Businesses could be fined

EXMOUTH businesses have been warned by St John Ambulance to be prepared for the biggest overhaul in first aid in the workplace for 25 years - or face a fine.

EXMOUTH businesses have been warned by St John Ambulance to be prepared for the biggest overhaul in first aid in the workplace for 25 years - or face a fine.

The Health and Safety Executive is bringing in major changes to its first aid regulations on October 1 and the organisation believes many employers are ill-prepared.

Changes including reclassifying medium sized businesses into low or high risk which means companies much need to train more first aiders.

Elaine Leighton, Regional Marketing Manager for St John Ambulance in the South West said: "We strongly recommend that businesses embrace the changes to continue to make our workplaces as safe as possible and ensure that if an accident does happen, they are well prepared.

"The worst possible scenario is that an employee is injured and a workplace has not got enough first aiders...

"We don't know how the HSE will respond to breaches in regulations but businesses should be wary of fines or even charges under the corporate manslaughter act. It's wise to prepare now."

St John Ambulance has set up online risk assessment tools on their website to guide businesses through the changes.

Visit www.sja.org.uk/training.