Every employer must provide first aid arrangements for their workers. This means having trained personnel, appropriate equipment, and clear procedures so that if someone is injured or taken ill at work, they receive immediate help.

What you need depends on your workplace - a small office has different requirements from a construction site or manufacturing facility. The law requires you to assess your needs and provide accordingly.

First Aid Regulations 1981 overview

Core requirements for first aid provision at work under the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981.

The Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 require employers to provide adequate and appropriate first aid equipment, facilities and personnel to ensure employees receive immediate attention if they are injured or taken ill at work.

Legislation: Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 (SI 1981/917)
Enforcer: Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
Applies to: All workplaces including those with fewer than 5 employees
Self-employed: Must provide first aid equipment for themselves
Core duty: Provide adequate and appropriate equipment, facilities and personnel for first aid
Penalty for non-compliance: Unlimited fine on indictment under Health and Safety at Work Act 1974

HSE - First aid at work

Assessing your first aid needs

There is no one-size-fits-all answer. You must assess what first aid provision is appropriate for your workplace:

First aid needs assessment

Factors employers must consider when assessing their first aid requirements.

Employers must assess their first aid needs to determine what equipment, facilities and personnel are required. This assessment should be reviewed regularly and when circumstances change.

Workplace hazards: Consider specific risks from the work being done (machinery, chemicals, heights, etc.)
Size of organisation: Number of employees affects the level of first aid provision needed
Workplace layout: Consider if the workplace is spread across multiple buildings or floors
Shift patterns: Ensure first aid cover is available on all shifts, including nights and weekends
First-aider absences: Plan for annual leave, sickness and other absences of first-aiders
Distance from emergency services: Remote locations may need more extensive first aid provision
Accident history: Review past incidents to identify common injuries requiring first aid
Travelling workers: Consider needs of employees working away from the main workplace
Shared workplaces: Coordinate with other employers in multi-occupied premises
Non-employees: Consider needs of visitors, contractors and members of the public

Outcome of assessment: The needs assessment determines what personnel (appointed persons, EFAW or FAW trained), equipment (first aid kits, eyewash, etc.) and facilities (first aid room if needed) are required for your workplace.

HSE - First aid needs assessment

How to conduct your assessment

Consider your workplace hazards

Review your general risk assessment. Workplaces with dangerous machinery, hazardous substances, or high-risk activities need more first aid provision than low-risk offices.
Count your workers

Consider peak numbers on site, including visitors, contractors, and shift patterns. First aid provision must cover everyone present, not just employees.
Check site spread

Large sites, multi-floor buildings, or remote locations may need first aiders in each area. Workers should be able to reach first aid quickly.
Consider work patterns

Shift work, lone working, and split sites need coverage at all times. You may need more first aiders to cover absences and holidays.
Factor in distance from emergency services

Remote sites or locations with long ambulance response times may need more comprehensive first aid provision.
Review previous incidents

Your accident records show what types of injuries occur. This helps determine what first aid training and equipment is needed.

Types of first aid personnel

The law recognises different levels of first aid training:

Types of first aid personnel

Categories of first aid personnel and their roles, training requirements and when each type is appropriate.

There are three main types of first aid personnel recognised in UK workplaces. The type you need depends on your first aid needs assessment.

First Aid Appointed Person (FAAP): Takes charge in emergency, calls emergency services, looks after first aid equipment. No formal training required but awareness training recommended.
FAAP suitable for: Lower-risk workplaces with fewer than 25 employees
Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW): Provides emergency first aid. 1-day training course. Certificate valid 3 years.
EFAW suitable for: Low-risk workplaces (offices, shops, libraries)
First Aid at Work (FAW): Full first aid provision including treatment of injuries and illness. 3-day training course. Certificate valid 3 years.
FAW suitable for: Higher-risk workplaces (construction, manufacturing), larger organisations
Requalification: Both EFAW and FAW certificates must be renewed every 3 years through requalification training
Training providers: Training should be delivered by a competent training provider - HSE no longer approves training organisations

HSE - First aid training

Choosing the right level:

Low-risk workplaces (offices, shops): An Appointed Person may be sufficient for small workplaces, with EFAW-trained first aiders for larger teams
Higher-risk workplaces (construction, manufacturing, chemicals): FAW-trained first aiders who can deal with specific workplace injuries
Specialist environments (schools, care homes): May need additional training for specific needs

First aid certificates are valid for 3 years. You must ensure first aiders complete refresher training before their certificate expires.

How many first aiders do you need?

HSE provides guidance figures based on workplace risk and size:

First aider numbers guidance

HSE guidance on the number of first aiders needed based on workplace size and risk level.

