A person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) must ensure workers have access to an adequate number of trained first aiders. This may involve training one or more workers to provide first aid or arranging access to suitably trained people from outside the business.
While anyone at the scene may provide immediate assistance, a first aider is usually someone who has completed formal first aid training. First aiders may have different levels of training from basic resuscitation skills such as expired air resuscitation (EAR) or cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), through to more advanced first aid treatment.
First aiders should be selected and trained according to the hazards and risks identified at the workplace. They should be familiar with the workplace conditions, the likely types of injuries or illnesses and the level of first aid support required.
Types of first aid training
As a minimum first aiders should hold a nationally recognised statement of attainment issued by a registered training organisation (RTO) for the nationally endorsed first aid unit of competency, provide first aid or equivalent. Depending on the risks identified in the workplace, additional or higher-level first aid training may be required.
Additional training may be required where the work is remote or isolated and or when children are present in the workplace.
Frequency of training
First aiders should regularly refresh their skills and maintain their competence. CPR refresher training should be completed annually and general first aid certifications renewed every 3 years. Depending on your workplace’s risks, activities and circumstances, additional or more frequent training may be required.