St John
The first port of call for first aid and health and safety
Many people think of St John as the people in black uniforms and white haversacks at football matches but in reality the organisation does much more. Most people leaving the services have some first aid training and experience. St John offers courses to enable those skills to be transferred to the workplace.
The organisation offers two workplace relevant courses. First Aid at Work is arguably the most comprehensive workplace first aid course available, suitable for all workplaces. It comprises a three-day course of 18 hours with a two-day re-qualification of 12 hours for those whose First Aid at work certificate is due to expire.
The other workplace orientated course is Emergency First Aid at Work – a one-day (six hours) course for workplaces where a risk assessment indicates that emergency first aid knowledge only is sufficient.
Choosing the right course is important.
Step 1: Determine the minimum recommended cover to meet your statutory first aid requirements.
Step 2: Consider all the hazards and risks that are specific to your workplace. Three important factors to consider are:
- Any work related risks (dangerous equipment, dangerous substances, processes, etc.)
- Any existing employee health conditions (eg. asthma, diabetes, heart conditions, allergies, etc.)
- Volume of visitors (non-employees) to the workplace.
St John provides a free online first aid compliance check list will help you to determine your specific needs.
Training can be on one of St John’s courses. With over 19,000 scheduled courses each year at over 230 training centres across the country they have more courses and venues than any other training provider.
Alternatively St John will run courses on your premises. If you have a group that needs the same training, St John can come to you and train them at your workplace.
What do you need to do after you qualify?
Your first aid certificates are valid for three years from qualification. After this period, first aiders must attend the appropriate course to gain a new certificate.
The HSE strongly recommends that first aiders complete annual refresher training to keep their skills fresh. St John Ambulance thinks that this annual refresher training is so important, they offer a free or half price annual refresher course to those who complete their initial training with them.
The two-day First aid at work re-qualification course is very intensive, covering all the modules from the initial three-day course but in less time, and assumes prior knowledge. First aiders may benefit from the more comprehensive teaching and extra practice of the three-day First aid at work course for their re-qualification.
Ever increasing health and safety regulations have correctly focussed the minds of employers on safety in the workplace. Production of risk assessments is now common place to all service personnel. Again, St John provides training in this important regulated area.
Accredited by the leading health and safety bodies, these IOSH and NEBOSH qualifications are designed for managers who require a full understanding of health and safety and employees at all levels to provide an understanding of their responsibilities.
Occupational health (NEBOSH)
- IOSH Managing safely
- IOSH Working safely
- Fire marshal training
Under the Regulatory reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, businesses are required to carry out a fire risk assessment and have a sufficient number of competent fire marshals. If you’re not sure how many fire marshals your business requires St John can advise you.
Risk assessment courses
Employers are required to carry out a process of risk assessment that will enable them to decide the policies, procedures and trained personnel they must have in place to meet their statutory health and safety requirements. St John Ambulance offers the following courses:
- Risk assessment
- Health and safety basics
- Moving and handling courses
- Manual handling regulations place a duty on every employer and employee to reduce potential injury (and its associated costs) from moving and handling operations.
- St John is always on the look out for volunteers and welcomes former service personnel with first aid and training experience.
- Trainer vacancies are advertised on the St John Ambulance website when they become available, however applicants are normally required to have a training qualification such as CTLLs or equivalent, along with a relevant course qualification. Trainer vacancies and information about all St John first aid and health and safety course are available of the website www.sja.org.uk
Additionally, there are a growing number of private training companies offering similar courses and trainer opportunities. However, potential trainers will still need the relevant qualifications and those offered by St John are universally recognised.