Frequently asked questions.
What is first aid?
It is the immediate assistance or treatment given to someone injured or taken ill to preserve life, to prevent the injury or illness becoming worse and to promote the persons recovery.
Does an employer have to provide first aid facilities for their staff?
Yes, employers must provide adequate and appropriate equipment, facilities and personnel.
What is a first aider?
This is someone who has undergone a training course in administering first aid at work and who holds a current first aid at work certificate. The training has to have been approved by the Health and Safety Executive.
What is an appointed person?
This is a person who takes charge when someone is injured or falls ill, who may call an ambulance if required and who looks after the first aid
equipment such as restocking the first aid box.
What should be in a first aid box?
There is no standard list but, where there is no special risk in the workplace a minimum stock of items should be:
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a leaflet giving general guidance on first aid (for example INDG Basic advice on first aid at work, see end of this entry for details).
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20 individually wrapped sterile adhesive dressings (assorted sizes)
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2 sterile eye pads
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4 individually wrapped triangular bandages (preferably sterile)
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6 safety pins
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6 medium sized (approximately 12 cm x 12 cm) individually wrapped sterile unmedicated wound dressings
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2 large(approximately 18 cm x 18 cm) sterile individually wrapped wound dressings
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1 pair of disposable gloves
This is a suggested list only as equivalent but similar items would be acceptable.
There must be no medicines or tablets in the first aid box.
What is the suggested number of first aid personnel?
Guidance on the suggested numbers of first aid personnel:
| Category of risk | Number employed at any location | Suggested number of personnel |
| Lower Risk e.g. shops / offices | Fewer than 50 | At least one appointed person |
| 50 -100 | At least one first aider |
| More than 100 | One additional first aider for every 100 employed |
| Medium Risk e.g. light engineering /warehousing | Fewer than 20 | At least one appointed person |
| 20 - 100 | At least one first aider for every 50 employed (or part thereof) |
| More than 100 | One additional first aider for every 100 employed |
| Higher Risk e.g.construction / extensive work with dangerous machinery | Fewer than 5 | At least one appointed person |
| 5 - 50 | At least one first aider |
| More than 50 | One additional first aider for every 50 employed |
Are employers obliged to provide first aid for anyone other than their employees?
Under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, no. However, some businesses do make provision for them. Employers should be aware that the compulsory element of their employers' liability insurance does not cover litigation resulting from first aid to non-employees but some public liability insurance policies do cover this aspect.
Useful publications available HSE Books, PO Box 1999, Sudbury, Suffolk, CO10 2WA. Tel:01787881165, Fax:01787 313995:
First Aid at Work, L74. ISBN 01717610500. £6.75.
First -aid at work: Your questions answered INDG214 (one free) or direct from: www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg214.pdf
First-aid: Basic advice on first aid at work INDG215 (one free) or direct from: www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg347.pdf
