BOOKINGS
We are now back and training face to face and it’s great to be back in the training room. We have a undertaken a full risk assessment of our operational procedures and are confident that we are exceeding the Government’s advice and the guidelines set out by our certifying body.
We want you and your team to be confident that you are safe on all of our courses. The information below details our changes. Alternatively, you can give us a call to discuss. If you require our full risk assessment please just ask.
FUTURE BOOKINGS
If we cannot carry out your booking due to COVID-19 or any lockdown restrictions, we will move your booking to another convenient date free of charge, or offer a full refund.
COVID-19: NEW COURSE PROCEDURES
- Before each course, every participant will need to answer a health screening questionnaire.
- On arrival, we will take your temperature with a non-contact thermometer – anyone with a temperature of above 37.8 degrees will be asked to leave. (WHO recommendation.)
- We will provide hand sanitising alcohol gel – this must be used during the course
- We will provide non-surgical face masks; these must be worn for all close practical work. You can wear your own face mask if suitable.
- We will issue a pack on arrival with your individual items for the day.
- We will give you your own equipment where possible, and any shared equipment will be sanitised between use.
- Our courses are now paperless (apart from a signature for track and trace). All paperwork must be completed online, a smart phone will be suitable for this.
- All practical work has been adapted to ensure you can do it complying to social distancing recommendations.
- Any room that you supply for training must be large enough to maintain social distancing. We may ask you to reduce the group size if the room doesn’t meet these requirements.
- You must bring your own food, drink and refreshments to the course.
EQUIPMENT HYGIENE
Our equipment always has been high quality and we are totally obsessed with its cleanliness. If you have already been on one of our courses, you will know how seriously we take hygiene. Here is how we do it:
- Every evening, all equipment is cleaned with sterilising Milton fluid.
- Each week, all equipment is stripped, examined and deep cleaned.
- We leave the manakins stripped down, so you can see the new parts being fitted for each course.
- We soak the faces (you each have your own) in-between use on the course. The chests will be sprayed and wiped with sterilising Milton fluid.
- You will supply gloves for use whilst using any equipment or you can sanitise your hands before and after.
- We will supply you with new, sealed bandages for practical sessions which will be only used on yourself, then disposed of.
WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU CAN’T RENEW YOUR QUALIFICATION BECAUSE OF THE SUSPENSION OF TRAINING?
The HSE has announced an extension to the validity of First Aid at Work certificates coming up for renewal on or after 16th March 2020 during the current COVID crisis. You must however undertake your requalification by the end of March 2021!
The Department for Education and Ofsted’s extension has now expired – we can help. Please get in touch for a quote.
As you would expect – Green Box will keep you up to date on the latest information regarding your certificate validity during this period.
HSE OFFICIAL STATEMENT
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is aware that people holding Offshore Medic (OM), Offshore First Aid (OFA), First Aid at Work (FAW) or Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) certificates nearing expiry date might experience disruption to access to requalification training as a result of events or circumstances generated by the coronavirus pandemic.
HSE’s current guidance on the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981: https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/priced/l74.pdf and the Offshore Installations and Pipeline Works (First-Aid) Regulations 1989: https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/priced/l123.pdf is that those holding an OM, OFA, FAW or EFAW qualification should undertake retraining before their original certificate expires and HSE strongly recommends that employers, and individuals holding those qualifications should plan for requalification training well in advance of expiry dates.
If requalification training is prevented for reasons associated directly with coronavirus or by complying with related Government advice, it is reasonable and practical to extend the validity of current certificates by up to 3 months. Anyone taking advantage of this extension should be able to describe clearly their reasons for delaying requalification training, and demonstrate steps they have taken to undertake the training, if required.
This guidance comes into effect for certificates expiring on or after 16th March 2020. HSE will review this matter over the coming months and will issue further statements as necessary.
