If you have recently taken on responsibility for health and safety at your workplace, one of the first questions you are likely to ask is: how many first aiders do I need? It is a straightforward question, but the answer requires more than a quick headcount. The number of first aiders your business needs at work depends on your workforce size, the hazards present, your premises layout, and the hours your people are on site. Getting this right is a legal obligation, and it is one that the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) takes seriously.
This guide explains exactly what UK law requires, how to work out the right provision for your business, and what the HSE guidance in INDG214 actually says about numbers.
What UK Law Actually Requires
Under the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981, every employer must provide a suitably stocked first aid kit, facilities and trained personnel to give immediate help, and information for employees about the arrangements in place. Promet
The critical phrase in the legislation is "adequate and appropriate." The statutory duty is to provide adequate and appropriate first aid arrangements under the First-Aid Regulations 1981, starting with a comprehensive first aid needs assessment for your workplace. Firstaidsafety
What this means in practice is that there is no single correct answer that applies to every business. A sole trader working from a home office has very different obligations from a 200-person manufacturing facility. There are no hard and fast rules on how many trained first aiders you should have. It depends on the nature of your work and its location. HSEThe First Aid Needs Assessment: Where to Start
Before you can determine the right number of first aiders, you must carry out a first aid needs assessment. HSE requires employers to carry out a first aid needs assessment considering workplace hazards, number of employees, shift patterns and lone working, size and layout of the premises, distance to emergency medical help, and accident history. Promet
Conducting a thorough first aid needs assessment is essential for determining the required number of first aiders and identifying the appropriate first aid equipment available on site. A needs assessment is important because it helps to ensure you are not underestimating workplace hazards and risks. Red Cross Training
Once you have completed your assessment, you can categorise your workplace as either low hazard or higher hazard. This categorisation drives nearly every other decision that follows.
HSE Suggested Numbers by Workplace Type
The HSE publishes practical guidance through INDG214 (First Aid at Work: Your Questions Answered). Following the guidance is not compulsory unless specifically stated, and you are free to take other action, but if you do follow the guidance you will normally be doing enough to comply with the law. HSE
The suggested numbers from INDG214 are as follows.
Low-hazard workplaces (offices, shops, libraries, light assembly):
Fewer than 25 staff: at least one appointed person. Between 25 and 50 staff: at least one Emergency First Aider (EFAW trained). More than 50 staff: at least one First Aider (FAW trained) for every 100 employees. Promet
Higher-hazard workplaces (construction, warehouses, manufacturing, catering, engineering):
Fewer than 5 staff: at least one appointed person. Between 5 and 50 staff: at least one Emergency First Aider or First Aider depending on the risks. More than 50 staff: at least one First Aider (FAW trained) for every 50 employees. Promet
These figures are a starting point, not a ceiling. Your own needs assessment may indicate that more provision is required.
What Is a First Aid Appointed Person?
An appointed person is not the same as a trained first aider. An appointed person is someone designated by the employer to cover first aid arrangements. Their role is to look after first aid equipment and facilities and call emergency services if required. Unlike a trained first aider, an appointed person does not require any formal training. Firstaidsafety
That said, most employers choose to give their appointed person at least a basic level of first aid awareness. An appointed person is only appropriate when your needs assessment concludes that a fully trained first aider is not necessary, typically in very small, low-risk workplaces.
EFAW vs FAW: Which Training Does Your Business Need?
There are three main types of first aiders you might require in your workplace depending on size and risk level. An EFAW-trained first aider has completed the Emergency First Aid at Work training course, which is a one-day, level 3 qualification covering core first aid skills for responding to emergencies in lower-risk environments. Firstaidsafety
FAW training enables a first aider to give emergency first aid and covers a wider range of specific injuries and illnesses. Both courses are valid for three years. Hywel Dda University Health Board
As a general guide, EFAW is sufficient for smaller, lower-risk workplaces such as offices with fewer than 50 staff. FAW is the more appropriate qualification for larger organisations, higher-hazard environments, or anywhere where the risk assessment points to a broader range of potential injuries. When you have more than 50 people in a low-risk setting, it becomes necessary to have first aiders with level 3 FAW qualifications. Red Cross Training
To help keep their basic skills up to date, it is strongly recommended that your first aiders undertake annual refresher training during the three-year certification period. Purple Dog
Do I Need First Aiders on Every Shift?
Yes. This is one of the most commonly overlooked requirements.
If your business operates outside standard hours or has evening staff on site, you must ensure a first aider is present for every shift. You cannot count a first aider who is only on site from 9am to 5pm if staff are working until 10pm. PracticalFirstAid
The same logic applies to absences. HSE guidelines are clear that cover must be available at all times, which means you need a buffer of trained staff to account for planned leave or unexpected illness. PracticalFirstAid
This is why in practice most businesses train more first aiders than the minimum figures in INDG214 suggest. If you have two trained first aiders and one takes annual leave, you must still maintain cover. Training a third person is a straightforward way to manage this.
Multi-Site, Multi-Floor, and Remote Workplaces
Each separate location needs its own first aid provision. If your business operates from more than one premises, you cannot rely on a first aider based at head office to cover a separate site. Marches Group
Similarly, if your building spans multiple floors, having a single first aider based on the ground floor may not constitute adequate provision. In multi-storey buildings, having one first aider on the ground floor may not be adequate for a cardiac arrest on a higher floor. PracticalFirstAid
For lone workers, the position is equally important. If your staff work alone, they cannot be covered by a first aider back at base. However, you are still responsible for meeting the first aid needs of these employees. At a minimum, these staff should carry a personal first aid box, be issued with a mobile phone, and a safe home procedure should be in use. First Aid Training Co-operative
Practical Takeaways
- Your legal duty under the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 is to provide "adequate and appropriate" first aid provision, determined by a formal needs assessment.
- Use the HSE's INDG214 guidance as a baseline, but treat it as a minimum, not a target.
- Low-hazard workplaces with fewer than 25 staff need at least one appointed person. Between 25 and 50 staff, at least one EFAW-trained first aider. Over 50 staff, at least one FAW-trained first aider per 100 employees.
- Higher-hazard workplaces require proportionally more provision, with FAW-trained cover for every 50 staff once headcount exceeds 50.
- Train enough first aiders to maintain cover across all shifts and during absences, including planned leave.
- EFAW and FAW certificates expire after three years. Annual refresher training is strongly recommended in the interim.
- Each site and each shift must have its own provision in place.
How MedWare Can Help
Getting your first aid personnel right is one half of the equation. The other is making sure your workplace is properly equipped. Every business that has completed a first aid needs assessment should also ensure its first aid kits are stocked to the right standard, whether that is to the BSI's BS 8599-1 specification or the minimum contents suggested by HSE guidance.
MedWare supplies a full range of workplace first aid kits, consumables, AEDs, and first aid accessories to businesses across the UK, with trade account pricing available for organisations purchasing regularly. If your needs assessment has highlighted gaps in your current provision, take a look at our first aid kits and supplies range or get in touch to discuss your requirements.