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Legal First Aid Requirements for Employers |
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People at work can suffer injury or illness. It doesn't matter whether this is caused by their work or not - what is important is that employers have made arrangements to ensure their employees receive immediate attention if they are injured or taken ill at work. The initial management of injuries and illness, until expert medical attention is received, could make a difference between life and death. In the event of sudden illness or injuries, failure to provide first aid could result in that person's death. The employer should therefore ensure that an employee who is injured or taken ill at work receives immediate attention. HSE will prosecute in cases where there is a significant risk, a disregard for established standards or persistent poor compliance with the law. |
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First Aid Training and The Law 
The Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 require that in order to provide first aid to their employees who are injured or become ill at work, employers must have adequate and appropriate equipment, facilities and personnel. Regulation 3(2) states that: For this purpose a person shall not be suitable unless he has undergone such training and has such qualifications as the HSE may approve. The Emergency First Response training courses conducted by DRD Training are approved by the HSE. |
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Legal duties The Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 require employers to provide adequate and appropriate equipment, facilities and personnel to enable first aid to be given to employees if they are injured or become ill at work. These Regulations apply to all workplaces including those with five or fewer employees and to the self-employed. Detailed information can be found in the Approved Code of Practice and Guidance: First aid at work. The Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 L74. What is adequate will depend on the circumstances in the workplace. This includes whether trained first aiders are needed, what should be included in a first aid box and if a first aid room is needed. Employers should carry out an assessment of first aid needs to determine this. |
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Assessment of first aid needs Employers are required to carry out an assessment of first aid needs. In other words they need to identify the level of risk to their employees in carrying out their work duties and consider what first aid equipment, personnel and facilities they need to make available. The following table offers guidance to minimum levels of First Aid cover but is no replacement for a thorough risk assessment.
Table from ACOP L74, issued March 1997 - correct as at January 2003 |
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Application of the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 to self-employed workers As a self-employed worker, you are required to ensure you have adequate facilities to provide first aid to yourself while at work. You must make an assessment of the hazards and risks in your workplace and establish an appropriate level of first aid provision. What this means in practice is that if you work in a low risk activity, eg clerical work at home, a normal domestic first aid box would be adequate. If your work involves driving long distances or you are continuously on the road, the assessment may identify the need to keep a personal first aid kit in your vehicle. Many self-employed people work on mixed premises with other self-employed or with employed workers. Although you are legally responsible for your own first aid provision, it is sensible to make joint arrangements with the other occupiers and self-employed on the premises. This would generally mean that one employer would take responsibility for first aid cover for all workers on the premises. HSE recommends there is a written agreement for any such arrangement. |
