First Aid at Work
People at work can suffer injuries or fall ill. It doesn’t
matter whether the injury or illness is caused by the work they do
or not. What is important is that they receive immediate attention.
First aid at work covers the arrangements you must take to ensure
this happens.
What do I need?
The Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981 require you
to provide suitable and sufficient equipment, facilities and
personnel to enable first aid to be given to your employees.
The minimum first aid provision at any work premises is:
- A suitable stocked first aid kit
- An appointed person to take charge
What should be in a first aid kit?
Where there is no specific risk in the workplace a minimum stock
of first aid items would be:
- A guidance leaflet
- 20 Individually wrapped sterile adhesive dressings
- two sterile eye pads
- four individually wrapped triangular bandages
- six safety pins
- six medium sized individually wrapped sterile unmedicated wound
dressings
- two large sized individually wrapped sterile unmedicated wound
dressings
- one pair of disposable gloves
What is the difference between an appointed person and a first
aider?
An appointed person is someone you choose
to;
- Take charge when someone is ill or injured, including calling
an ambulance if required.
- Look after the first aid equipment, e.g. restocking the first
aid box .
An appointed person should not attempt to give first aid for
which they have not been trained.
A first aider is someone who has undergone a
training course in administering first aid at work and holds a
current certificate. The training has to have been approved by The
Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
How many first aiders do I require?
The number of first aiders depends on the type and size of
business. Visit the HSE’s first aid page for detailed guidance on
the number of first aiders needed.
Do I have to do anything else?
Inform all staff of the first aid arrangements.
Put notices telling employees:
- who and where the first aiders or appointed persons are.
- where the first aid kits are kept.
Where can I get further advice?
For further advice contact your Council using the contact
details above on the left or visit the HSE website below:
