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 employees if they are injured or become ill at work. What is adequate will depend on the circumstances in the workplace and it is a legal requirement that an appropriate risk assessment is carried out.

The minimum first-aid provision on any work site is:

    A suitably stocked first-aid box
    An Appointed Person to take charge of first-aid arrangements

A qualified First Aider may be required for as little as 5 employees or up to one for every 100 employees depending upon the risk assessment. Child Care and some other professions may require first aid certification as a condition of employment.

In special circumstances, such as remoteness from emergency medical services, shift work, or sites with several separate buildings, there may need to be more first-aid personnel. Increased provision will be necessary to cover for absences. First-aid personnel should be available at all times people are at work.