Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the subsequent Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981, an employer is under a statutory duty to provide first-aiders in the workplace, to provide adequate and appropriate equipment, facilities and personnel to ensure their employees receive immediate attention if they are injured or taken ill at work.

These Regulations apply to all workplaces including those with less than five employees.

First-aiders must undergo training to an approved standard in a specified list of
competencies.

The number of first aiders and the required level of training is dependent on the company’s size and the activities of the business. The Health and Safety Executive advises there should be at least 1 first aider per 100 employees. However, it is good practice to have more first aiders than prescribed to cover the absence of a first aider through annual leave, sickness or leaving the company. As many companies are operating a hybrid system of working from home, additional first aiders ensure adequate coverage within the commercial premises.