You are required by law to complete a risk assessment. Further information on how to complete a risk assessment can be found on the Health and Safety Executive’s website.
Your risk assessment must include a regular review of your first aid needs, which should be reviewed at least once every 12 months.
The Health and Safety Executive currently require you to carry out a COVID-19 risk assessment to help you manage risks and protect your employees and others during the pandemic.
Find out what you need to include in your COVID-19 risk assessment.
You should also review your first aid needs if:
- there is an accident at work or an illness caused by work
- there are changes in work patterns or processes
- there are changes in personnel
- there are changes to the workplace (for example, a move to a different site, or changes to equipment).
What to consider when assessing first aid needs
The Health and Safety Executive’s guidance for workplace first aid provision asks employers to consider:
- the nature of the work and hazards and/or risks
- the number of people employed at the site
- the number of inexperienced workers
- employees with disabilities or health problems
- employees with the characteristics of groups at higher risk from health conditions
- previous accidents or records of ill health
- recurring injuries or illnesses
- employees who travel a lot, work remotely or alone
- employee shift patterns or out of hours work
- the layout of the workplace (for example, are the premises spread over a large area or split over several floors?)
- the proximity of the workplace to emergency services
- first aider absences (for example, through sickness or annual leave) and provision of cover
- access to your site by non-employees (for example, visiting members of the public).
Mental health risk assessment
As all employers have a duty of care obligation to look after the health and safety of staff, including their wellbeing, a stress risk assessment is vital.
Read our guide on completing a mental health risk assessment
Helping you assess your needs
Use our free online calculator to help identify your first aid and health and safety needs. Please note, this guidance does not replace the requirement for carrying out a full risk assessment in your workplace.
Our trained customer service advisers are always happy to help you identify your first aid training needs. Speak with an adviser on 0344 770 4800.
Absence planning
An absent first aider can't save a life, and employers are required to ensure there is appropriate first aid cover at all times someone is at work. This could be as little as access to a first aid kit and phone or training up additional personnel. Download our free absence planner to ensure you have enough cover throughout the year.
Courses to help you understand your health and safety requirements
Health and Safety Basics
The Health and Safety Basics course is designed specifically for small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) that need an understanding of their health and safety requirements. This two-day course provides a thorough grounding in the essentials of health and safety in the workplace.
