First aid at work

What is first aid at work?

People at work can suffer injuries or fall ill. It doesn’t matter whether the injury or the illness is caused by the work they do or not. What is important is that they receive immediate attention and that an ambulance is called in serious cases. First aid at work covers the arrangements you must make to ensure this happens. It can save lives and prevent minor injuries becoming major ones.

So what do I need to do?

The Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 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 adequate and appropriate will depend on the circumstances in your workplace and you should assess what your first aid needs are.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) produces a leaflet First aid at work - your questions answered which answers some basic questions about first-aid provision at work.  It is aimed at employers in small and medium-sized enterprises, but may be useful to all employers, managers and others involved in first aid.

Basic advice on first aid at work

This leaflet contains advice on Basic advice on first aid at work for untrained people to use in an emergency. It is not a substitute for effective training.  First aid is a skill requiring training and practice. You should not attempt to give more than this basic first aid if you have not been trained.

When giving first aid, it is vital that you assess the situation, and that you: take care not to become a casualty yourself while administering first aid use protective clothing and equipment where necessary; send for help where necessary don’t delay; follow the advice given in the leaflet.

HSE Infoline 0845 345 0055