EFR and HSE

[Conor]

Hi

I have been asked to be the office first aider for my company, I have done various first aid courses over the years with the most recent one being the EFR course.

Can anyone confirm for me the that the EFR course is accepted by the HSE? Is this only the UK version of the course or is mine still valid as it was done in Dahab?

Cheers

Conor

[Billy the Kangaroo]

I am doiing this from memory, but if you you have more than 50 people in a work location then the designated first aider MUST have been on a HSE approved First Aid at Work Course which lasts four days.
PADI ( EFR ) have launched a version of their course which can qualify, but a 'normal' EFR ticket wont.
If you have less than 50 people to look after, then EFR is fine if it's in the last two years which is likely as it aint been out that long.
I can dig out more details if you want.
Bill....

[DIVE BUDDHA]

i have asked the instructor who taught my first aid course (efr) and she said its the same level as appointed persons at work for first aid

[Mark Powell]

Just to calarify the difference between an HSE first aider and an appointed person.

For >50 people you must have a first aider with a full HSE first aid qualification which must be at least 4 days teaching time.

For <50 people you just need an 'appointed person'. The appointed person doesn't need to have a full HSE first aid qualification. They just need basic first aid training to include;
- what to do in an emergency
- CPR
- first aid for an unconcious casualty
- first aid for wounds or bleeding.

[Conor]

Thanks guys, I had a dig around and came to a similar conslusion.

The HSE First Aid course would have to be 4 days, which would not be the EFR course. I talked to the HSE yesterday and they informed me that there would be no requirement for our company to have a first aider and that the appointed person does not require any training. The HSE does not endorse any appointed person training, but should an appointed person want to do some first aid then they reccomend an emergency first aid course to include the points Mark has mentioned above.

Cheers

Conor