How many First Aiders does my business need?

Introducing first aid policies to your business not only helps protect your team and reputation, but it is also necessary to follow UK law.

Guidance provided from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) can be confusing, so Imperative Training have put together a brief article on everything you need to know to protect your business.

What the law says

HSE guidance states that you must make 'adequate and appropriate' first aid arrangements, but what is deemed ‘adequate and appropriate’ will vary depending on a range of things.

These include the size of your business, the type of work your business does, any hazards involved in your line of work, and the needs of travelling, remote and lone workers.

How many first aiders do we need?

UK law states that every organisation with more than 25 people must have at least one first aider. If you have more than 50 employees, only one first aider for every 100 employees is the guidance, so if you have 101 employees, you need at least two first aiders.

What training do the first aiders need?

The level of first aid training needed can vary depending on the nature of the business; industries with more obvious hazards would typically require more thorough first aid training.

First aid training is usually broken down into two separate courses: Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) or First Aid at Work (FAW). The EFAW course is a one-day course, covering how to respond in an emergency such as a major wound, heart attack or burns.

The FAW course is a more comprehensive three-day course, covering the same topics as EFAW, as well as applying aid to a range of other injuries and illnesses.

You may want to send one of your employees on this more advanced course if they are to be put in charge of first aid or if you work in an environment with a lot of potential hazards.

Choosing a training provider

When deciding on a provider for your first aid training, there are a few things you should consider. The experience, accreditations, and flexibility of your training provider should be some of your main concerns.

As a TQUK Diamond Approved centre, that has been providing flexible in-house training to suit businesses for more than 20 years; Imperative Training ticks all of these boxes resoundingly.

Get in touch with us at 01617767420 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to learn how we can support your business.