About the course
The HSE 3-Day First Aid at Work (FAW) Course is the most comprehensive first-aid qualification recognised by the UK Health and Safety Executive. It is designed to give participants the skills, knowledge and confidence to manage a wide range of workplace injuries and medical emergencies. Unlike the one-day EFAW course, the three-day programme goes into significantly greater depth, with extensive practical training, scenario-based exercises and detailed understanding of first-aid principles. It is intended for higher-risk workplaces or environments where a more advanced level of first-aid provision is legally required.
What the course covers – The course begins by outlining the role and responsibilities of a first aider, including incident assessment, prioritising casualties, minimising risks, and effective communication with emergency services. Learners practise conducting primary and secondary surveys, checking vital signs, and recognising life-threatening conditions. A major component of the training is high-quality CPR and the use of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED), taught and practised in realistic scenarios.
Beyond essential life-support, the course covers a wide range of illnesses and injuries, including the management of choking, severe bleeding, shock, burns, scalds, fractures, dislocations, head and spinal injuries, eye injuries and crush injuries. Students learn how to treat asthma attacks, anaphylaxis, seizures, strokes, heart attacks, diabetic emergencies and poisoning. The FAW course also covers bandaging techniques, wound care, safe positioning of casualties, and monitoring whilst awaiting medical help. A key part of the training includes incident simulations which help learners gain real-world confidence and the ability to respond under pressure. Assessment is conducted through practical demonstrations and written evaluation.
Who it is aimed at – The HSE 3-Day First Aid at Work Course is aimed at individuals who are designated workplace first aiders in medium- to high-risk environments. These include factories, construction sites, engineering workshops, warehousing, manufacturing, transportation, agriculture, hospitality venues, sports centres and environments where employees work with machinery, chemicals or significant physical hazards. It is also well suited to organisations that require a higher level of first-aid competence due to workforce size, remote working conditions or specific risk assessments.
The course is ideal for managers, supervisors, safety officers, team leaders and appointed first-aid personnel who need to meet legal obligations and ensure robust first-aid cover. It is also valuable for individuals in community groups, outdoor activity leaders and anyone seeking a deeper understanding of first aid. No prior experience is needed, but learners must be comfortable with hands-on, practical training.
We hold recognition from both Highfield Training (at Aboard Boat Coaching) and the Scottish Qualification Authority (‘SQA’) (at Powerboat Training UK) for these first aid courses. Courses can be dual certificated on request.
(Note: Students must be aged 16 or more to attend the HSE courses.)
