How many First Aiders?
Here is a guide to first aid provision for your business, more information can be found at http://www.hse.gov.uk/firstaid/ or you can use this calculator or give us a call and we can help.
Low hazard - e.g. shops, offices and libraries
| Numbers employed at any location | Suggested number of First Aid personnel |
|---|---|
| Fewer than 25 | At least 1 Appointed Person** |
| 25 – 50 | At least 1 Emergency First Aider (1-day EFAW) |
| More than 50 | 1 First Aider (FAW) At least one per 100 employees or part thereof |
Higher hazard - e.g. light engineering and assembly work, food processing, warehousing, extensive work with dangerous machinery or sharp instruments, construction, chemical manufacture, work involving special hazards such as hydrofluoric acid or confined spaces.
| Numbers employed at any location | Suggested number of First Aid personnel |
|---|---|
| Fewer than 5 | At least 1 Appointed Person** |
| 5 – 50 | At least 1 First Aider *** (EFAW or FAW) |
| More than 50 | 1 First Aider (FAW) At least one for every 50 employees or part thereof |
*** The type of injuries that might arise in working with those hazards identified, will influence whether the First Aider should be trained in FAW or EFAW
First Aid at work provision
- Size of the organisation
- History of accidents
- Inexperienced workers, trainees, pregnant workers or employees with disabilities or particular health problems
- Employees who travel a lot, work remotely or work alone
- Employees who work shifts or out of hours
- Premises spread out across buildings/floors
- Workplace remote from emergency medical services
- Employees working at sites occupied by other employers
- Planned and unplanned absences of First-Aiders
- Members of the public who visit the workplace
Please note that as from October 1st 2013, new guidance came into effect relating to First Aid provision – L74 Guidance (Third edition).