First Aid at Work

The right First Aid Training for the First Aid at Work qualification is essential.

Employers are obliged under the Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981 and Approved Code of Practice (ACOP L74) to make adequate and appropriate First Aid Provision for their workforce. It is recommended that there is at least one appointed first aider available during all working hours. Employers should carry out a risk assessment at all working locations to establish what level of First Aid Training is needed.

As a guide, the minimum number of First Aiders in each situation is as follows:

Appointed person is required for

• Up to 50 Low Risk categories (e.g. shops and offices);
• Up to 20 Medium Risk categories (e.g. warehouses, food processing and light engineering);
• Up to 5 High Risk categories (e.g. construction, dangerous machinery and chemical manufacturing).

First Aider is required for:

• 50-100 employees in Low Risk categories (e.g. shops and offices);
• 20-100 employees in Medium Risk categories (e.g. warehouses, food processing and light engineering);
• 5-50 employees in High Risk categories (e.g. construction, dangerous machinery and chemical manufacturing.

Additional First Aider is required for:

• Every 100 employees in Low Risk (e.g. shops and offices) and Medium Risk (e.g. warehouses, food processing and light engineering) categories;
• Every 50 employees in High Risk categories (e.g. construction, dangerous machinery and chemical manufacturing).

The Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981 require certain standards to be achieved, and these are met by the 'First Aid at Work' qualification. Once attained, you receive a certificate which is valid for 3 years. The First Aid Training course usually runs over 4 days, and is assessed at the end of the course with a practical skills test.