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Medical training certifications and courses are a popular extra-curricular activity for companies looking to invest in their employees. Not only are these businesses adding fully trained medical assistants to their team, but there are also unseen benefits to the training that includes increasing employee satisfaction.

It doesn’t matter if individuals trained in first aid or are working in an office environment, factory setting, on a building site, or as a schoolteacher, the outcome is the same. That is having efficient first aid experts on-site that can properly deal with emergency medical situations. However, studies also show that aside from being able to deal with medical emergencies there are additional advantages to investing in first aid and medical training for your employees.

In today’s fast-moving work environments employees, managers, and HR departments are all looking for new ways to keep the workforce motivated. As a result, job satisfaction is now a key area that businesses focus on. Job satisfaction reduces turnover and creates continuity. The longer employees stay together, the less the company needs to invest resources and money on hiring and training new staff.

Where do first aid courses come into the equation?

In order to make sure employees do not jump ship companies are investing in courses that train their workforce to improve and evolve as a member of the company as well as an individual. Ultimately the idea is to make the employee feel valued.  One of the best ways to achieve this is team-building exercises and group training courses.

When employees are sent on a medical training course, not only do they get to do something different from their day to day tasks, they also get to add a valuable skill to their CV. Their medical/first aid knowledge makes the individual feel important and as a result, the employee should feel valued. When an employee is chosen to take on the responsibility of being one of the few first aid qualified individuals in the workplace it shows him/her that the company values them and trusts them as a person.

Adding to this, if you send multiple personnel on a first aid course, let’s one person from each department, then you are encouraging comradery between departments. Each worker from each department will work together on the same course to gain the same qualification and as such, they will have a skill in common. They will also get to know each other better, while had they not taken part in the first aid or medical course, their interaction may have been limited.

The outcome can only be positive for your business

First aid training for businesses is not just about having people on-site with the skill to deal with any potential medical emergencies, it can also be a team-building activity, create bonds within the workforce, and connect departments together that may not usually interact. On top of this, the employees involved will feel wanted by the company and not just another statistic on the payroll.

All these outcomes will also have the benefit of reducing the company’s employee turnover. Companies with low staff turnover are more efficient and productive than those with high staff turnover. 

Organisations in the UK have a responsibility to staff when it comes to health and safety in the workplace.

Training appointed staff in first aid and immediate medical care is highly important. The same goes for fire prevention.

In respect of fire precautions, it is extremely important that you make your workplace a safer environment for all concerned. This includes:

• The owner(s) of the business.
• All those you employ.
• Visiting colleagues.
• Customers and potential customers.

Who is responsible for appointing someone to look after fire safety?

This is the person who owns or controls the business or the premises on which business is carried out.

If this is a ‘shared responsibility’ – i.e. Landlord & Tenant – These two parties are obliged to co-operate.

So, if you are the owner of a business, you need to appoint someone as a designated fire warden (often known as fire safety officer). Obviously, the larger your staff numbers, the more fire wardens you will need.

Duties of a fire warden/fire safety officer:

These are wide and varied but include responsibility for correctly managing such things as:

• Fire Risk Assessment – By law, any business that employs 5 or more staff must complete and record (in writing) a fire risk assessment.
• Fire procedures – Devise fire procedures in the event of a fire – Example: Evacuation procedure.
• Company fire safety policy – Document and issue details to all staff. This policy should be explained to existing staff and included in induction training of new staff.

Also place written details of this policy in prominent areas of the workspace – i.e. Reception, General Office, Meeting Room, Kitchen, W.C.’s.

• Staff training – While this can be carried out by the fire warden(s) it is recommended that an outside, professional training company are used for major staff training sessions – Perhaps 2 per year for smaller companies, 4 per year for larger companies – With ‘in between’ training/advice given by fire wardens.
• Fire Drills – These should be carried out on a regular basis to ensure staff know exactly what to do in the event of a building fire breaking out and the evacuation procedure – Where they should congregate (stipulated assembly point) outside the building.
• Means of Escape/Signs & Notices – Clearly indicated escape routes, routes that are left uncluttered. Signs and short, sharp instructions should be displayed. Fire extinguishers placed appropriately and instructions on use/what type of fire they should be used on clearly displayed.
• Emergency lighting/Fire alarm – Periodically check both are in working order and have a notification system to advise staff of such testing (i.e. written and carried out in stone – “Fire Alarm/Emergency Lighting Test” will take place at 09.00hrs every Monday morning).
• Electrical extension leads – A continual check that electrical extension leads are not being overused / overloaded – This is a major source of fire in the working environment. Action needs to be taken if staff need additional power supplies.

Are you doing all you should be?

We have only really touched on what a Fire warden/Fire safety officers’ duty involves. As can be seen it will reap benefits by having a competent person(s) professionally trained to carry out such duties.

Please also remember that you should have a ‘deputy’ as the competent person will not always be present in the office (holidays, other outside training courses, sickness etc.).

Essex Medical Training can assist in helping you in such instances with either on or off-premise tuition. The price you will pay is a very small one for staff safety and peace of mind.