- Conference
- 2007 Health Care Service Group Conference
- Date
- 29 December 2006
- Decision
- Carried
This Conference believes that a safe working environment is a right for everyone. There is a requirement under “Health & Safety at Work Act 1974” and “The Health & Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981” for employers to provide equipment and facilities which are adequate and appropriate in the circumstances for administering first-aid to employees (Regulation 3(1)).
Since 1975 within the local authority sector, Scottish Joint Council (SJC) covered employees willing to take on the responsibility of becoming a First Aider for their organisation. These employees are trained and certificated to fulfil this role for the benefit of the organisation. For their services they are awarded an annual payment of £315, paid through their monthly salary in instalments of £26.25 with the payment being subject to a cost of living increase consistent with their annual pay award.
Conference calls upon the Service Group Executive to initiate immediate negotiations with the NHS Staff Council to achieve the following:
1.Introduce an equivalent payment across all NHS bodies formally recognising and rewarding employees trained and certificated in first aid for taking on the statutory responsibility under “The Health & Safety at Work Act 1974” and the “Health & Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981”.
2.Negotiate an appropriate payment of arrears to recognise the additional responsibility taken on by First Aiders consistent with the recognition given to their counterparts in the Local Authority sector.