Northern Ireland first aid regulations changes

The Regulations came into operation on 31 October 2017 and amend regulation 3(2) of the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1982 to remove the requirement for HSENI to approve the training and qualifications of appointed first-aid personnel.

The removal of HSENI’s approval role will afford duty holders greater flexibility in deciding on the most appropriate training to suit their specific workplace needs. This will bring greater opportunity for innovation and adaptation to be made to courses to suit particular workplaces.

Crucially, the duty of an employer to make adequate and appropriate first-aid arrangements for employees under the 1982 Regulations will be unaffected by the proposed change. Employers will still need to provide, or ensure provision is made for, equipment and facilities to render first-aid to their employees if they became injured or ill at work. First-aid training will continue to be based on the framework provided by FAW and EFAW.

The Regulations will be included in the list of subordinate legislation on the HSENI website and in due course there will also be a copy of the Regulations on the website http://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisr

In accordance with Article 18 of the Health and Safety at Work (Northern Ireland) Order 1978 the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland, with the consent of the Department for the Economy, being the Department concerned, has withdrawn its approval of the Code of Practice entitled “First-aid at work: The Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1982”  . The Code of Practice will be replaced with new HSE guidance entitled “First aid at work (L74)”.

The British Red Cross have produced a booklet outlining the changes and this can be downloaded below.

HSENI have also produced a Q & A leaflet what can also be downloaded