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Can a company you work for legally force you to take a EFAW first aid training course?

I've worked in a petrol station for the last 8 years and just recently they've told us that we've got to go on an EFAW first aid course. The sight of blood makes me pass out. If we refuse they've said we should consider our position in the petrol station. Can they actually force us do it?

Public Comments

1. A company can require that employees have training in skills it deems needed.

There will be no real blood around and no artificial blood either during the course.

2. You don't deal with blood in first aid training courses.

3. Yes, that is a reasonable requirement for your position. Think of it this way: if a customer (or another employee) had a serious accident, they want you to be able to handle immediate first aid while they wait for Emergency Medical Techs to arrive. You passing out is not a useful response.

So yes, they can make that a requirement of the position.

4. In my job it's a requirement and you can't get a job without it.
First aid training won't involve blood so you'll be fine

5. Yes, if your employer considers the course an essential function of your job a judge or jury would deem the requirement to be reasonable. The employer is the party who is charged with determining the essential functions of positions in the company and is responsible to ensure all employees can perform the functions safely and accurately.

6. it's not bad as it seems.

people here are right. you will not see REAL BLOOD. there is actually NO blood with doing Basic Life Support.

oh first aid training? i dunno about that. i have only experienced Basic Life Support like doing rescue breaths and CPR and using AEDs and Advanced Cardiac Life Support Trainings like doing a Shock and injecting epis and vasopressins and amidarone stuffs, starting IVs.

7. If it is contingent on keeping your job, yes.
You can always quit or go pump gas for them.
Why would you refuse free training in any area?
It can only make you a more well rounded person.
There will be no blood and even if there is some, you'll get used to it.
I did.

8. If you mean "force" you, as in at gunpoint, the answer is no. If you are asking if they employer can establish new qualifications for continued employment, the answer is yes. If you have a contract you can enforce it. If not, employment is a new contract every day and if someone offers you continued employment you can accept, or reject or negotiate a better contract.