First Aid at Work Questions

The amount of first-aiders or cover required is determined by the type of work you carry out and the number of people in the organisation. Your first aid needs assessment should be recorded and regularly updated. This document from the HSE defines the legal requirements for first aid provisions. Or, read our blog covering first aider requirements.

Employers hold the overall responsibility for ensuring effective record-keeping is undertaken. However, responsibility for completing the record-keeping would usually belong to the first-aider or appointed person.

It is not a legal requirement for first aid training to be approved by the HSE. However, first aid training providers should be able to demonstrate how they comply with the criteria set by the HSE. Our First Aid Appointed Person eLearning course provides an overview of the role and the main responsibilities that come with it.

Examples of what to include in a first-aid box includes:

• Range of plasters in different sizes
• Bandages
• Safety pins
• Disposable gloves

Your first aid needs assessment should identify any additional requirements for your first aid box.

The HSE recommends it as good practice for first aiders and appointed persons to record incidents that required their assistance. This information can then help identify accident trends and areas for improvement.

A First Aid at Work (FAW) certificate is valid for three years from the date of completion. To maintain certification, you must complete a requalification course before the certificate expires. It is also recommended to undertake annual refresher training to keep skills up to date.

The cost of a First Aid at Work (FAW) course varies depending on the training provider and location. Generally, prices range from approximately £220 to £349 for a comprehensive three-day course.

Praxis42 Appointed Person First Aid Course costs £25 and it provides those who are responsible for first aid arrangements in their workplace with the knowledge and skills to fulfil their role.

The Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 require employers to provide appropriate first aid arrangements in the workplace. This includes ensuring an adequate number of trained first aiders, suitable first aid equipment, and facilities based on the specific risks and number of employees.

Employers must assess their first aid needs and ensure they comply with these regulations to safeguard employees’ health and safety at work.

The minimum requirement for first aid at work under the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 is to have a suitably stocked first aid kit and an appointed person responsible for managing first aid arrangements. This appointed person does not need to be trained in first aid but is responsible for maintaining supplies and contacting emergency services when needed.

For low-risk workplaces with small staff numbers, this may be sufficient, but higher-risk environments will require trained first aiders.

If there is no first aider at work, the employer must still comply with the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 by appointing someone to manage first aid arrangements. This appointed person can handle the first aid kit, ensure supplies are stocked, and call emergency services if needed.

However, in higher-risk workplaces, the lack of a trained first aider could result in non-compliance with legal requirements and pose significant safety risks, potentially leading to fines or liability if injuries occur.

The role of a first aider in the workplace is to provide immediate assistance to anyone who becomes injured or ill until professional medical help arrives.

Their responsibilities include assessing the situation, delivering appropriate first aid treatment, maintaining calm, and ensuring the safety of others. They are also tasked with keeping records of incidents and ensuring the workplace first aid kit is properly stocked and maintained.

First Aid at Work covers managing emergencies, treating minor injuries (cuts, burns), handling major incidents (heart attacks, strokes, unconsciousness), and providing CPR and defibrillator use. It also includes recognising and responding to specific workplace hazards like fractures, choking, and severe bleeding.

Under the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981, employers are responsible for providing adequate first aid arrangements to ensure employees receive immediate assistance if injured or taken ill at work. This includes conducting a first aid needs assessment, supplying suitable first aid equipment, ensuring an adequate number of trained first aiders, and communicating first aid arrangements to staff.

These measures must reflect the specific risks and size of the workplace.

The number of first aiders needed at work in the UK depends on the outcome of your first aid needs assessment, as required by the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981.

• Low-risk workplaces (e.g., offices): At least one appointed person or one trained first aider for every 25 employees.
• Medium-risk workplaces (e.g., retail, warehouses): One trained first aider for every 50 employees.
• High-risk workplaces (e.g., construction, manufacturing): At least one trained first aider for every 5 to 50 employees, with additional first aiders required as numbers increase.

Specific needs may vary based on the type of work, hazards, and shift patterns.