Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981

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Employers have a duty to make provision for first aid.

First-aid is defined in the Regulations as:
“(a) in cases where a person will need help from a medical practitioner or nurse, treatment for the purpose of preserving life and minimising the consequences of injury and illness until such help is obtained, and
(b) treatment of minor injuries which would otherwise receive no treatment or which do not need treatment by a medical practitioner or nurse”, (Regulation 2 (1)).

The main requirements for an employer is that they:
“shall provide, or ensure that there are provided, such equipment and facilities as are adequate and appropriate in the circumstances for enabling first-aid to be rendered to his employees if they are injured or become ill at work.” (Regulation 3 (1)).

In addition, “… an employer shall provide, or ensure that there is provided, such number of suitable persons as is adequate and appropriate in the circumstances for rendering first-aid to his employees if they are injured or become ill at work; …” (Regulation 3 (2)).

Whilst no specific ratios are included in the Regulations, an employer may typically provide the following minimum for workplaces that have potentially more harmful hazards, such as where machinery is used and outdoor working is carried out, than lower hazard workplaces such as an office environment:
• 5 employees or fewer to have someone designated as the appointed person, although they are not required to be first aid trained, however, it would be good practice to ensure at least one employee is trained in Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW).
• 6 to 25 employees to have one person trained in Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW).
• More than 26 employees to have one person trained in First Aid at Work (FAW).

Where workplace injury risks are potentially high, which might be where small teams use machinery outdoors on a daily basis moving between different locations, then the number of trained first aiders might be increased to ensure that a rapid response can be achieved if first aid is required by an individual.

What should be in a first-aid container?
From 2011 first aid kits needed to be BS8599-1 compliant to meet health and safety obligations. The grounds care industry can be classed as high hazard premises and occupation and a medium sized first aid kit would be suitable for between 5 and 25 employees.

The contents of a medium workplace kit might typically be:
• 60 x Washproof Assorted Plasters.
• 2 x Burn Relief Dressing 10cm x 10cm.
• 2 x Large HSE Dressing 18cm x 18cm Sterile Unboxed.
• 3 x Eye Pad Dressing with Bandage Sterile.
• 6 x Medium HSE Dressing 12cm x 12cm Sterile Unboxed.
• 9 x Nitrile Gloves Pair.
• 2 x Foil Blanket Adult Size.
• 1 x Mouth to mouth Resuscitation Device with Valve.
• 3 x Finger Dressing with Adhesive Fixing 3.5cm.
• 2 x Conforming Bandage 7.5cm x 4m.
• 1 x Microporous Tape 2.5cm x 5m.
• 30 x Moist Cleansing Wipes.
• 3 x Single Use Triangular Bandage 90cm x 127cm.
• 1 x Universal Shears Small 150mm.
• 12 x Safety Pins Assorted.
• 1 x First Aid Guidance Leaflet.

Do not keep tablets or other medicines in a first-aid box because an employer or their employees will not be qualified to dispense medicines.
Make sure there is adequate availability of mains tap water to allow for washing eyes, as well as a minimum of one litre of sterile water or sterile normal saline in sealed, disposable containers.