Proposals for the Health and Safety (First-Aid) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016The consultative document contains proposals to amend the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1982 in order to remove the requirement for HSENI to approve first-aid training and qualifications.
Employers will still need to provide, or ensure provision is made for, equipment and facilities to render first aid to their employees if they become injured or ill at work.
Also, First-Aid at Work, Emergency First-Aid at Work and the role of ‘the appointed person’ will still provide a framework on which first-aid training will be based.
However, the changes will remove the requirement for employers to use only training providers and training that have been approved by HSENI. It is the intention that this will allow businesses greater choice and flexibility in the selection of training provision.
It is also proposed to withdraw the Approved Code of Practice “First-Aid at Work – Approved Code of Practice (Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1982) and replace this with new guidance published by the Health and Safety Executive in Great Britain.
Further details regarding the proposals are set out in the consultative document.