Is Your Workplace First Aid Cover Ready for the Autumn Rush?

With summer holidays in full swing, August can be a quieter month for many businesses. But as September approaches and workplaces return to full strength, now is a good time to ask an important question:

Is your workplace first aid cover still adequate?

First aid arrangements can easily be overlooked. Employees leave, change roles, move departments or work different shifts, while existing First Aid at Work certificates may be approaching their expiry date.

Taking a few minutes to review your arrangements now could help ensure your business is prepared for the busy final months of 2026.

When did you last review your first aid needs?

Employers are responsible for making sure appropriate first aid arrangements are in place for their workplace.

The level of provision required will depend on factors such as the size and nature of the business, workplace hazards, working patterns, employee numbers and the availability of trained personnel.

It is worth considering:

• Are all your first aid certificates still in date?
• Do you have sufficient trained first aiders to cover holidays, sickness and different shifts?
• Have staff numbers, working patterns or workplace risks changed?
• Are first aid kits appropriately stocked and accessible?
• Do employees know who the first aiders are and how to summon help?
• Has your first aid needs assessment been reviewed recently?

A first aid certificate may be valid for three years, but your workplace can change considerably during that time.

Emergency First Aid at Work or First Aid at Work?

Two of the most common workplace qualifications are Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) and First Aid at Work (FAW).

Emergency First Aid at Work is a one-day course commonly suitable for lower-risk workplaces or where the first aid needs assessment identifies this level of training as appropriate.

First Aid at Work is a more comprehensive three-day course, covering a wider range of injuries and medical emergencies. It may be more appropriate for larger or higher-risk workplaces, depending on the findings of the employer's first aid needs assessment.

Employers should determine the appropriate level of training from the needs of their individual workplace rather than simply relying on employee numbers.

Don't wait until a certificate expires

One of the easiest ways to create an avoidable gap in first aid cover is to leave refresher or requalification training until the last minute.

Checking expiry dates now gives businesses time to plan training around workloads, annual leave and staff availability.

It also means employees can attend training without the pressure of discovering that their qualification is about to expire just as the business enters one of its busiest periods.

First aid training in Doncaster and at your workplace

Emergency Response Training Ltd has been delivering professional workplace training since 2002.

From our training centre at Canberra House in Doncaster, we run regular open first aid courses for businesses and individuals, including Emergency First Aid at Work, First Aid at Work, First Aid at Work Requalification and Paediatric First Aid.

For organisations that would prefer to train several employees together, we can also deliver group training on-site at your workplace, helping businesses reduce travel and minimise disruption.

Our experienced instructors bring real-world emergency response experience into the classroom, with an emphasis on practical skills and giving delegates the confidence to act when an emergency occurs.

Make August your first aid check-up month

Before September arrives, take ten minutes to look at your workplace first aid arrangements.

Check your certificates. Review your first aid needs. Look at your staffing and shift patterns. Check your first aid equipment.

Most importantly, ask yourself:

If somebody became seriously ill or injured at work tomorrow, would you have the right people, skills and equipment available to respond?

If the answer is uncertain, now is a good time to put things right.

Emergency Response Training Ltd
Canberra House, Doncaster
Tel: 01302 802016
Email: mail@ertraining.co.uk

Open courses are available regularly at our Doncaster training centre, with on-site group training also available for businesses.