As most of our members are aware, part of the Guilds remit is to promote safer and healthier working conditions for the estimated 500,000+ security operatives working in the UK.

Last year, we contacted numerous agencies in an effort to fulfill that objective. One specific are we are all concerned with is traning and the complete abscence of refresher training for maintaining that standard.

One specific area we looked at was First Aid.
We contacted the HSE expressing our concern that there was a significantly large gap between re-certification of First Aid - to the extent that, for those who did not have the opportunity to practise First Aid on a regular basis would forget what they were taught and through no fault of their own, they might put lives at risk.

Shortly afterwards, the HSE made available a discussion document, the responses to which have now been analysed and the advice and recommendations for action will be presented to the Health and Safety Commission in Spring 2004.

There were over 500 respondents to the HSE consultation document - the results can be found here.

The biggest proposed change is that in the area of training. Where previously there was a three year refresher course, the HSE are now proposing an ANNUAL refresher course with a full re-certification every third year. The Guild feel this is far more appropriate to todays ever changing work environment and the fact that the HSE's own data showed that the majority of trainees forgot significant amounts of the skills taught within a few months underlines our own findings and supports the need for annual refresher training in all area's - not just First Aid.