First Aid

Employers’ legal obligations

The minimum first aid requirement in every workplace includes:

• 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.

First aid assessment

All employers in the UK are required to carry out an assessment of first aid requirements. This assessment should consider:

• whether a designated first aider is required;
• potential hazards in the workplace;
• the size of the company in terms of people and area;
• previous accidents and illnesses;
• hours of working and shift patterns;
• the location of employees during working hours (on or off-site);
• the distance to emergency services;
• potential visitors to the workplace.

First aid box

There is no set requirement for the contents of a first aid box, but as a minimum it should have:

• a leaflet giving general first aid guidance;
• plasters of assorted sizes (20);
• sterile triangular bandages (4);
• disposable gloves (1 pair);
• safety pins (6);
• medium size sterile wound dressings (6);
• large-size sterile dressings (2);
• sterile eye pads (2).

This first aid box is sufficient for most low-hazard workplaces, such as offices. Make sure that all first aid equipment is in date. Tablets and medicines should not be kept in the first aid box.

Special requirements

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. 

Legal disclaimer 

The information contained within this article is not a complete or final statement of the law and is based on the laws of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. 

While UNISON has sought to ensure that the information is accurate and up to date, it is not responsible and will not be held liable for any inaccuracies and their consequences, including any loss arising from relying on this information. If you are a UNISON member with a legal problem, please contact your branch or region as soon as possible for advice, or for non-employment matters call UNISONdirect.