The requirement for the HSE to approve the training and qualifications of appointed first aid personnel is to be removed following recommendations made by Professor Ragnar Löfstedt in his 2011 review of health and safety for the Government, and a subsequent consultation held in November last year.
Löfstedt considered that the current HSE approval process went beyond the minimum requirement laid out in EU legislation.
He said the change would give employers greater flexibility to choose a training provider and first aid training that was right for their work place, and based on their individual business needs.
The training provider will be required to meet standards set by HSE and employers will still be required to have an adequate number of suitably trained first aiders (or appointed persons) in accordance with their first aid needs assessment.
Following the responses to the consultation, the HSE has published two draft guidance documents that reflect the proposed changes in regulations.
The first document aims to help businesses make an assessment of the first aid needs within their specific workplace and to put adequate provisions and competent personnel in place.
The second guidance document will help businesses select an appropriate first aid training provider who meets the required standards.
HSE policy advisor Peter Brown said: "Removing the HSE approval process will give businesses greater flexibility to choose their own training providers and first aid training that is right for their workplace, based on their assessment of their individual business needs.
"The draft guidance documents aim to provide practical support to help businesses assess and understand their first aid needs and find a provider best suited to them.
"HSE has used the feedback from the recent consultation exercise to shape the guidance, but would welcome any further feedback on the guidance before the regulations come into place."
