As a result of an increase in the spread of the Covid-19 virus and the tightening of restrictions by the UK Government, Ouch Training have reviewed their position relating to the provision of face-to-face training for our customers.
Ouch have always followed the guidance and best practices made available by our industry, and other bodies such as the Health & Safety Executive (HSE). This guidance was reviewed and updated by the HSE and those responsible for (in this circumstance) First Aid Training on the 6th of January 2020.
The updated guidance from the HSE, confirms that face to face training can continue, assuming that the control measures required to ensure a Covid safe environment are maintained.
Ouch Training have made significant changes to the way traditional face to face training is now delivered, all of which are aimed at reducing the risk of the spread of the Covid-19 virus to as low possible. The sector and the HSE accept that their will be residual risk, but with an outweighed benefit from the provision of essential training, delivered to the public and workplaces.
Ouch Training embrace the concept of “risk versus benefit” and have used this principle to help us to decide what level of training provision we are able to provide during the current level of restrictions.
Therefore, until there is a change in Government guidance, Ouch have decided not to deliver any face-to-face training, unless the residual risk (after our extra Covid-19 measures,) is outweighed by the benefit of delivering it. In practice, this means that we can justify delivering critical training to those who provide a front-line service, supporting and caring for vulnerable people. Examples of this could include Childminders and Care Home workers.
We do, of course, want to ensure that all our customers, their clients, and staff to remain as safe as possible. With this in mind, Ouch have other options that would help to manage the risk from a lack of suitably qualified First Aiders in the workplace. One option would be to “blend” any planned First Aid Training. This allows each learner to complete comprehensive eLearning modules, giving them the knowledge needed to deal with a First Aid emergency. This eLearning can be completed in the workplace, or at the learner’s home. The practical elements of the course are then covered during a face-to- face session with an Ouch trainer at a later date. Together, successful completion of both elements awards the learner the First Aid certificate. If this option is chosen, Ouch recommend that there should be gap of no more than twelve weeks between the completion of the eLearning modules and the practical sessions.
Ouch are aware of the importance of a flexible approach to supporting our customers and will conduct a two-week rolling review of training delivery methods.
If you have any questions about how we can help you to find the best solution for your training needs, please get in touch.
Please find our new Video “Covid safe CPR procedures”
Please have a look at our open course dates, or give us a call on 01202 880999.
Subject: Covid 19 – Certificate expiry information
HSE (Health & Safety Executive) have now updated their policy with regard to EFAW and FAW certificate expiry dates and extensions. For any EFAW or FAW certificates that expired after 16th March 2020, they will remain valid until 31st October 2020 OR 6 months from the date of expiry, whichever is later. All requalifications for these certificates should be completed by 31st March 2021.
To qualify for the extension, employers must be able to demonstrate that:
Please read the full HSE statement here
We are now open and able to deliver training both in-house and as open courses. We have scheduled new open course dates for the remainder of 2020. Some courses will be delivered face to face whilst others will be delivered via online or blended learning. The courses start from 1st June and can be booked via our website, or you can email us at [email protected]
Our training venue has been adjusted to accommodate social distancing guidelines and various safety procedures have been put into place to ensure everyone’s safety whilst attending any training with us. All training equipment will be cleaned and sanatised prior to, and following any contact. Our risk assessment has been updated to incorporate all government and awarding body guidelines.
You can also download our open course dates sheet (PDF) for 2020…
Subject: Covid 19 – Certificate expiry information
As a provider of qualifications with a designated expiry date, Ouch have recognised that the current situation may impact on our customers Health and Safety accreditations and standards. We have been in touch with the relevant awarding bodies to clarify their position on certificate expiry dates, and listed below their current policies below. (N.B. the current situation is fluid and as such this may change on a day to day basis).
Detailed below is the information in relation to certificate extensions for different types of training. If you would like to request an extension on your certificate expiry date, then please download the form below and send to us at [email protected]
Awarding bodies: UKATA / IATP
Both UKATA and IATP have approved the delivery of some training via video conferencing (list below), because of this they have decided not to grant extensions for these course certificate expiry dates.
As these courses can be delivered remotely no grace period will be permitted for these courses; https://www.ukata.org.uk/news/ukata-announces-temporary-video-conference-asbestos-training-during-coronavirus-crisis/
The following training has been designated as suitable for delivery via video conferencing:
• Asbestos Awareness
• Asbestos Awareness Refresher
• Duty to Manage – Extension to Asbestos Awareness
• Non-Licensable Refresher (Delegates must complete a training needs analysis prior to the training)
In response to the UKATA / IATP statement on certificate extensions Ouch are currently compiling a list of customers which fall within this category, and will be in-touch shortly to discuss the options available to our customers. Ouch are in the process of scheduling a list of open courses delivered via video conferencing. Once these dates are confirmed we will be in touch to make all of our customers aware of the dates and how to access this training. N.B. copies of a sample training needs analysis are available from Ouch if required.
Awarding body: Jaupt
Jaupt are planning to allow grace periods for CPC training due to expire during the current crisis. During this period drivers will not be subject to enforcement action by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) in respect of the Driver CPC regulations.
If you are stopped by an enforcement officer they can check to see that you have previously recently held a Driver CPC or are in the military (including reservists acting under instruction).
Drivers should carry their expired Driver CPC card if they have it.
