People at work can suffer injuries or fall ill. It doesn't matter whether the injury or the illness is caused by the work they do or not. What is important is that they receive immediate attention and that an ambulance is called in serious cases.

First aid at work covers the arrangements you must make to ensure this happens. It can save lives and prevent minor injuries becoming major ones.

So what do I need to do?

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 your employees if they are injured or become ill at work.

What is adequate and appropriate will depend on the circumstances in your workplace and you should assess what your first aid needs are.

A new Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) course

As of the 1st October 2009 the HSE (Health and Safety Executive) has introduced a new, one-day Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) course. Suitable for SMEs and low risk working environments, this new course will allow the attendee to gain a basic HSE accreditation and certificate in first aid.

Risk Assessment of First Aid needs

Employers are now required to carry out an assessment of first-aid needs. This involves consideration of workplace hazards and risks, the size of the organisation and other relevant factors, to determine what first-aid equipment, facilities and personnel should be provided.

Download a copy of the HSE's "First Aid at Work - your questions answered", which contains a useful checklist covering the points employers should consider when carrying out the assessment.