Why FREC Level 3 should be on every construction site’s radar

In high-risk sectors such as construction, emergency preparedness isn’t optional — it’s essential. Whether it’s a fall from height, crush injury, cardiac arrest or catastrophic bleed, the moments after an incident are critical.

This is where the First Response Emergency Care (FREC) Level 3 qualification proves invaluable.

FREC 3 is an Ofqual-regulated qualification developed to bridge the gap between basic first aid and advanced pre-hospital care. Designed by Qualsafe, it’s ideal for those who require more than just a First Aid at Work qualification – especially in high-hazard environments like construction sites.

Over 5 days, the course covers:

• Airway management (including use of suction and airway adjuncts)
• Catastrophic bleed control using tourniquets and haemostatic dressings
• Safe oxygen administration and AED use
• Trauma assessment and spinal immobilisation
• CPR and AED for adults, children and infants
• Medical emergencies (heart attacks, strokes, seizures, etc.)

Although standard first aid qualifications are valuable, they won’t fully equip your staff to manage life-threatening trauma. Construction sites are dynamic and unpredictable – serious incidents can happen in seconds.

FREC 3 will give your people the knowledge and skills to:

✅ Recognise life-threatening injuries quickly
✅ Deliver vital interventions until emergency services arrive
✅ Use specialist kit like trauma dressings and oxygen safely
✅ Act with confidence when it counts most

The course is invaluable for remote, high-risk or large-scale sites – where an ambulance might be minutes away, but immediate care is needed right now.

While FREC 3 isn’t (yet) a legal requirement for all construction sites, it supports compliance with:

• The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
• The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
• First Aid Regulations 1981, especially for higher-risk environments

FREC demonstrates your commitment to workforce safety and wellbeing – which your clients, regulators and staff will look favourably on.

• Appointed first aiders who need advanced trauma care skills
• Site supervisors and safety officers
• Remote site workers where help is not immediately available
• Fire marshals or emergency team leaders on larger developments

Eden Custom Training delivers FREC Level 3 through experienced, frontline professionals, using real-world scenarios, trauma simulation and supportive coaching. Our training is:

• Practical, hands-on and site-relevant
• Delivered in small groups for personalised instruction
• Run in-house or at our training centre

Participants walk away with confidence, competence, and a regulated qualification that lasts 3 years.

When lives depend on you: Be prepared. Be trained.