First aid

Employers are obliged by law to provide first aid facilities under the Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981 (First Aid Regulations).

There is a mandatory three-day training course and a one-day option for small businesses. All qualified first aiders must attend a two-day requalification course every three years.

The HSE “strongly recommends that first-aiders undertake annual refresher training, over half a day, during any three-year certification period.” It says that: “Although not mandatory, this will help qualified first-aiders maintain their basic skills and keep up to date with any changes to first-aid procedures” (www.hse.gov.uk/firstaid/first-aid-training.htm).

Amendments to the First Aid Regulations and guidance

In October 2013 the Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981 were amended, removing the requirement for HSE to approve first aid training and qualifications. This means that businesses can now decide who does their first aid training. Employers still need to assess their first-aid needs to establish what provision for first aid is required. This will depend upon the workplace, taking into account, among other things, the number of employees, size, location and work activity.

The HSE also removed the Approved Code of Practice (ACoP) on the regulations and issued new guidance on what the amended Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981 mean for employers. It has issued separate guidance on the areas of mining, diving and offshore activities. This is available at: www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/l74.htm.

The HSE has also issued guidance on employers when selecting a first aid training provider at: www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/geis3.pdf

What the First Aid Regulations require

The regulations require employers to provide:

• adequate and appropriate first aid equipment and facilities;

• an adequate number of trained and qualified first aiders. These are people who have been trained and received certificates to show they are capable of administering first aid;

• an “appointed person” if the first aider is absent; and

• an appointed person instead of a first aider in some smaller, low-risk workplaces. This person will provide information to all workers about the provision of first aid, location of equipment, facilities and personnel and call the emergency services if necessary.

Employers must determine their own first aid needs by carrying out a risk assessment of first-aid needs. Assessments need not be recorded, but employers may have to justify decisions about the level of provision. The HSE guidance says that employers should consider:

• the nature of the work and workplace hazards and risks;

• the nature of the workforce;

• the organisation’s history of accidents;

• the size of the organisation;

• the needs of travelling, remote and lone workers;

• work patterns;

• the distribution of the workforce;

• the remoteness of the site from emergency medical services;

• employees working on shared or multi-occupied sites;

• annual leave and other absences of first-aiders and appointed persons;

• first-aid provision for non-employees.

If the assessment identifies a comparatively low risk to health and safety, employers may only need to provide the minimum: an appointed person to take charge of first-aid arrangements — a suitably stocked first-aid box. If the risks are greater and there are higher level hazards, such as chemicals or dangerous machinery, the HSE advises employers that they should consider providing first-aiders; additional training for first-aiders to deal with injuries resulting from special hazards; a suitably stocked first-aid box; additional first-aid equipment; the precise location of first-aid equipment; a first-aid room; and informing the emergency services of specific hazards in advance.

An HSE leaflet, Basic advice on first aid at work, should be included in the first aid box. A first-aid room will usually be necessary where there are higher hazards such as in chemical industries or on large construction sites, and in larger premises at a distance from medical services.

It should contain essential first aid facilities and equipment. A designated person should be given responsibility for supervising it. Employers are required to make a first aid room easily accessible to stretchers and to any other equipment needed to convey patients to and from the room. The first-aid room should be sign-posted and the signs should comply with the Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996.

Employers must provide information to employees about the provision of first aid, location of equipment, facilities and personnel. This should take into account people with language or reading difficulties. Employers should give new employees this information as part of their induction training and provide at least one notice in each workplace giving locations of facilities and equipment, and names and locations of first aiders.

“Generally, the larger the workforce, the greater the first-aid provision that is required. However, employee numbers should not be the sole basis for determining first-aid needs. A greater level of provision may be required when fewer people are at work but are undertaking more high-risk tasks such as maintenance work. Employers should provide sufficient cover for the various circumstances that can occur,” the HSE advises. “Even in workplaces with a small number of employees, particularly if there are significant hazards and/or risks present, there is still the possibility of an accident or sudden illness. Therefore, employers may wish to consider providing a qualified first-aider.”

Where there are small numbers of employees, the minimum provision is:

• an appointed person to take charge of first-aid arrangements;

• a suitably stocked first-aid box.

Where there are large numbers of employees (more than 25), even in low-hazard environments, employers should consider providing: first-aiders; additional first-aid equipment; and a first-aid room.

HSE First Aid webpages at: www.hse.gov.uk/firstaid