As a first aid training provider, one of the questions we get asked frequently is, ‘How many first aiders do I need?’ There isn't a simple one-answer response to this question.
The number of trained first aiders that HSE guidance recommends depends on the size and risk level of your workplace.
HSE guidelines suggest at a minimum:
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Less than 5 employees (low-risk) |
1 appointed person and no formal training required |
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5-50 employees |
At least one trained first aider (EFAW or FAW, depending on risk level) |
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More than 50 employees |
At least one First at Work trained first aider per 50 or 100 employees (depending on risk level) |
However, each workplace is unique, and the only way to understand how many first aiders your organisation requires is to conduct a comprehensive first aid needs assessment.
At First Aid Safety, we’d be happy to discuss your requirements and share the best practices for conducting your assessment, helping you identify how many first aiders your workplace requires in compliance with the HSE guidelines.
Detailed below is a breakdown of how to conduct a first aid needs assessment and the first aider requirements for different types of businesses.
Jump to section:
What is a first aid needs assessment?
How to conduct a first aid needs assessment?
Low-risk workplaces
High-risk workplaces
Is first aid training a legal requirement?
In the event of injury or sudden illness, the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 require employers to provide, based on the circumstances of your workplace, “adequate and appropriate equipment, facilities and personnel” to ensure your employees receive immediate attention. This includes workplaces with fewer than five employees and the self-employed.
The law only provides guidance and does not specify a fixed number of first aiders for any place of work.
What do we need to do as an employer?
A good starting point is to conduct a first aid needs assessment to identify the number of first aid staff you should train to meet the requirements of your workplace.
What is a first aid needs assessment?
It’s a legal requirement for employers to conduct a first aid needs assessment (also referred to as a first aid risk assessment).
An effective first aid risk assessment helps you determine what qualifies as “adequate and appropriate equipment, facilities and personnel” and can identify an appropriate number of “suitable persons” to take responsibility for your workplace first aid needs.
The risk assessment acts as a structured process to meet health and safety regulations and ensures adequate first aid provision for the well-being of all employees, rather than a simple headcount.
Our advice always remains consistent for any customers who ask us the very question on first aid guidance.
“The guidance provided by the HSE is a minimum recommendation for first aid provisions. Undertaking a first aid needs assessment helps you identify if there are additional factors that you should consider that may need more than the minimum requirements for your workplace.”
The key factors to consider in your organisation's first aid risk assessment are:
the industry and type of work you operate (e.g., offices, manufacturing, construction, etc.).
type, and size of the workspace, the layout and location (whether it’s a remote site, multiple buildings, any off‐site work, or distance from the emergency medical services)
the levels of risk (high or low risk working environments)
identify likely risks, dangers or hazards that may cause harm (e.g., working at heights, with hazardous chemicals or using heavy machinery)
the size of your workforce and staff working patterns (e.g., lone or remote workers)
any workers with special health needs or disability (e.g. any staff with a serious medical condition such as asthma or diabetes)
the history of incidents, accidents, injuries, and illnesses previously recorded
holiday and other absences of first aiders (consider extra first aiders)
the volume, visitors or members of the public on site (Consider paediatric first aid training if your workplace is regularly visited by children)
How many first aid-trained staff do I need?
The HSE only offers guidance on the minimum number of first aiders, not statutory rules. This guidance should act as a starting point and should be used in conjunction with your organisation’s first aid risk assessment to determine the exact number of first aiders required in your workplace.
The guidance makes a distinction between low-risk and higher-risk workplaces.
Low-risk workplaces
Examples - Offices, Shops or Libraries
The HSE guidance as a minimum suggests:
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Fewer than 25 employees |
At least one appointed person is responsible for first-aid arrangements (e.g. calling for an ambulance) |
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Between 25-50 employees |
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More than 50 employees |
At least one person trained in the First Aid at Work course (FAW) for every 100 employees (or part thereof) |
High-risk workplaces
Examples - Manufacturing, Construction or Engineering
The HSE guidance as a minimum suggests:
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Fewer than 5 employees |
At least one appointed person is responsible for first-aid arrangements (e.g. calling for an ambulance) |
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Between 5-50 employees |
At least one person trained in EFAW or FAW, depending on hazard level |
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More than 50 employees |
At least one FAW-trained first aider for every 50 employees (or part thereof) |
Key considerations
One first aider per ‘X’ number of employees is a starting point and not a legal requirement. The actual number may need to be higher based on your workplace risk assessment.
Employers must always have someone to deal with first aid incidents and ensure cover is available at all times. This is the case even if the only first aider is absent through holiday or sickness.
The level of training: The First Aid at Work (FAW) is a 3-day qualification covering serious medical conditions and incidents, while the Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) qualification is a 1-day course. A workplace identified as a high-risk may require FAW-trained first aid personnel.
Where the risk is identified as very low (self-employed or small operations), it may be appropriate to only have an appointed person or minimal provision.
