Whether you’re running a small business, managing a larger team or working for yourself, knowing what the law expects when it comes to first aid can be confusing. This article explains what you’re required to do, how to assess your specific needs and what practical steps to take, so you can stay compliant and support the wellbeing of everyone in your workplace.
Legal Duties for Employers
Employers are legally obliged to ensure that employees receive immediate help if they become ill or injured at work. This requirement applies to every workplace, regardless of industry or size and includes the self-employed. Regularly reviewing your first aid arrangements is crucial to creating a safer and more prepared working environment.
As a minimum, you must:
- Have a suitably stocked first aid kit
- Nominate an appointed person or people to take charge of first aid arrangements
- Provide all employees with information about your first aid arrangements
Assessing Your First Aid Needs
What ‘adequate and appropriate’ first aid arrangements look like depends on the work you do and where you do it.
You must consider:
- The work your employees do
- Hazards and the likely risk of them causing harm
- The size of your workforce
- Staff work patterns
- Holiday and other absences of trained first aiders or appointed persons
- Your business’s history of accidents
You should also consider:
- The needs of travelling, remote or lone workers
- The proximity of your sites to emergency medical services
- Whether your employees work at shared or multi-occupancy sites
- First aid for non-employees, including members of the public
- Support for those experiencing a mental health issue
Appointing Someone to Take Charge
An appointed person is responsible for your first aid arrangements. This includes maintaining the first aid kit and facilities, as well as calling emergency services if necessary.
You can have more than one appointed person, and they don’t need formal training, but one must always be available when people are at work.
First Aid Kit
The contents of your first aid kit should reflect the risks identified in your first aid needs assessment. Kits should be checked regularly to ensure supplies are in date and replenished as needed.
First Aiders and Training
There are no set rules on how many trained first aiders a business should have, it all depends on the nature of your work and its location.
Your first aid assessment findings will help you determine the following:
- Whether you need formally trained first aiders
- What level of training they require
- How many people need to be trained
It’s essential to keep training up to date with regular refresher courses.
According to St John Ambulance, fewer than 20% of people feel confident administering basic first aid, and a third of employees worry their workplace doesn’t have adequate first aid cover.
First Aid for Homeworkers and Co-Working Spaces
For low-risk, home-based desk work, you don’t need any first aid equipment beyond normal domestic first aid supplies.
If your work involves regular driving, you may want to keep a first aid kit in your vehicle.
If you’re self-employed and work in a co-working space (shared workspace with other self-employed or employed workers), you’re legally responsible for your own first aid provision. However, you can make joint arrangements with others in the space. These are often outlined in a written agreement where one occupier takes responsibility for first aid across the premises.
Not Sure Where to Start?
St John Ambulance has developed a handy First Aid Requirements Calculator to help you determine what you need based on your specific workplace risks and size.
If you’re unsure whether your first aid provision meets legal requirements or need support with a first aid assessment, our team can help. Contact us on 02920 853731 or email tcms@thomas-carroll.co.uk.
