You should review your risk assessment for your first aid needs and decide if you can still provide the necessary cover needed for the workers that are still present and the activities that they are doing within the work place.

Keeping enough first aid cover:

If there are fewer people are coming into your workplace it may still be safe to operate with a reduced amount of first aid cover. You could also stop higher-risk activities and look to share first aiders with another business. However, you need to be sure that they have the knowledge, experience and availability to cover the first aid needs in your business. 

Shared first aiders must be aware of the type of injuries or illnesses identified in your work place first aid needs assessment and have the training and skills to manage them. Shared first aiders must also know enough about your work environment and the first aid facilities available to them and they must be able to get to the workplace in good time if needed. Lastly, whoever provides the temporary cover must make sure they do not adversely affect their own first aid cover at their own work place. 

First Aid at Work (FAW) and Emergency First aid at Work (EFAW) certificate extensions:

FAW or EFAW certificates that expired on or after 16 March 2020 can remain valid until 31 October 2020 or 6 months from date of expiry (whichever is later). All requalification training for these certificates should be completed by 31 March 2021 at the latest.

In order to qualify for the certificate extension, employers must be able to demonstrate the following:

• they have made every effort to arrange requalification training as soon as possible and can explain in detail (if requested) why they have not been able to do so. For example, if requested by an inspector, they must show evidence that staff with expired certificates are booked on to EFAW or FAW requalification courses
• they have appropriate equipment and facilities to provide first aid to any employee who is injured or becomes ill at work and the level of first aid cover provided remains appropriate for their particular work environment
• the level of first aid provision necessary in high risk settings is fully maintained, eg in construction, agriculture, engineering and chemicals

(This guidance now applies to employers in England, Scotland and Wales.)

Annual refresher training:

If first aiders are unable to access annual refresher training face to face during the COVID-19 pandemic, HSE supports the use of online refresher training to keep their skills up to date. However, HSE still strongly recommends that the practical elements of actual FAW, EFAW and requalification courses are delivered face to face, so that competency of the first aider can be properly assessed.

Interrupted first aid training:

If you cannot complete your first aid training qualification within the usual timeframe, it is acceptable for training to restart at a later date as long as a full recap of training delivered before the interruption is done before moving onto undelivered modules, and that the awarding body is content that you can show a full understanding of all aspects of the course content and the knowledge required and competencies at the end of the training. 

To read the full HSE Coronavirus first aid certificate statment please click here.