Employment law ‘should cover first aid training for all workers’

Posted 15/04/2010

Charitable organisation St John Ambulance has suggested that first aid training should be compulsory for all British employees, not just certain representatives within a firm.

A poll carried out by the charity found that 59 per cent of people would not be confident in giving first aid should an emergency occur, but that the same percentage think they should be trained in the essentials.

Some 39 per cent of respondents said they would step in if someone was in danger at work even if they did not know what they were doing, which could put people at risk of personal injuries.

St John Ambulance chief executive Sue Killen said: “We believe that anyone who needs first aid should receive it and yet, as our latest research shows, that’s not happening.”

Under current employment law, businesses must provide a first aid box and appoint at least one person as a first aid officer in order to adhere to health and safety regulations passed in 1981.