved training providers and training centres.

The consultation also sought views on whether the Approved Code of Practice (ACOP) is useful and provides practical advice on how to comply with the law, and proposed revised guidance to help employers ensure they adopt proportionate first aid arrangements suitable to their workplace.

The consultation document CD248 — A consultation on the proposed removal of the requirement for the Health and Safety Executive to approve first aid training and qualifications, a review of the Approved Code of Practice — is available on the HSE website at: http://consultations.hse.gov.uk/gf2.ti/f/17442/452453.1/PDF/-/CD248.pdf

A further consultation launched in March 2013 asked for feedback on draft guidance aimed at helping businesses and workers assess their needs when selecting an appropriate first aid training provider in the light of the changes above. Depending on the outcome of this consultation, the current ACOP may be removed and incorporated into new guidance. This second consultation document is available on the HSE website at: www.hse.gov.uk/consult/condocs/cd251.htm

The guidance documents are available at: www.hse.gov.uk/firstaid/proposed-changes-first-aid-regulations.htm