Should Small Businesses Have a Trained First Aider?

If you run a small business, you might assume that first aid training is something only larger workplaces need to worry about. With a small team, a relatively low risk working environment and emergency services only a phone call away, is having a trained first aider really necessary?

UK employers have a legal responsibility to make appropriate first aid arrangements for their workplace. Even if you only employ a handful of people, you still need to consider what would happen if an employee became injured at work.

For many small businesses, having someone trained in Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) is a simple and practical way to make sure somebody has the skills and confidence to respond when it matters.

What are the First Aid Requirements for Small Businesses?

Under the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981, employers must provide adequate and appropriate equipment, facilities and personnel to ensure employees can receive immediate attention if they are injured or become ill at work.

There isn’t a simple rule saying that every business with a certain number of employees must have a qualified first aider.

Instead, employers should carry out a first aid needs assessment and decide what level of provision is appropriate for their workplace.

This means a small business still needs to think about factors such as:

• The number of employees
• The nature of the work being carried out
• Workplace hazards and potential injuries
• Employees working alone or remotely
• Shift patterns and working hours
• How far the workplace is from emergency medical services
• Employees who may require additional consideration

The appropriate first aid arrangements for a five-person office could be very different from five people on a construction site, manufacturing or engineering business.

Does a Small Business Legally Need a Trained First Aider?

Following your first aid needs assessment, you may decide that your workplace needs one or more employees with formal first aid training.

In some low risk workplaces, having an appointed person responsible for first aid arrangements may be sufficient. However, an appointed person is not the same as a trained first aider and should not provide first aid they have not been trained to deliver.

This is why many small businesses choose to have at least one member of staff complete an Emergency First Aid at Work course, even where their assessment does not identify a need for more extensive First Aid at Work training.

Why Train Someone If You Don’t Have To?

Because emergencies don’t care how many people are on your payroll.

A colleague could collapse. Someone could start choking during lunch. An employee could suffer a serious cut or suddenly become unresponsive.

Having somebody nearby who knows what to do can make an enormous difference while professional medical help is on its way.

A trained first aider can have the confidence and practical skills to:

• Assess an emergency situation
• Perform CPR
• Use an Automated External Defibrillator (AED)
• Help someone who is choking
• Control bleeding
• Recognise and respond to shock
• Provide immediate assistance until further help arrives

For a small business, training one or more members of staff can therefore provide valuable reassurance for both employers and employees.

What Is Emergency First Aid at Work?

Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) is a one day first aid training course covering the essential skills needed to respond to common workplace emergencies.

It is particularly suitable for nominated workplace first aiders in lower risk environments and businesses whose first aid needs assessment identifies EFAW as an appropriate level of training.

During the course, delegates learn practical adult first aid skills including:

• Assessing an incident safely
• Managing an unresponsive casualty
• CPR
• Using an AED
• Choking
• Bleeding and shock
• Minor injuries

The course can also be valuable beyond the workplace. The skills learned could be needed at home, while travelling, in public or anywhere else a medical emergency occurs.

How Many First Aiders Does a Small Business Need?

There is no single number that applies to every business.

The number and type of trained first aiders you need should be determined by your first aid needs assessment.

Remember to consider what happens when your nominated first aider is:

• On annual leave
• Off sick
• Working from home
• Away from the premises
• Working a different shift

If your entire first aid provision relies on one person who isn’t always there, you may not have adequate cover throughout your working hours.

For some small businesses, training more than one employee is therefore the more practical approach.

Emergency First Aid at Work or First Aid at Work?

The appropriate course depends on the risks identified within your workplace.

Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) is a one-day course providing essential emergency first aid skills and may be appropriate for lower-risk workplaces.

First Aid at Work (FAW) provides more comprehensive training over three days, covering a broader range of injuries and medical conditions.

Your first aid needs assessment should determine the appropriate level of training rather than simply choosing a course based on the size of your business.

First Aid Training for Small Businesses

Safety For Business provides Emergency First Aid at Work and First Aid at Work training at our training centre in Letchworth Garden City, as well as onsite training at workplaces across Hertfordshire and surrounding areas, including Bedfordshire, Cambridge, London and beyond.

Our Emergency First Aid at Work course runs for one day and provides practical, hands-on training designed to give delegates the confidence to respond to real emergency situations.

Training is suitable for businesses looking to nominate workplace first aiders, as well as individuals who simply want to develop practical adult first aid skills.

View our Emergency First Aid at Work course and upcoming training dates to book your place or contact us to discuss arranging first aid training at your workplace.