Does an online course to become a FAFS officer work?

The gist of the discussion

A FAFS officer is essential for safety in organisations. The duties of a FAFS officer include providing first aid, fighting fires and evacuating people in emergency situations. Traditionally, FAFS officers are trained through a combination of theory and practice. However, Radar exposed a problem: some employers train FAFS officers exclusively with a short-term online course, without practical experience. The question is whether this is sufficient to act adequately in emergency situations.

What does the law say?

According to the Working Conditions Act (Arbowet), employers are responsible for the safety of their staff and the organisation of in-house emergency response. The law states that FAFS officers must have ‘such training and equipment’ that they can perform their duties properly. Practical experience is not explicitly required in this regard, but the minister's answers show that it is implicitly considered essential.

The minister stressed that lack of practical experience could mean that the employer is not complying with the Occupational Health and Safety Act. If a FAFS officer proves unable to provide assistance in an emergency situation, the employer may be held liable. 

Practical experience: a must

The Red Cross, Orange Cross and the Dutch Resuscitation Council (NRR), for example, do not issue a resuscitation certificate without participants having demonstrated their skills in practice. This underlines the importance of practice in a realistic setting. A FAFS officer should not only know what to do, but also be able to carry it out under pressure.

No legislative change needed, but sectoral responsibility

The minister sees no need to amend the Occupational Health and Safety Act. The current law provides enough room for employers to choose adequate FAFS training, including practical experience. The interpretation of this lies with the sectors and employers themselves. They can make agreements on the content of training courses and use certification agencies such as NIBHV or KIWA.

What can we learn?

Radar's broadcast exposes that work is needed to ensure the quality of FAFS training. A focus on practical experience is crucial to ensure that FAFS officers are truly prepared for emergencies. Employers must take responsibility by investing in training courses that not only provide theoretical knowledge but also include hands-on training.

The way forward

The minister calls on sectors to work with certification agencies to develop clear guidelines for FAFS training. In addition, it would be helpful to stress the importance of repeat training, such as annual practical exercises. Only through continuous attention to quality can we ensure that FAFS officers have a safe workplace.

Safety in the workplace starts with well-trained emergency responders. Let's use the lessons from this debate to take FAFS to the next level. Because in an emergency situation, a few minutes can make the difference between life and death.