Example Scenarios
Below are examples of three scenarios for workplaces in low, moderate and high risk environments.
Small Office Space
Number of staff employed: 20
First aid needs assessment: low risk, occupying a single floor, operating normal business hours, no high-risk machinery.
Provisions: At least one appointed person who is responsible for first aid arrangements (first aid kit, calling for an ambulance service). Possibly consider training an EFAW first aider if the level of risk increases or circumstances change in the future.
Hotel (with a swimming pool)
Number of staff employed: 45
First aid needs assessment: low to moderate risk (slips, trips, falls, manual lifting, access to public).
Provisions: At a minimum, one EFAW trained first aider with extra first aiders to cover absence, guests, multiple shifts and a 6-storey building
Consider: Additional trained first aiders to cover absence or holiday leave. Train first aiders who work in the swimming pool area in drowning CPR, and choking protocols.
Food Manufacturing Plant
Number of staff employed: 140
First aid needs assessment: high risk (machinery and moving parts), multiple shifts, operating in 3 different manufacturing plants.
Provisions: At least 3 FAW-trained first aiders for 140 staff. Ensure full coverage during a 24-hour operational period with the possibility of extra trained staff to cover absences and shifts.
Is it worth considering more first aiders?
Yes, possibly so!
Additional trained first aiders on-site:
Ensure coverage during your business or organisation's operation hours if one first aider is on leave or away sick.
Ensure a better response time to an incident if the workspace covers a large area or multiple buildings/floors.
Enables first aiders to rest/rotate in a serious first aid situation, like CPR, where prolonged chest compressions on a casualty are needed.
While HSE does not define the exact numbers, they do expect adequacy.
Types of first aiders for your workplace
There are three main types of first aiders that you might require in your workplace, depending on size and risk level:
Appointed person - This 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.
EFAW trained first aider - This is someone who has completed the Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) training course. This is a 1-day, level 3 qualification that covers core first aid skills for responding to emergencies in lower-risk environments.
FAW trained first aider - This is someone who has completed the First Aid at Work Level 3 (FAW) qualification. This is a comprehensive 3-day, level 3 course and covers a wider range of first aid injuries, illnesses and serious medical conditions suitable for high-risk workplaces.
There are also specialist courses, such as Paediatric First Aid, which you should consider if providing first aid to children has been identified in your first aid needs assessment.
Employers checklist
Conduct a first-aid needs assessment and record the findings.
Identify the level of training needed, whether it’s an appointed person, EFAW, FAW or a customised session based on your workplace needs.
Calculate the number of first aiders you need at all times during working hours and multiple sites, if applicable.
Ensure first aiders are trained by a competent provider, ideally a regulated qualification from an awarding organisation (AO), such as First Aid Safety – these are recognised and regulated by Ofqual, the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) or the Welsh Government.
Ensure first-aid kits are adequately stocked and facilities such as a first-aid room (where necessary) are maintained. This must also be part of your assessment.
Communicate to staff who the qualified first aiders are in your workplace and their responsibilities.
Review and update your first aid provisions periodically, especially after incidents or when the size of your workforce changes or risk levels change.
Encourage first aiders to refresh their training to keep their skills updated with the latest training protocols.
Conclusion
We’d like to offer you, the employer, a definite answer when it comes to how many first aiders you need. Unfortunately, there is no magic number that fits all workplaces. 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.
Use the guidance above to tailor your provision based on hazard, layout, and shift patterns of your workplace, and ensure above all you always have first aid cover.
The guidance above offers you advice to help tailor your provisions based on the hazard, layout, and shift patterns of your workplace to ensure you employ adequate first aid cover.
Still unsure about the number of first aiders your workplace needs?
Get in touch today.
Promoting the value of life
and developing first aiders for a compliant workplace.
First aider requirement FAQS
First aid training is not mandatory for every employee, but UK law requires employers to provide “adequate and appropriate” first aid provision under the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981.
This usually means employers must:
Appoint a suitably trained first aider (e.g. Emergency First Aid at Work or First Aid at Work), or
Nominate an appointed person to take charge of first aid arrangements in very low-risk workplaces.
Whether formal first aid training is required depends on:
The size of the workforce
The level of workplace risk
Shift patterns, lone working, and public access
Most workplaces will need at least one trained first aider, unless they are a very small, low-risk organisation.
Yes, employers must pay for first aid training where it is required to meet their legal first aid obligations.
This includes:
The cost of the course
Any training materials
Refresher training to keep qualifications valid
Paying employees for their time spent training
Employees should not be charged for mandatory first aid training, and it should normally be completed during paid working hours.
Providing properly funded training helps ensure compliance with HSE guidance and protects both employees and the business.
An appointed person is responsible for:
Looking after first aid equipment
Calling emergency services if needed
They do not need formal first aid training.
A first aider has completed recognised training such as:
Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) or
First Aid at Work (FAW)
Many workplaces identified as low-risk may need a trained first aider, not just an appointed person.
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