September 7, 2022

Two-day GWO First Aid module to remain valid until April 1 2023

Training providers certified to deliver the GWO First Aid module of Basic Safety Training are today informed that version (V14) will remain valid for use until April 1 2023. It will co-exist with version 15 that was released for use on 1st April 2022.

Training providers certified to deliver the GWO First Aid module of Basic Safety Training are today informed that version (V14) will remain valid for use until April 1 2023. It will co-exist with version 15 that was released for use on 1st April 2022.

This is a change to the previously published guidance  which stated V14 would be phased out by 1st October 2022. This updated information also applies to the First Aid Refresher module, for which V10.1 will also now remain valid until April 1 2023.

The new version is considered the primary global version as of October 1 2022. However, maintaining the older version in use is relevant specifically for employers and training providers in the UK, who may recommend a longer course duration to meet local regulatory requirements.

For those companies, the existing 2-day First Aid module and 1.5-day Refresher module remain appropriate for all participants. GWO will publish version 4 of the Enhanced First Aid Standard and Version 4 of the Enhanced First Aid Refresher Standard on October 1 2022.

This standard will be aligned with ILCOR best practice recommendations and will be compliant with regional and national legislation regarding first aid training.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q -Will the new one day GWO FA Module still be valid?

A – Yes the one day GWO FA Module is the updated module and is now valid

Q - Do I have to still offer the GWO 2 FA day Module?

A – No, this is the decision of the Training Provider

Q – How long can I offer the GWO 2 day FA module for?

A – The GWO 2 day module will now expire on 1st April 2023 and be replaced with the GWO 1 day FA module however if this does not meet country requirements, GWO suggest the GWO EFA standard is used

Q – Isn’t there a pre-requisite for the GWO EFA standard?

A – There is no longer a pre-requisite for a participant to complete a GWO FA module prior to the GWO EFA standard

Q- 1 day/2 day FA or EFA ? Which course meets my needs?

A- First aid requirements vary regionally. The requirements for your region are determined by local legislation which the the manufacturer or operator is obliged to follow. The 2 day First Aid module of Basic Safety Training will no longer be a global standard from April 2023. If your country or region's legislation requires a first aid training of longer than one day duration, training providers are advised to pursue certification in the GWO Enhanced First Aid Standard.

Q – My company is not certified to deliver the GWO Enhanced First Aid Standard. Will we have to do this?

A – In some jurisdictions, a one day first aid training module (as described in V15 of the Basic Safety Training Standard) and a 0.5-day refresher training module (as described in V11 of the Basic Safety Training Refresher Standard) may not meet regulatory minimum durations. In such cases, and to meet the demand from employers, training providers are advised to continue providing the 2 day V14 BST First Aid Module and the 1.5 day V10.1 BST First Aid Refresher module for the extended period up to April 2023. Those training providers are advised to pursue certification in the Enhanced First Aid Standard.