First Aid at Work - How Many First Aiders Do I Need?

In October 2009, new first aid at work guidelines were published in the UK. The new Approved Code of Practice (ACOP) changed the way companies need to assess their first aid requirements.

Risks to Hazards

Home First Aid

First, they changed the risk categories. Instead of Low Risk, Medium Risk and High Risk, we now have just two categories; Low Hazard and Higher Hazard. The change in wording, from Risk to Hazard is an important one. The element of chance is no longer an issue; either there is a hazard or there is not. This means that no matter how likely or unlikely a hazard is to cause an injury, it needs to be taken into account.

Businesses which fall into the Low Hazard category are libraries, offices and most shops. Everything else will probably be in the Higher Hazard group.

So how many first aiders do you need? Well, first you need to be aware that there are three different levels of first aider in the workplace.

Appointed Person

An appointed person is someone who is capable of taking charge in an emergency situation. They must be able to call the emergency services and direct others to contain the situation. They may be responsible for ensuring that emergency equipment, such as first aid kits, are kept in good order and properly stocked and stored. They do not have to be trained first aiders, but the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) does strongly recommend that they should have some first aid training.

EFAW First Aider

EFAW stands for Emergency First Aid at Work. This is the new, HSE approved, one day course. It is intended to replace the appointed persons course, which was previously unregulated and not recognised.

FAW First Aider

This is the new three day (reduced from four) First Aid at Work course. It is HSE approved and regulated and must be formally assessed by someone other than the course tutor.

Low Hazard Category

If your business falls within the low hazard category, and you have fewer than 25 employees, then the minimum requirement is for 1 appointed person. If you have between 25 and 50 employees, then you must have a minimum of 1 EFAW trained first aider. If you have more than fifty employees, then you should have at least 1 FAW trained first aider for every 100, or part, employees.

Higher Hazard Category

If your business is in the Higher Hazard group and you have less than 5 employees, you must have at least 1 appointed person. For 5 to 50 employees, the minimum is 1 EFAW or FAW trained first aider, depending upon the hazards assessed. For more than 50 employees you will need 1 FAW trained first aider for every 50, or part, employees.

Simple enough, do you think?

Think Again!

Sorry to burst your bubble, but as always, it's never that simple. Firstly, if you need one first aider, then you most certainly need two. Why? Because everybody has a day off sometimes and the HSE insists that you must have first aid cover, at least at the minimum level, at all times. That includes when your first aider is on holiday, off sick, or taking the afternoon off to go to the dentist. If your staff work shifts, or flexi time, then you need to ensure that a first aider is on the premises at all times. If the assessment is that your need is for a FAW trained first aider, an EFAW trained first aider cannot stand in for them and likewise, an appointed person cannot deputise for an EFAW first aider.

In addition, although, strictly speaking, the law says you only need to include your employees in your assessment, the HSE strongly recommends that you include anybody who may be on your premises at any one time. So if you have a shop full of customers, or regularly have visitors to your office, then you should include them in your numbers.

Of course, strongly recommends is not the same as compulsory. But if something goes wrong and you have not followed the recommendations, you had better be prepared to defend your decision.

First Aid at Work - How Many First Aiders Do I Need?