In Finland, the employer has a statutory obligation to ensure sufficient first aid preparedness at the workplace. By choosing Red Cross first aid training, you can ensure compliance with legislation and be assured of the first aid expertise of your staff, regardless of how many departments, offices or locations you need to cover.
First aid preparedness at the workplace means that the workplace has a sufficient number of people with first aid skills, the necessary amount of first aid supplies and instructions on how to act in emergencies.
Red Cross first aid courses teach first aid skills, prevent accidents and promote occupational safety, as the training places special emphasis on factors affecting the occupational safety of your organisation.
First aid trained personnel are able to anticipate risks, prevent occupational accidents and act quickly and courageously in the event of an accident. Given promptly, first aid can save lives and speed up recovery.
An organisation that takes care of the safety of its staff and the workplace is appreciated by its employees. People at the workplace can always feels safe knowing there are helpers with first aid skills able to help if a situation requiring first aid arises. First aid preparedness is a sign that the company is a responsible operator.
The general goal is to ensure that at least five per cent of your staff possess first aid skills and a valid first aid qualification. The number applies to each office in your organisation if you have operations at several locations.
During the workplace survey, the occupational health services also determine the degree of first aid preparedness your organisation requires. A plan is then created which outlines how first aid preparedness will be implemented your the workplace. Your organisation can also apply for reimbursement from Kela for maintaining first aid preparedness as a part of occupational health and safety.
Several acts and decrees regulate the organisation of first aid preparedness at the workplace.
In Finland, the employer has a statutory obligation to ensure sufficient first aid preparedness at the workplace.
The employer has to ensure the provision of first aid to employees and other people at the workplace and the availability of appropriate first aid supplies in sufficient quantities. The employer must also provide instructions on how to deal with situations requiring first aid. These must be made available to all employees.
The most important acts and decrees regulating the provision of first aid and first aid preparedness at the workplace:
The act and decrees concerning first aid preparedness at the workplace apply to all Finnish companies, regardless of their size and industry. Remember to take care of the safety of your working environment and personnel.
An accident risk assessment, conducted in connection with the workplace survey, significantly affects the amount of first aid preparedness required. The assessment of accident risks takes account of things such as what kinds of risks and hazards the working environment presents, how big and probable the risks are, and how significant these risks are in terms of public safety. Employees should be involved in the assessment, as they have first-hand information of the risks and hazards associated with their work tasks.
In Finland, organisations are divided into three risk categories: low-risk, obvious and specific work environments.
Work environments with a low accident risk include offices, shops and restaurants, for example. These environments can benefit from the FRC Emergency First Aid Course 4 h online course, FRC Emergency First Aid 4 h, FRC Emergency First Aid Course 8 h online course or the FRC Emergency First Aid 8 h course.
Work environments with an obvious accident risk include jobs in construction, industry, manufacturing and logistics, for example, as well as working with children. In these jobs, first aid training must be more extensive, which makes the FRC First Aid Course EA 1® an excellent choice.
Working environments with a specific accident risk include, for instance, construction, excavation and seafaring work involving contact with hazardous substances or some life-threatening hazard, such as an explosion or drowning hazard. For these workplaces, we recommend the FRC First Aid Course EA 1® and FRC First Aid Course EA 2®.
We can take into account the special needs of your work environment in all our first aid courses, which allows the course content to focus on the risks and hazards of your particular industry or work tasks.
The contents and instructors of the Red Cross first aid courses meet the requirements of Kela and the Health Insurance Act for maintaining first aid preparedness at the workplace as a part of occupational health and safety activities.
Kela’s instructions set the following prerequisites for receiving reimbursement:
The costs of first aid training deemed necessary by an occupational health care professional are approved for reimbursement when the instructor is a health care professional (doctor, nurse or public health nurse) with additional training as a first aid instructor.
Each of our instructors has an First Aid Instructor qualification, which meets these requirements.
Other costs entitling to reimbursement include, for example, the rent of separate training facilities and the travel costs of the instructor and the people taking part in the course.
Reimbursable first aid supplies include first aid kits and cabinets and their contents as well as eye wash equipment. The defibrillator is not reimbursed by occupational health care.
For further information on reimbursement, visit Kela’s website
Book an appointment to discuss your first aid training needs.
