Why Do Health & Safety Certificates Need Renewal?

There are a number of first aid courses in which certificates are issued upon completion of the course. Once these certificates are issued, you will notice that there is an expiration date in terms of when your course expires and you will need to arrange for another course. The main types of first aid training courses that may be required for businesses and organisations are as follows:

 

• First aid at work (FAW); or
• Emergency first aid at work (EFAW); or
• Some other first-aid training is appropriate to the particular circumstances of your workplace.

 

(Source HSE)

 

Since 2013, all first aid certificates expire after 3 years and after this period has come to a close – re-training is required for that specific course. It’s highly recommended that the requalification is booked before the expiration date of a certificate, especially where the relevant first aid provider/designated person is legally obligated to be trained and offering first aid for staff. This is referred to as ‘competent to act’. Regardless of whether the first aider is obligated as the appointed first aider – it’s still highly recommended to recertify before the expiration date of a certificate. You are also able and recommended to take refresher courses every year for reasons in which we will discuss below.

 

At Acorn Health & Safety, we are one of the leading providers of health & safety courses in Bristol and the surrounding areas. We will also automatically notify you before the expiration of your current certificate and remind you that it is time to book your next training course or renewal. We are more than happy to discuss any questions that you may have. Get in touch using an online contact form on our website or call now.

 

So Why Is Renewal of First Aid Certificates Required?

 

It may surprise some when they come to complete first aid certification that the certificate expires after 3 years. However – it is highly important that requalification occurs at the end of this period and it is also recommended to attend a refresher course every year – especially if an individual has not had to use their skills over a period of time. Medical situations, best practices, techniques and methodology constantly change and this is why it’s important to stay up-to-date on the current regulations.

 

A great example of this is the change to CPR due to the Pandemic. Because of the risk of passing on the virus to vulnerable patients – CPR has adapted to avoid mouth-to-mouth resuscitation entirely. See our infographic below for more information.

 

Knowing When to Arrange for Renewal of a First Aid Certificate

 

Your certificate will expire 3 years after the date of issue on your certificate. As mentioned – we recommend arranging for renewal before the expiration date. Professional health and safety training providers such as ourselves will provide you with automatic notice as to when you will need to renew your certificate as well as relevant course dates to renew your relevant course. Automatic updates are a useful way to know when you need to arrange for a renewal and a great way to keep your qualifications up-to-date.

 

The Importance of First Aid Training & Renewal

Staying up-to-date in terms of knowledge of current medical procedures is of the highest importance when being tasked with health and safety & first aid responsibilities and duties. This is why it is so important that you arrange for a refresher training session if you have not used your first aid training recently or for extended periods of time.

 

At Acorn Health & Safety, we are one of the leading providers of health & safety courses in Bristol and the surrounding areas. We will also automatically notify you before the expiration of your current certificate and remind you that it is time to book your next training course or renewal. We are more than happy to discuss any questions that you may have. Get in touch using an online contact form on our website or call now.