The number of first aiders you need depends on your first aid needs assessment, considering workplace size, risk level, and other factors. HSE provides guidance figures as a starting point.

Low-risk workplaces (offices, shops, libraries):

Fewer than 25 employees: Appointed person (minimum)
25-50 employees: At least 1 EFAW-trained first-aider
More than 50 employees: At least 1 EFAW-trained first-aider per 100 employees

Higher-risk workplaces (construction, manufacturing, chemical handling):

Fewer than 5 employees: Appointed person (minimum)
5-50 employees: At least 1 FAW-trained first-aider
More than 50 employees: At least 1 FAW-trained first-aider per 50 employees

Important note: These are guidance figures only - actual provision depends on first aid needs assessment
Absence cover: Must arrange cover for first-aiders on annual leave, sickness, etc.
Shift work: Ensure first aid provision on all shifts
Multi-site operations: Each site needs adequate first aid provision
Remote workers: Consider provision for workers away from the main workplace

HSE - Basic advice on first aid at work (INDG347)

These are starting points, not absolute requirements. Your assessment may indicate you need more than these figures suggest. Consider:

Coverage during leave and sickness - you may need extra trained staff
Shift patterns - ensure coverage at all times
Building layout - first aiders accessible to all areas
Hazardous processes - may need additional provision

First aid equipment

There is no mandatory list of first aid box contents. The Regulations require adequate and appropriate equipment - what this means depends on your assessment:

First aid equipment guidance

Suggested contents for workplace first aid boxes based on HSE guidance.

There is no mandatory list of first aid box contents - what you need depends on your first aid needs assessment. However, HSE provides suggested minimum contents for a standard first aid kit.

Key principle: Contents based on needs assessment, not a mandatory list
First aid guidance leaflet: Include HSE leaflet or equivalent guidance
Sterile plasters: Individually wrapped, assorted sizes (20 recommended minimum)
Sterile eye pads: 2 minimum
Triangular bandages: Individually wrapped, 4 minimum
Safety pins: 6 minimum
Wound dressings (medium): Sterile, individually wrapped, 6 minimum
Wound dressings (large): Sterile, individually wrapped, 2 minimum
Disposable gloves: Pairs appropriate for the workplace
Important restriction: First aid boxes should not contain tablets or medicines

Additional items may be needed based on specific hazards:

Eyewash - where chemical splash risks exist
Burns dressings - where burn hazards are present
Scissors, tape, blankets - optional but useful
Foil blankets - for treating shock

HSE - First aid equipment guidance

Additional considerations:

Check and restock first aid boxes regularly - items expire and get used
Keep a record of what's used to identify patterns
Consider additional supplies for specific risks (burns dressings near heat sources, eye wash near chemicals)
Make sure first aid boxes are accessible, clearly marked, and workers know where they are

What you should NOT include: Medicines (including paracetamol), creams, sprays, or anything requiring medical knowledge to administer safely.

Information for workers

You must tell workers about first aid arrangements:

Who the first aiders are and how to contact them
Where first aid equipment is located
What to do in an emergency

First aid information should be in induction materials and displayed on notice boards. Consider how to inform temporary workers, contractors, and visitors.

Record keeping: Keep records of all first aid treatment given. This helps identify hazards, track incident patterns, and demonstrates compliance. Records should include date, time, casualty name, nature of injury, treatment given, and outcome.

Common questions

Do we need first aid for the public? The Regulations only require first aid for employees. However, HSE strongly recommends including provision for visitors and customers in your assessment.

What about lone workers? Lone workers need access to first aid. Consider mobile phones to summon help, personal first aid kits, and training in self-help techniques.

Can first aiders refuse to treat someone? First aiders are not legally required to treat others, but should help within their training if willing. Provide clear guidance on what's expected.

What about blood-borne infections? Train first aiders in infection control, provide disposable gloves, and have procedures for dealing with blood spillages.

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Provide first aid at work

Assessing your first aid needs

How to conduct your assessment

Consider your workplace hazards

Count your workers

Check site spread

Consider work patterns

Factor in distance from emergency services

Review previous incidents

Types of first aid personnel

How many first aiders do you need?

First aid equipment

Information for workers

Common questions

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🧪 Business Context Testing

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Assessing your first aid needs

How to conduct your assessment

Consider your workplace hazards

Count your workers

Check site spread

Consider work patterns

Factor in distance from emergency services

Review previous incidents

Types of first aid personnel

How many first aiders do you need?

First aid equipment

Information for workers

Common questions

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Business Context Testing

Content Graph