UK Workplace First Aid Requirements: Complete Compliance Guide

The Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981 place a legal duty on employers throughout Kent, London, Essex, and all UK regions to ensure adequate first aid provision in their workplaces. This comprehensive guide outlines your legal obligations and practical steps for compliance.

Core Legal Requirements

Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the First Aid Regulations 1981, employers must:

Determining Your First Aid Needs

The HSE requires employers to assess their specific first aid needs based on several factors:

Workplace Risk Factors

• Number of Employees: Determines minimum first aider requirements
• Nature of Work: Higher risk activities require enhanced provisions
• Workplace Hazards: Chemical, machinery, height work, etc.
• Size and Layout: Multi-floor or large sites need multiple provisions
• Remote Locations: Areas distant from emergency services
• Shift Patterns: 24/7 operations require continuous coverage
• Vulnerable Workers: Young, elderly, or disabled employees

Minimum Staffing Requirements

Workplace Category	Employees	Minimum Requirement
Lower Risk (offices, shops)	5-50	1 x Emergency First Aider
Lower Risk	50+	1 x First Aider at Work
Higher Risk (construction, manufacturing)	5-50	1 x First Aider at Work
Higher Risk	50+	1 x First Aider per 50 employees

Training Requirements

The HSE mandates specific training standards for workplace first aiders:

Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW)

• Duration: 6 hours (typically 1 day)
• Validity: 3 years
• Suitable for: Lower risk workplaces
• Content: Basic emergency procedures, CPR, choking, bleeding control

First Aid at Work (FAW)

• Duration: 18 hours (typically 3 days)
• Validity: 3 years
• Suitable for: Higher risk workplaces and appointed first aiders
• Content: Comprehensive first aid including spinal injuries, fractures, burns

Equipment and Facilities

Employers must provide appropriate first aid equipment based on their risk assessment:

Standard First Aid Kit Contents

• First aid guidance leaflet
• Individually wrapped sterile adhesive dressings
• Sterile eye pads with attachments
• Individually wrapped triangular bandages
• Safety pins
• Medium and large sterile unmedicated wound dressings
• Disposable gloves

Additional Requirements

• First Aid Room: Required for workplaces with 150+ employees or higher risk activities
• Defibrillator (AED): Recommended for all workplaces, mandatory in some sectors
• Eye Wash Stations: Required where chemical hazards exist
• Emergency Blankets: For outdoor or cold environments

Information and Communication

Employers must ensure all employees know about first aid arrangements:

• Notices: Display names and locations of first aiders
• Induction: Include first aid information in employee induction
• Updates: Communicate any changes to arrangements
• Emergency Procedures: Clear instructions for summoning help

Record Keeping and Reporting

Legal requirements for documentation include:

• Accident Book: Record all workplace injuries and first aid treatment
• RIDDOR Reports: Report serious injuries to HSE within required timeframes
• Training Records: Maintain certificates and renewal dates
• Risk Assessments: Document and review first aid needs assessments

Enforcement and Penalties

The HSE enforces first aid regulations through workplace inspections. Non-compliance can result in:

• Improvement Notices: Legal requirement to address deficiencies
• Prohibition Notices: Stopping work until compliance achieved
• Prosecution: Criminal charges for serious breaches
• Unlimited Fines: No maximum limit for safety offences
• Personal Liability: Directors and managers can face individual prosecution

Regional Considerations

Specific considerations for different regions:

Kent Workplaces

Industrial heritage areas may require enhanced provisions due to older building layouts and manufacturing activities.

London Workplaces

High-rise buildings require specific evacuation procedures and multiple first aid stations across floors.

Essex Workplaces

Agricultural and rural businesses may need additional provisions due to distance from emergency services.

Compliance Checklist