First aid training for your business
Understanding your legal obligations is the first step. Choosing the right training is the second. We can help with both.
1. Your legal obligation
Under the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981, every employer in the UK is required to provide adequate and appropriate first aid provision for their employees. This applies to businesses of all sizes — from a two-person office to a large manufacturing site.
What “adequate and appropriate” means in practice depends on your workplace: the nature of the work, the size of your workforce, the level of risk, and how quickly emergency services can reach you. There is no single fixed standard — but there is a clear legal expectation that you have assessed your needs and acted on them.
2. The mistake many businesses make
The HSE recognises three levels of first aid provision. The lowest — the Appointed Person — is not a first aider. They can call 999, look after the first aid kit and keep basic records, but they are not qualified or required to provide first aid treatment.
Many businesses use this level to reduce costs. If something goes wrong and no trained first aider is available, liability shifts directly to the employer. An Appointed Person is only appropriate for very low-risk environments with minimal staff and no meaningful hazard — and even then, it leaves your business exposed.
3. Which course does your business need?
Use this as a starting point based on your sector. If you’re unsure, get in touch and we’ll help you work it out.
- Low-risk workplaces (offices, retail, small businesses)
Recommended: Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW)
Suitable for low-hazard environments with smaller teams. One day, valid for 3 years. - Medium-risk workplaces (warehouses, schools, hospitality)
Recommended: First Aid at Work (FAW), or a combination of FAW and EFAW
Higher risk of injury and larger teams require a more comprehensive qualification. Three days, valid for 3 years. - High-risk workplaces (construction, heavy industry, manufacturing)
Recommended: First Aid at Work (FAW) — multiple trained staff
Higher-risk environments with potential for serious injury require fully qualified first aiders and enhanced provision throughout the site. - Childcare settings (nurseries, childminders, preschools)
Mandatory: Paediatric First Aid (PFA)
Required by the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework. At least one qualified paediatric first aider must be on the premises at all times. Non-negotiable for Ofsted registration. - Healthcare and dental settings
Recommended: Basic Life Support (BLS) & AED / BLS for Dental Practices
Higher clinical risk requires specific training in CPR, AED use, oxygen administration and emergency drug awareness. - Gyms and leisure facilities
Recommended: EFAW as a minimum, with BLS and AED training strongly advised
Risk of cardiac events and sports injuries makes CPR and defibrillator training particularly valuable in these settings.
4. How many first aiders do you need?
The HSE does not prescribe fixed numbers — everything depends on your first aid needs assessment. In practice, however, there is clear guidance based on your risk level and workforce size.
Low-hazard workplaces (offices, shops, libraries)
| Employees | Minimum requirement |
|---|---|
| Fewer than 25 | At least 1 appointed person |
| 25–50 | At least 1 EFAW-trained first aider |
| More than 50 | At least 1 FAW-trained first aider per 100 employees |
Higher-hazard workplaces (warehouses, engineering, construction, food processing, chemical manufacture)
| Employees | Minimum requirement |
|---|---|
| Fewer than 5 | At least 1 appointed person |
| 5–50 | At least 1 EFAW or FAW trained first aider, depending on injury risk |
| More than 50 | At least 1 FAW-trained first aider per 50 employees |
Also consider: injuries and incidents
Ensure your first aid provision can deal with any injuries or illnesses that have previously occurred in your workplace. Even where first-aiders are shown to be unnecessary based on staff numbers alone, the possibility of accident or sudden illness means you may still wish to provide qualified first-aiders.
Factors that may increase your requirement:
- Inexperienced workers or employees with disabilities or particular health conditions
- Employees who travel frequently, work remotely or work alone
- Shift work or out-of-hours operations
- Premises spread across multiple buildings or floors
- Workplace remote from emergency services
- Employees working at sites occupied by other employers
- Planned or unplanned absences of your designated first aider
- Members of the public visiting the workplace
Source: Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
5. What equipment does your business need?
Training is only part of your first aid provision. The HSE also expects employers to have appropriate equipment in place.
First aid kits
Every workplace needs at least one clearly marked, easily accessible first aid kit appropriate to the risk level. Contents should include gloves, dressings, bandages, eye wash and wipes. The number and location of kits should reflect the size of your premises — no one should have to go looking for a kit in an emergency. Contents will vary depending on the nature of your work, the number of employees and your history of incidents.
AEDs (Automated External Defibrillators)
Not legally required, but increasingly expected — particularly in public-facing settings, gyms and larger workplaces. If you have an AED on site, your staff need to know how to use it. AED training is included as standard in all our courses.
First aid room
Required in larger or higher-risk workplaces with frequent incidents. Should include a couch, running water, adequate storage and privacy.
Additional equipment
Depending on your risk profile, you may also need eyewash stations (chemical exposure environments), burns kits (kitchens, industrial settings) or oxygen (dental and clinical environments).
Maintenance
First aid kits must be regularly checked, items replaced before expiry and records kept. Failure to maintain equipment is one of the most common findings in HSE audits — and one of the easiest to avoid.
6. Three questions every employer should be able to answer
- What level of risk does my workplace fall into?
- When did I last carry out a first aid needs assessment?
- Would my current first aid provision hold up under HSE scrutiny?
If you’re not confident about any of these, it’s worth reviewing your provision now — before an incident makes that decision for you.
Not sure where to start?
Tell us about your business and we'll recommend the right course for your team, your sector and your risk level.
Have a specific question about first aid requirements? Visit our FAQ