First Aid at Work - The basic requirements
The general requirements for meeting your HSE First Aid at Work commitment is shown in the following table.
Health & Safety Executive Recommendations on First Aiders in the Workplace
Category of risk
Lower Hazard
e.g. offices and shops
Higher Hazard
e.g. light engineering and assembly work, food processing, warehousing, extensive work with dangerous machinery or sharp instruments, construction, chemical manufacture
Numbers employed at any location
Fewer than 25
25-50
More than 50
Fewer than 5
5-50
More than 50
Suggested numbers of First Aid personnel
At least 1 appointed person
At least 1 First Aider trained in EFAW
At least 1 First Aider trained in FAW for every 100 employed
(or part thereof)
At least 1 appointed person
At least 1 First Aider trained in EFAW or FAW depending on the type of injuries that may occur
At least 1 First Aider trained in FAW for every 50 employed
(or part thereof)
Please note that some industries and environments have different requirements - the details are explained in The Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981 Approved Code of Practice and Guidance.
This table is for guidance only; it does not guarantee legal compliance.
The HSE recommends that First Aiders undergo a continuous programme of training, and First Aid at Work certification requires a mandatory requalification every three years.