First Aid Provisions in the Workplace

The Health & Safety (First Aid) Regulations (1981) lay down three broad duties.

These are

the duty of the employer to provide first aid;
the duty of the employer to inform employees of the arrangements; and

the duty of the self-employed to provide first aid equipment.

An employer should make an assessment of first aid needs “appropriate” to the circumstances of each workplace, as the aim is to reduce the effects of illness or injury suffered at work. In assessing the needs each employer should consider - Workplace hazards and risks; Size of the organisation; Accident history; Distribution of workplace; Annual leave arrangements; Preponderance of lone workers; and Location of site to medical services. Other factors to be taken into account include the Public/Trainees/Contractors.

The names of the First Aiders should be displayed and best practice could include a photograph. First Aid containers should be easily accessible, checked and if necessary restocked on a regular basis. If the assessment identifies a need for first aiders, the numbers are dependent on both the category of risk of the workplace and number of people employed there.

An appointed person fulfils the minimum requirements as defined as someone who can take charge of first aid arrangements. A first aider must hold a valid certificate of competence in first aid at work, issued by an organisation approved by the Health & Safety Executive.

Produced by the GMB, London Region,
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