Why your business needs an up-to-date First Aid policy

It is vital for employers to have a policy in place for the event of an accident or injury at work. Figures from the HSE show nearly two million people in the UK suffered work-related ill health last year in the UK.

It is against the law for employers to not have first aid policies in place, including at least one trained first aider per certain number of employees. It’s also best practice to ensure that your team remains happy, healthy and motivated.

Imperative have looked at some of the key reasons why your business needs an up-to-date first aid policy, and advice on how to implement this.

What the Law says

The Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 states that all employers in the UK must provide adequate appropriate equipment, facilities and personnel to ensure their employees receive immediate attention if they are injured or taken ill at work.

What is 'adequate and appropriate' will depend on the circumstances in the workplace. This includes whether trained first-aiders are needed, what to include in a first-aid box and if a first-aid room is required. Employers need to carry out an assessment of first-aid needs to determine what to provide.

Any employers deemed to not adhere to this legislation can be subject to a fine that could be hundreds of thousands of pounds. Business owners and directors can be prosecuted if the breach is deemed serious enough.

Moral Obligation

As an employer, it is your duty to ensure that anyone working within your organisation is protected in the event of a medical emergency. Anyone going to work should feel safe and that they will be looked after by competent, confident colleagues, should the worst happen.

The responsibility falls on the business leadership to ensure that first aiders are appropriately trained and provided with the necessary equipment e.g. a fully stocked first aid kit.

Boosting Productivity

From a business point of view, having a well-implemented first aid policy will make your employees feel more safe and secure in their work. Employees who feel more secure will be more likely to work more efficiently.

Protect your Business with Imperative

As one of the leading first providers of first aid training in the UK, Imperative can cater for any business training needs. This can include full training for staff, and advice on how to best manage your learners.

Imperative offers a range of courses, from Emergency First Aid to Fire Safety. Contact us at 01617767420 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to learn more.