What are my Employers’ legal obligations

The minimum first aid requirement in every workplace is:
  • a first aid box (including the appropriate equipment);
  • a person trained to administer first aid;
  • first aid information for all employees.
Every employer in the UK, regardless of the size of the company, is legally obliged to plan for the provision of first aid at work.
Employers must make sure that someone is always available to give or arrange first aid. This applies if the designated first aider is absent for any reason. First aiders must have a valid first aid training certificate.
It is not a legal requirement that all employers have a fully trained first aider, but someone must be appointed to take charge of first aid in the workplace.

What training is required for using a defibrillator?

Health and safety legislation does not require you to have an automated external defibrillator (AED) in your workplace. Where an employer has identified through their needs assessment that they wish to provide an AED in the workplace, then the Provision and Use of Workplace Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER) apply. For the purpose of complying with PUWER in these situations, the employer should provide information and written instructions, for example from the AED's manufacturer, on how to use it. However, fuller training is likely to make the user more confident and is now an integral part of the syllabus for FAW and EFAW courses.

I am self employed - do I need First Aid?

There is specific legislation regarding the first aid requirements for some industries. For example, diving and offshore work both have additional first aid requirements.
If you are self-employed you must make sure that you have adequate first aid equipment.
If you work from home and carry out low-hazard work you are not expected to supply any first aid equipment beyond domestic needs but you should still assess your first aid requirements.

How do I identify and select a competent training provider?

First-aid training is available from a wide range of training providers. These include:
  • those offering nationally recognised, regulated qualifications in FAW and EFAW;
  •  the voluntary aid societies (St John Ambulance, British Red Cross and St Andrew’s First Aid); ˜
  •  those operating under voluntary accreditation schemes;
  • those who operate independently.

As an employer, you will need assurance that you have selected an appropriate training provider.
You will therefore need to check that they meet the standards in a number of areas (due diligence).

All training providers should be prepared to demonstrate that they:
are competent to deliver first-aid training;
  • have qualified trainers;
  • teach relevant course content in the correct way;
  • have the necessary quality assurance systems in place