How many first aiders does my company need to have?

The Health and Safety (first aid) Regulations require you to provide 'adequate and appropriate equipment, facilities and personnel to enable first aid to be given to your employees if they are injured or become ill at work'. What is considered adequate will depend on the circumstances of each organisation. First-aid personnel should be available at all times people are at work and the numbers based on assessments of risk and number of employees. Factors such as remoteness from emergency services, shiftwork, type of work, all have to be considered, and an increased provision may be necessary to cover for absence. The minimum provision on any work site is:

• a suitably stocked first aid box
• an appointed person to take charge of first aid arrangements

Assess your risk level…
Each company should carry out its own risk assessment to establish what level of First Aid cover it requires. The table below offers guidance to minimum levels of first aid cover – it is no replacement for a thorough risk assessment.

Category of Risk	Number employed at each location	Suggested MINIMUM number of First Aid Personnel
LOWER RISK e.g. shops, offices	Fewer than 50 50 – 100 More than 100	1 Appointed Person 1 First Aider 1 additional First Aider per 100
MEDIUM RISK e.g. light engineering, food processing, warehousing	Fewer than 20 20 - 50 50 – 100 more than 100	1 Appointed Person 1 First Aider 2 First Aiders 1 additional First Aider per 100
HIGH RISK e.g. construction, chemical manufacture, dangerous machinery	Fewer than 5 5 – 50 More than 50	1 Appointed Person 1 First Aider 1 additional First Aider per 50

What is the difference between an Appointed Person and a First Aider?

An Appointed Person is someone you choose who should be available at all times to:

• take charge when someone at work is injured or become ill, e.g. call for an ambulance if required.
• look after the first aid equipment, e.g. re-stocking the first aid box.

Appointed Persons should not attempt to give first aid for which they have not been trained. Special short Emergency First Aid courses are available for this purpose and fast can arrange one day courses to provide suitable training. We will be happy to offer advice regarding your particular training needs.

A First Aider is someone who has undergone a training course in administering first aid at work and holds a current first aid at work certificate, which is valid for a period of three years. A First Aider can undertake the duties of an Appointed Person. The training has to have been approved by HSE. Lists of local approved training organisations are available from HSE Offices.

I can't release my staff for 4 consecutive days, can courses be split over a longer period?

We often arrange for courses to be split into four separate days or two groups of two days. FAST will always try to arrange training around your particular needs.

Can you arrange courses to be run in the evening or at weekends?

Yes - please email or phone us on +44 (0)20 8366 0042, if you wish us to make special arrangements.

Can a person who is pregnant, has a back problem, or is disabled, train to be a First Aider?

Anyone can learn First Aid - however, your selection of suitable people should be based on their ability to respond in an emergency to the benefit of your work force. The HSE advises that the selection of First Aiders for First Aid at Work purposes depends on a number of factors, including an individuals:

• reliability, disposition and communication skills;
• aptitude and ability to adsorb new knowledge and learn new skills;
• ability to cope with stressful and physically demanding emergency procedures;

normal duties allow that they may be left to go immediately and rapidly to an emergency.

Where can I obtain further information about First Aid at Work?

FAST will always be happy to answer any queries you may have and to offer any advice we can. A free leaflet First Aid at Work - your questions answered [IND (G) 214] is available from HSE Books.

More detailed guidance on complying with the Health and Safety (first-aid) Regulations 1981 is given in the Health and Safety Commissions First Aid at Work: Approved Code of Practice and Guidance L74 1997 ISBN 07176 1050 0

Both of the above publications are available from HSE Books, Tel 01787 881165