The First Aid Regulations 1981 Explained in Plain English

The Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 require every UK employer to provide "adequate and appropriate" first aid equipment, facilities and people, and to tell employees what the arrangements are. They do not set a fixed number of first aiders or a fixed kit list. Instead, the employer decides what is adequate through a first aid needs assessment, guided by HSE's official guidance (published as L74, First aid at work). The self-employed must provide first aid equipment for themselves. The regulations came into force in 1982 and still apply today, updated in 2013.

This guide walks through what the regulations actually say, then corrects the five myths we hear most often from employers.

What the regulations say, in plain English

"First aid" has a specific meaning

The regulations define first aid as two things: treatment to preserve life and minimise the consequences of injury or illness until a doctor or nurse takes over, and treatment of minor injuries that would otherwise get no treatment or do not need a medical professional. That is why workplace first aid courses focus on emergencies such as cardiac arrest, bleeding and choking, plus everyday cuts and burns.

The employer must provide equipment and facilities

Every employer must provide equipment and facilities that are adequate and appropriate in the circumstances. In practice that means suitably stocked kits, and in some workplaces extras such as eye wash stations, travel kits or a first aid room.

The employer must provide people

Employers must provide an adequate and appropriate number of suitable people to give first aid. "Suitable" means trained and qualified to the level the workplace needs, which in practice means Emergency First Aid at Work or First Aid at Work. Where a trained first aider is not needed, or is temporarily absent, an appointed person can take charge of the arrangements instead.

Employees must be told

Employers must inform employees of the first aid arrangements, including where the equipment is and who the first aiders or appointed persons are. A notice by each kit and a line in your induction usually does the job.

The self-employed are included

Self-employed people must provide adequate and appropriate first aid equipment for themselves.

How "adequate and appropriate" gets decided

The regulations deliberately leave the detail to the employer. HSE's guidance tells you what to consider in a first aid needs assessment: your hazards, how many people you employ, shifts and lone working, how far you are from emergency services, the history of incidents, and cover for absences. It also gives suggested starting points for numbers of first aiders (see how many first aiders you need). If your provision were ever questioned, your assessment is what shows you thought it through.

Five myths, corrected

Myth 1: "We're too small for the regulations to apply." Every employer is covered. A three-person office still needs a kit, someone in charge of first aid, and staff who know the arrangements. See first aid for small businesses.

Myth 2: "The law says we need one first aider per 50 staff." There is no number in the regulations. The familiar ratios are HSE's suggested starting points, not legal thresholds, and your assessment may justify more.

Myth 3: "We have to provide first aid for customers and visitors." Not under these regulations, which cover employees. But HSE strongly recommends including the public in your planning, and in shops, schools, gyms and venues it would be hard to defend doing otherwise.

Myth 4: "Any first aid course will do, as long as HSE approves it." HSE has not approved training providers since October 2013. The employer is now responsible for checking a provider is competent, which is why regulated qualifications and recognised accreditation matter. Our guide to choosing a provider sets out the checks.

Myth 5: "An appointed person is the same as a first aider." An appointed person takes charge, keeps the kit stocked and calls 999, but is not a trained first aider. It is a fallback for the lowest-risk, smallest workplaces, or for covering short absences.

Putting it into practice

The regulations boil down to three questions: have you assessed your needs, have you provided the people and equipment that assessment calls for, and do your staff know the arrangements? Write the answers down in a short first aid policy.

If your assessment says you need trained first aiders, we deliver regulated EFAW (£550 per session) and FAW (£1,500 per session) on site across London for up to 12 staff, with no VAT to add and nothing to pay to book.

This article is general guidance, not legal advice. For the authoritative text, see the regulations and HSE's L74 guidance. Request a free quote and we will confirm within 24 hours.