First Aid at Work: The Health and Safety (First-aid) Regulations 1981, L74

This guidance is for employers and sets out what you need to do to address first-aid provision in the workplace.

It provides guidance on:

• managing the provision of first aid (first-aid kit, equipment, rooms etc)
• requirements and training for first-aiders
• requirements for appointed persons
• making employees aware of first-aid arrangements
• first aid and the self-employed
• cases where first-aid regulations do not apply

The 2024 updates include:

• emphasise employers’ responsibilities to take account of employees’ mental health in their first-aid needs assessment
• change the term ‘catastrophic bleeding’ to ‘life-threatening bleeding’ with more guidance on what employers should do if they identify this as a risk in their workplace
• simplify guidance on first aid training providers.

The updates do not change what is required to comply with health and safety legislation.