Workplace Requirements for First Aid

Unsure what your workplace requirements are for First Aid? Read our handy guide to help you decide on the right training and provisions for your workplace.

The Law

The Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981 require employers to provide adequate and appropriate equipment, facilities and personnel to ensure their employees receive immediate attention if they are injured or taken ill at work. These regulations apply to all workplaces including those with less than five employees and to the self-employed.

Assessing Your Needs

To ensure the workplace has adequate provisions, the employer must take a first aid risk assessment including the following considerations:

• Hazards – does your workplace undertake any hazardous activities?

• Employees – how many? Any disabilities or health problems?

• Any injuries and illnesses that have happened in your workplace previously?

• Do your employees work shifts?

• Are there several areas/floors to consider?

• Do you have cover for when staff are absent?

• Who else is on your premises? – customers, members of the public? Whilst you have no legal obligation for non-employees the HSE strongly recommends you consider them in your first aid assessment.

How Many First Aiders Are Needed?

There are 3 types of first aid personnel:

• Appointed person – The person in charge of first aid provision who looks after equipment and calls the emergency services.

• EFAW Trained – EFAW stands for Emergency First Aid at Work, this is one day (6 hour) course.

• FAW Trained – FAW stands for First Aid at Work, this is 3 day (18 hour) course.

Use the table below to help you assess how many first aiders you need for your workplace:

Level of Hazard	Number of Employees	First aid personnel needed
Low-hazard (shop, office, library, etc.)	Less than 25	At least one appointed person
	25-50	At least one EFAW trained First Aider
	50+	At least one FAW trained First Aider per 100 staff
High-hazard (workshops, construction, food industry, etc.)	Less than 5	At least one appointed person
	5-50	At least one EFAW or FAW trained First Aider
	50+	At least one FAW trained First Aider per 50 staff

First Aid Training

The employer must select a training provider to train their staff. There are four types of organisation to choose from, offering:

• Regulated qualifications from an Awarding Organisation (such as OFQUAL).

• Voluntary approval schemes.

• Independent training where the provider can prove their due diligence.

• Training from one of the three Voluntary Aid Societies recognised by the government (St John Ambulance, British Red Cross, and St Andrew's First Aid).

At Berkshire First Aid Training we are proudly independent and provide quality First Aid training for any workplace, no matter the size or level of risk. To find out more about our due diligence please click here.

If you would like to book some training with us, browse our First Aid courses here.