The drivers that this measure applies to will be required to comply with Driver CPC rules from 1 October 2020. As a result of this Ouch have been granted approval to deliver the following training via a video conferencing platform.
• Module B Vehicle Fire Safety
• Module C Introduction to Health & Safety
• Module D Risk Assessment
• Module E COSHH
• Module F Conflict Resolution
In response to this opportunity for extension of certification Ouch are currently compiling a list of customers which fall within this category, and will be in-touch shortly to discuss the options available to our customers. Ouch are in the process of scheduling a list of open courses delivered via video conferencing. Once these dates are confirmed we will be in touch to make all of our customers aware of the dates and how to access this training.
This guidance has been taken from the Health and Safety Executive, find it here. https://www.hse.gov.uk/news/first-aid-certificate-coronavirus.htm
If first aid cover for your business is reduced because of coronavirus or you can’t get the first aid training you need, there are some things you can do so that you still comply with the law.
You should review your first aid needs assessment, find it here https://www.hse.gov.uk/firstaid/needs-assessment.htm and decide if you can still provide the cover needed for the workers that are present and the activities that they are doing.
Keep enough first aid cover
If there are fewer people coming into your workplace it may still be safe to operate with reduced first aid cover. You could also stop higher risk activities.
You could share the first aiders of another business, but be sure that they have the knowledge, experience and availability to cover the first aid needs of your business.
Shared first aiders must:
Whoever provides the temporary cover must make sure they do not adversely affect their own first aid cover.
First aid certificate extensions
If you hold a first aid certificate that expires on or after 16 March 2020 and cannot access requalification training because of coronavirus you may qualify for an extension. This applies to:
To qualify for the extension, you must be able to explain why you haven’t been able to requalify and demonstrate what steps you have taken to access the training, if asked to do so.
Interrupted first aid training
If because of coronavirus you cannot complete training for your first aid qualification within the usual timeframe, training can restart at a later date as long as:
Guidance for first responders
This guidance has been taken from Public Health England, find it here
Providing assistance
If you need to provide assistance to an individual who is symptomatic and may have COVID-19, wherever possible, place the person in a place away from others. If there is no physically separate room, ask others who are not involved in providing assistance to stay at least 2 metres away from the individual. If barriers or screens are available, these may be used.
Personal protective equipment (PPE)
Use and dispose of all PPE according to the instructions and training previously provided by your employer or organisation. Disposable gloves and fluid repellent surgical face mask is recommended and, if available, disposable plastic apron and disposable eye protection (such as face visor or goggles) should be worn. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before putting on and after taking off PPE.
Your organisation will need to look at existing first aid kits and update supplies with recommended equipment.
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation
Where possible, it is recommended that you do not perform rescue breaths or mouth-to-mouth ventilation; perform chest compressions only. Resuscitation Council (UK) Guidelines 2010 for Basic Life Support state that studies have shown that compression-only CPR may be as effective as combined ventilation and compression in the first few minutes after non-asphyxial arrest (cardiac arrest due to lack of oxygen).
If a decision is made to perform mouth-to-mouth ventilation in asphyxial arrest, use a resuscitation face shield where available.
This guidance has been taken from Resuscitation Council (UK), find it here https://www.resus.org.uk/media/statements/resuscitation-council-uk-statements-on-covid-19-coronavirus-cpr-and-resuscitation/covid-community/
Those laypeople and first responders with a duty of care (workplace first-aiders, sports coaches etc.) that may include CPR should be guided by their employer’s advice.
Resuscitation Council (UK) Guidelines 2015 state “If you are untrained or unable to do rescue breaths, give chest compression-only CPR (i.e. continuous compressions at a rate of at least 100–120 min)”.
Because of the heightened awareness of the possibility that the victim may have COVID-19, Resuscitation Council (UK offers this advice:
Paediatric advice
This guidance has been taken from Resuscitation Council (UK), find it here https://www.resus.org.uk/media/statements/resuscitation-council-uk-statements-on-covid-19-coronavirus-cpr-and-resuscitation/covid-paediatrics/
For out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, the importance of calling an ambulance and taking immediate action cannot be stressed highly enough. If a child is not breathing normally and no actions are taken, their heart will stop, and full cardiac arrest will occur.
It is likely that the child/infant having an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest will be known to you. We accept that doing rescue breaths will increase the risk of transmitting the COVID-19 virus, either to the rescuer or the child/infant. However, this risk is small compared to the risk of taking no action as this will result in certain cardiac arrest and the death of the child.
Should you have given mouth-to-mouth ventilation there are no additional actions to be taken other than to monitor yourself for symptoms of possible COVID-19 over the following 14 days. Should you develop such symptoms you should follow the advice on what to do on the NHS Website, find it here https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
Following the Government’s recent announcements, we are now able to restart delivering training again. Some courses will be dleivered face to face, whilst some courses will remain online or blended learning.
If you have already paid for training which won’t be taking place, we will issue you with a credit voucher to use within 12 months for the equivalent training. We will be issuing the vouchers in the upcoming weeks.
Please see the separate information on this page regarding certificate extensions. There are different rules for different training courses and awarding bodies regarding the expiry date during this period.
Yes we are delivering selected training courses remotely via video conferencing. Please visit our course dates page for our open course for the upcoming months. Please also get in touch for in-house training and we would be happy to discuss your requirements and send you a quote.
For anyone who was booked on a training course, we will be in contact with you as soon as we are able to deliver training again to offer new dates.
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