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Business practice and regulation

First Aid

People can suffer injuries or fall ill whilst at work. It is important that they are able to receive immediate attention if the situation is serious, and that there are arrangements for calling an ambulance if necessary. First aid at work can save lives, and prevent minor injuries becoming major ones.

It is a legal requirement to provide adequate and appropriate equipment, facilities and personnel to enable first aid to be given to employees.

The minimum provision is a properly stocked first aid box and an appointed, trained first aider. Greater provision is necessary if there are particularly hazardous situations, if you have a large number of employees, or if some of your employees work at an isolated location.

The first aid provision and first aiders must be reasonably accessible, so they may need to be provided at several locations. Sometimes it is necessary to issue personal first-aid kits.

First aid boxes should contain adhesive dressings, sterile eye pads and bandages, safety pins, sterile wound dressings, disposable gloves and a leaflet giving general guidance.

First Aiders must have attended a training course approved by the HSE. You should select people who can be relied upon in an emergency, and you must allow them time to undertake the training.

You need to introduce arrangements for calling the ambulance, and ensuring that the First Aid provision is maintained. This must be available whenever employees are at work.

You must advise your employees of the arrangements by putting up notices telling staff who and where the first aiders are.
 
In businesses where large numbers of the public are on the premises, you are advised to consider what additional provision you need to make for them.

Further information on numbers of first aiders and specific provision is available in HSE Guidance. Contact HSE Books, P.O. Box 1999, Sudbury, Suffolk. Tel. 01787 881165, or the HSE information line 0541 545500.

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