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Workplace first aid, explained

Practical, plain-English guides to keeping your workplace first-aid provision legal, stocked and audit-ready.

A rigid UK sharps bin with a coloured lid, labelled and checked during a workplace equipment inspection Legal & compliance

Sharps bin requirements for UK workplaces (colours, rules & disposal, 2026)

When you need a sharps bin, the BS 7320 / UN 3291 standard, what the orange, yellow and purple lids mean, and how to assemble, fill and dispose of one legally.

A workplace first-aider wrapping a cold, wet colleague in a dry blanket out of the wind First aid skills

Hypothermia & cold stress first aid at work (UK, 2026)

How to warm someone up safely step by step, the signs of hypothermia that mean call 999, who is most at risk, and what UK employers must have in place for cold work.

A workplace first-aider recording a kit check on a signed inspection log Legal & compliance

First aid kit inspection log: what to record + free template (UK, 2026)

What every kit check should record, how long to keep it, who signs it, and a free inspection log template so your provision is dated, signed and provable.

A workplace first-aider washing a puncture wound under running water after a sharps injury First aid skills

Needlestick and sharps injury first aid at work (UK guide, 2026)

The first-aid steps after a needlestick or sharps injury, blood-borne virus risk, how fast to get treatment, RIDDOR reporting, and what UK employers must have in place.

A workplace first-aider kneeling behind a casualty, holding their head still to protect a suspected spinal injury First aid skills

Spinal injury first aid at work: what to do (UK guide, 2026)

When to suspect a spinal injury, how to keep the head and neck still with manual in-line stabilisation, when the recovery position is safe, and what UK employers must have ready.

A health and safety manager checking first-aid provision against a COSHH compliance checklist Legal & compliance

COSHH first aid requirements: hazardous substances at work (UK, 2026)

What COSHH expects for first aid when you work with chemicals — the safety data sheet, eyewash and antidotes, spill kits, and how to record it all.

A workplace first-aider treating a colleague, acting within their training and the employer's cover Legal & compliance

Are workplace first aiders legally protected? Liability & insurance (UK, 2026)

Can a first aider be sued? What the SARAH Act 2015 and employers' liability insurance cover, why the employer carries most of the risk, and how to protect your first-aiders.

A workplace first-aider pressing a dressing firmly onto a colleague's arm wound to control severe bleeding First aid skills

Severe bleeding first aid at work: how to stop a catastrophic bleed (UK, 2026)

How to stop a catastrophic bleed step by step — direct pressure, wound packing, tourniquets and shock — plus the RIDDOR rules and what UK employers must provide.

A workplace first-aider supporting a colleague's injured ankle and applying a cold pack after a slip at work First aid skills

Sprains & strains first aid at work: RICE treatment (UK, 2026)

How to treat a sprain or strain with RICE, tell it from a fracture, when it needs hospital, when it's RIDDOR reportable, and what UK employers must provide.

A workplace first-aider helping a colleague flush an injured eye at an eye-wash point First aid skills

Eye injury first aid at work: what to do (UK, 2026)

Treating a chemical splash, foreign body or penetrating eye injury at work, when to call 999, when it's RIDDOR reportable, and the eye-wash and kit UK employers need.

A workplace first-aider rolling an unconscious colleague onto their side into the recovery position First aid skills

How to put someone in the recovery position (UK workplace guide, 2026)

When to use the recovery position, how to do it safely step by step, when not to move a casualty, and how it fits your first aid duties.

A green personal first aid kit packed ready for an employee travelling for work Legal & compliance

First aid for business travel and employees working away (UK guide, 2026)

Duty of care for travelling and overseas workers, the trip risk assessment to do, what goes in a travel kit, and keeping it all in date.

A workplace first-aider supporting a colleague's injured arm after a fall at work First aid skills

Fractures & broken bones first aid at work: what to do (UK, 2026)

How to support a suspected fracture at work, handle an open fracture, watch for shock, the signs that mean call 999, and what UK employers must have in place.

