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First Aid Legal Requirements
Your Responsibilities
Employers are legally required to arrange for the immediate care of any staff who have an accident or become ill whilst they are at work.
You – as an employer:-
- Asses the first aid needs based on the hazards and risks involved in your workplace
- Provide appropriate equipment and enough first aiders to help injured or ill staff
First Aid Law
The Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulation 1981 (Amended 2002) states that employers should provide adequate and appropriate equipment and enough trained first aiders to help injured or ill staff.
The regulation only covers first aid arrangements for employers, but businesses that deal with members of the public (such as shops) should also consider this in their needs assessment.
If you are self-employed you should make appropriate first aid arrangements for your working environment (even if you work from home). If you work on a site with other self-employed people, you are each responsible for making your own first aid arrangements but may choose to make joint arrangements, subject to written agreement.
The full Health and Safety Executive (HSE) guidance on First Aid at work regulations is available on the HSE website.
Posted on 14th Jun 2016 by James Walker
