Appointed Person for First Aid: What It Is and When You Need a First Aider
26 October 2026 · 5 min read · Amber Training
Reviewed for accuracy by a qualified Amber Training first aid trainer.
An appointed person is someone the employer chooses to take charge of the first aid arrangements: they look after the first aid kit and facilities, and take charge when someone is injured or taken ill, including calling 999. HSE's guidance says appointed persons do not need first aid training, although courses are available. An appointed person is the minimum provision, for workplaces where the first aid needs assessment shows trained first aiders are not needed. For most workplaces with 25 or more people, or 5 or more in higher-hazard work, HSE suggests trained first aiders instead.
What the law requires
The Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 require every employer to provide adequate and appropriate first aid. HSE's guidance on the regulations (L74, First aid at work) sets out two kinds of people an employer can provide:
- First aiders, who hold a current first aid qualification such as Emergency First Aid at Work or First Aid at Work.
- Appointed persons, who take charge of the arrangements but do not need to be trained.
Where the needs assessment finds that a first aider is not needed, the minimum is an appointed person. Every employer needs at least that.
What an appointed person does
An appointed person's duties are practical and organisational:
- Taking charge when someone is injured or taken ill.
- Calling the emergency services when they are needed.
- Looking after the first aid equipment, for example checking and restocking the first aid kit. Our first aid kit checklist shows what it should contain.
Without training, the appointed person organises the response rather than treating the casualty. That is the key difference from a first aider.
When an appointed person is enough
HSE's guidance gives suggested starting points by hazard level and headcount:
| People at work | Lower hazard (offices, shops, libraries) | Higher hazard (warehousing, construction, engineering, food processing) |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer than 5 | At least one appointed person | At least one appointed person |
| 5 to 24 | At least one appointed person | At least one first aider trained in Emergency First Aid at Work or First Aid at Work |
| 25 to 50 | At least one first aider trained in Emergency First Aid at Work | At least one first aider trained in Emergency First Aid at Work or First Aid at Work |
| More than 50 | At least one First Aid at Work first aider for every 100 people (or part of 100) | At least one First Aid at Work first aider for every 50 people (or part of 50) |
These are starting points, not legal thresholds. Your own assessment decides. Our first aid needs calculator applies these figures to your headcount, shifts and floors.
When you need a trained first aider instead
Even in a small workplace, the assessment can point to trained first aiders. HSE asks employers to consider:
- The hazards of the work, such as machinery, vehicles, chemicals, sharp tools or work at height.
- Lone and remote working, where help may be some distance away.
- Shift patterns and split sites, which can leave an appointed person off site when they are needed.
- Distance from emergency services, and how long an ambulance might take.
- Members of the public on site, such as customers, visitors or pupils.
- Your history of accidents and any staff with known medical conditions.
If any of these apply, your assessment may call for a trained first aider rather than an appointed person, and the one-day Emergency First Aid at Work course is the starting level. Many small employers choose to train someone even when an appointed person would meet the starting point, because a trained person can start CPR, use a defibrillator and control bleeding before the ambulance arrives.
Appointed person or first aider: the difference
| Appointed person | First aider | |
|---|---|---|
| Training required | None | A current first aid qualification |
| Takes charge and calls 999 | Yes | Yes |
| Looks after the first aid kit | Yes | Often, if the employer asks |
| Gives first aid, such as CPR and bleeding control | Not unless trained | Yes, within their training |
| Certificate | None | Valid for three years |
Covering absences
HSE's guidance (L74) allows an appointed person to cover for absent first aiders only where the absence is due to exceptional, unforeseen and temporary circumstances. Absences such as annual leave do not count. Holidays, part-time hours and regular days off need enough trained first aiders. Our guide to how many first aiders your workplace needs explains how to plan for gaps.
Training for appointed persons
There is no required course. Employers who want their appointed person able to give first aid as well choose the one-day Emergency First Aid at Work course, which makes that person a qualified first aider for three years. Our guide to first aider responsibilities and duties explains what changes once they are trained.
Tell staff who your appointed person is
Employees must be told the first aid arrangements, including who the appointed person or first aiders are and where the equipment is kept. Our free first aid notice builds a printable A4 notice with an appointed person, first aiders or both.
Train a first aider on-site
We deliver in-house first aid training at your venue, anywhere in England. Emergency First Aid at Work is £550 per session for up to 12 staff, including trainer, equipment, certificates and travel. Travel within London and the surrounding counties is included; elsewhere in England, travel is confirmed with the agreement.
Book training. No payment until your booking is confirmed. Confirmation by email within one working day.
This article is general guidance, not legal advice. Base your provision on your own first aid needs assessment.
Frequently asked questions
What is an appointed person in first aid?
An appointed person is someone the employer chooses to take charge of the first aid arrangements. They look after the first aid equipment and facilities, and take charge when someone is injured or taken ill, including calling the emergency services. Under HSE guidance, an appointed person is the minimum provision where a first aid needs assessment shows trained first aiders are not needed.
Does an appointed person need first aid training?
No. HSE's guidance says appointed persons do not need first aid training, although emergency first aid courses are available. Without training, an appointed person organises the response rather than treating the casualty.
When is an appointed person enough?
HSE's suggested starting points are a lower-hazard workplace, such as an office or shop, with fewer than 25 people, or a higher-hazard workplace with fewer than 5. Even then, the needs assessment may call for trained first aiders because of specific risks, remote or lone working, distance from emergency services or the people you have on site.
Can an appointed person cover for a first aider?
HSE's guidance (L74) allows an appointed person to cover for absent first aiders only where the absence is due to exceptional, unforeseen and temporary circumstances. Absences such as annual leave do not count, so planned absences need enough trained first aiders.
Is an appointed person the same as a first aider?
No. A first aider holds a current first aid qualification, such as Emergency First Aid at Work or First Aid at Work, and gives first aid. An appointed person takes charge of the arrangements and calls for help, but is not a trained first aider unless they have also completed a first aid course.
Book Emergency First Aid at Work for your team
Emergency First Aid at Work: 1 day at your venue, £550 per session for up to 12 staff, including trainer, equipment, certificates and travel.
Ofqual-regulated certificates. No payment until your booking is confirmed. Confirmation by email within one working day. Private sessions for your team, not public courses.