HSE First-Aid Regulations 1981: HSE First-Aid Rules

Regulatory citation: The Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 (SI 1981/917)

What Are the First-Aid Regulations?

The Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 require employers to make adequate and appropriate first-aid arrangements for employees who are injured or become ill at work. The rules apply to every employer, including small and low-risk businesses. What counts as adequate depends on the work, the hazards and the size and location of the workforce.

Why First Aid Matters

Quick first aid can stop a minor injury from getting worse and can save a life in a serious emergency. Bleeding, burns, cardiac arrest and choking need action within minutes, often before an ambulance arrives.

Core Obligations

1. Assess First-Aid Needs (Regulation 3)

Employers need to work out what first-aid provision is adequate and appropriate. A needs assessment should consider the hazards and risks, the number of workers, past accidents, shift patterns, lone and remote work, travel, the distance to emergency services and how many people are on leave at any time.

2. Provide Equipment and Facilities (Regulation 3(1))

Every workplace needs adequate and appropriate first-aid equipment and facilities. At minimum this means a suitably stocked first-aid kit. There is no mandatory list of contents, so the kit should match the needs assessment. Some higher-risk sites will also need a first-aid room, which must be easy to reach with a stretcher and clearly signposted.

3. Provide Suitable People (Regulation 3(2))

Employers must provide enough suitable people to give first aid. A person is only suitable if they have the training and qualifications appropriate to the circumstances. In practice this usually means first-aiders holding a first aid at work (FAW) or emergency first aid at work (EFAW) certificate, or another qualification that fits the risks.

4. Use an Appointed Person Where Appropriate (Regulation 3(3) and (4))

In some low-risk workplaces, the needs assessment may show that a first-aider is not required. The employer can then appoint a person to take charge of first-aid arrangements, look after the equipment and call the emergency services. An appointed person also covers when a first-aider is absent in temporary and exceptional circumstances. Planned absences such as annual leave do not count, so cover should be arranged. No formal training is required for appointed persons, but they should not give first aid they are not trained to give.

5. Inform Employees (Regulation 4)

Employers must tell employees about the first-aid arrangements, including where equipment is kept and who the first-aiders or appointed persons are.

6. Choose a Competent Training Provider

Since 1 October 2013, HSE no longer approves first-aid training providers or qualifications. Employers must make reasonable inquiries to confirm that a provider is competent. HSE guidance sets out what to check, such as trainer qualifications, quality assurance and course content that follows current first-aid practice.

Common Compliance Approaches

Document the Needs Assessment

A short written assessment shows how the number of first-aiders, the type of training and the equipment were chosen. Review it when the workforce, site or work activities change.

Track Certificates and Refreshers

HSE says FAW certificates last three years, and first-aiders must requalify before expiry to stay competent. HSE also strongly recommends annual refresher training. A simple register with expiry reminders prevents lapses.

Example: First-Aid Planning in Practice

A manufacturer runs two shifts with 60 workers and uses cutting machinery and hot processes. Its needs assessment finds a risk of serious cuts and burns. The company trains several staff on each shift to FAW level, adds burn dressings and a stocked first-aid point near the press line, and posts first-aider names at each entrance. When a first-aider goes on planned leave, the supervisor confirms cover on the rota before approving it.

Related regulations: HSE RIDDOR, HSE Management Regulations 1999, OSHA medical services and first aid, WHS first aid and emergency plans.

Note: These regulations apply in Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales). Northern Ireland has equivalent regulations, which are enforced by the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI).

Frequently Asked Questions

Do we have to provide first aid for members of the public?

The regulations do not require it. HSE strongly recommends including the public in your needs assessment, especially in places such as shops, schools and venues.

Can an appointed person replace a first-aider?

Only where the needs assessment shows a first-aider is not needed, or to cover a first-aider's temporary and exceptional absence. In higher-risk or larger workplaces, trained first-aiders are normally required.

Does HSE approve first-aid courses?

No. HSE stopped approving training providers and qualifications in 2013. Employers are responsible for checking that their chosen provider is competent.