Employers' duties are set out in the Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981, together with the Approved code of practice. The regulations require an employer to 'make an assessment of first aid needs appropriate to the circumstances of each workplace' (Reg. 4).
Employers must provide adequate and appropriate equipment, facilities and personnel to enable first aid to be given to employees if they are injured or become ill at work.
The health and safety regulations apply to all workplaces, including those with 5 or fewer employees, and to the self-employed.
Employers are required to organise a mandatory three days of training. Details of training requirements can be found on the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) website.
What counts as 'adequate' first aid provision depends on circumstances in the workplace.
The minimum first aid provision is:
First aid provision must be available at all times people are at work.
