What Does the First Aid at Work (FAW) Course Cover?

First Aid at Work (FAW) is the full, three-day, Level 3 workplace first aid qualification. It includes everything in the one-day Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) course, then adds the wider range of injuries and illnesses a first aider in a higher-risk or larger workplace may face: fractures, head and spinal injuries, chest injuries, serious burns, eye injuries, poisoning, anaphylaxis, and major illnesses such as heart attack, stroke, epilepsy, asthma and diabetic emergencies. It is assessed through practical skills and short written assessments, and the certificate lasts three years.

Everything in EFAW

FAW starts with the emergency core covered in EFAW (see what EFAW covers):

• The role of the first aider, and assessing an incident safely
• The unresponsive casualty: the recovery position, CPR and defibrillator use
• Choking, external bleeding and shock
• Seizures and minor injuries

Plus the wider syllabus

The extra two days go deeper and wider:

• Bones, muscles and joints: fractures, dislocations and sprains, including immobilising and supporting injuries
• Head and spinal injuries: recognising them and protecting the casualty until help arrives
• Chest injuries
• Burns and scalds: assessing severity and treating serious burns, not only minor ones
• Eye injuries: foreign bodies, chemicals and wounds
• Poisoning: recognising sudden poisoning and what to do
• Anaphylaxis: recognising a severe allergic reaction and helping with an auto-injector
• Major illnesses: heart attack, stroke, epilepsy, asthma and diabetic emergencies

Much of it is hands-on: slings and immobilisation, spinal handling, repeated CPR practice and realistic scenarios. When we deliver on site we build scenarios around your actual risks, whether that is a fall from height on a construction site or a forklift incident in a warehouse.

How FAW is assessed

Across the three days, the trainer observes each delegate in practical assessments, including CPR with a defibrillator, choking, the secondary survey, fractures and anaphylaxis. There are also short written assessments to check understanding, and everything assessed is taught on the course.

Renewal

The certificate lasts three years. Renewing takes a two-day requalification course instead of the full three days, ideally before expiry; if the certificate lapsed more than a month ago, the HSE suggests the full course may be more prudent. HSE also recommends a short annual refresher in between. See certificate renewal.

Who needs FAW

Higher-risk workplaces generally need FAW-trained first aiders: construction, warehousing and logistics, manufacturing, workshops and care settings. Larger low-risk workplaces also move to FAW as headcount grows under HSE's suggested starting points (see how many first aiders you need). If you are unsure, your first aid needs assessment decides it, and our EFAW vs FAW guide walks through the choice.

We deliver First Aid at Work on site across London for £1,500 per session, up to 12 staff, no VAT to add and nothing to pay to book. Request a free quote and we will confirm within 24 hours.