Employee welfare

The Health and Safety (First aid) Regulations 1981 require employers to provide equipment, facilities and personnel to enable first aid to be given to employees if they are injured or become ill at work.

In order to assess what is needed employers must carry out an assessment of what first aid needs are within the workplace.

The minimum provision of first aid on any work site is:

• a suitably stocked first aid box
• an appointed person to take responsibility for first aid arrangements including re-stocking the first aid box.

To be a qualified first aider you must take an approved Health and Safety Executive 4 day training course. Individuals who are responsible for first aid in the workplace should only administer first aid appropriate to their level of training. A list of approved training organisations is available on the HSE website. 

First aid arrangements must be available at all times when people are at work including out with normal working hours. Shift workers must be considered your first aid assessment.

The Health and Safety Executive First Aid Page provides further information on first aid and how to comply with the law.