A workplace first-aider helping an overheated colleague sit down in the shade and cool off First aid skills

Heat exhaustion & heat stroke first aid at work (UK, 2026)

How to cool someone with heat exhaustion, tell it apart from heat stroke, the signs that mean call 999, who is most at risk, and what UK employers must have in place.

A workplace first-aider sitting a colleague down and checking them after a knock to the head First aid skills

Head injury & concussion first aid at work: what to do (UK, 2026)

How to treat a head injury or suspected concussion at work, the red-flag signs that mean call 999, delayed concussion symptoms, and what UK employers must have in place.

A workplace first-aider helping a colleague sit upright and use a reliever inhaler during an asthma attack First aid skills

Asthma attack first aid at work: what to do (UK, 2026)

How to recognise and treat an asthma attack, the sit-up-and-reliever routine, the 10-puff rule, when to call 999, and what UK employers should have in place.

A workplace first-aider helping a colleague take a sugary drink during a diabetic hypo First aid skills

Diabetic emergency first aid at work: hypos & hypers (UK, 2026)

How to spot and treat a hypo vs a hyper, the sugar-first rule, when to call 999, and what UK employers should have in place.

A trained workplace first-aider protecting a colleague's head during a seizure First aid skills

Seizure & epilepsy first aid at work: what to do (UK, 2026)

What to do and what never to do when someone has a seizure, when to call 999, the recovery position, and what UK employers should have in place.

A supervisor briefing a young worker on workplace first aid arrangements Legal & compliance

First aid for young workers & apprentices (UK guide, 2026)

What changes when you take on a 16–18 worker or apprentice, the extra risks to assess, and whether a young person can be a first-aider.

A trained workplace first-aider staying with a colleague while waiting for an ambulance First aid skills

Stroke first aid at work: the FAST test & what to do (UK, 2026)

How to spot a stroke with the FAST test, what to do and what not to do, TIAs, and what UK employers should have in place.

A trained workplace first-aider ready to start CPR on a collapsed colleague First aid skills

Cardiac arrest & CPR first aid at work: what to do (UK, 2026)

How to tell a cardiac arrest from a heart attack, give CPR step by step, use a defibrillator, and what UK employers must have in place.

A trained workplace first-aider ready to respond after a colleague has an electric shock First aid skills

Electric shock first aid at work: steps & UK rules (2026)

How to break the contact safely, when to call 999 and start CPR, and what UK employers must do — RIDDOR reporting and first-aid provision.

A workplace first-aider on a night shift ready to respond to a colleague Legal & compliance

Night shift & out-of-hours first aid cover (UK guide, 2026)

First aid must be available whenever people are at work. How to work out night and out-of-hours cover, who counts, and how to keep it in place.

A workplace first-aider standing behind a colleague ready to give abdominal thrusts for choking First aid skills

Choking first aid at work: back blows, abdominal thrusts and when to call 999 (UK, 2026)

How to help a choking adult step by step, when to call 999, aftercare, and what employers must have in place.

A first-aider checking a workplace defibrillator's status indicator and pad expiry date Legal & compliance

Defibrillator (AED) maintenance & checks at work (UK guide, 2026)

Weekly and monthly AED checks, replacing pads and batteries before they expire, recording it, and who is responsible.

A first-aider completing a workplace first aid treatment record Legal & compliance

First aid treatment records: what to log and how long to keep it (UK, 2026)

What a first aid log should contain, how it differs from the accident book, the GDPR rules, and how long to keep it.

UK workplace first aid kits with a separate bleed control kit for a high-risk site Legal & compliance

Bleed control kit requirements for UK workplaces (2026 guide)

Does your site need a bleed control kit? What they contain, the BS 8599-1 Critical Injury Pack, who needs one, and how to use it.

A UK workplace first aid kit laid out on a table while planning an anaphylaxis response Legal & compliance

Anaphylaxis at work: first aid for severe allergic reactions (UK, 2026)

How to recognise and treat a severe allergic reaction, when to use an adrenaline auto-injector, and what employers must plan for.

A workplace first-aider kneeling beside a colleague with an open green first aid kit Legal & compliance

Workplace first aid procedure: what to do when someone is injured at work (UK, 2026)

The six-step response the moment someone is hurt — make safe, treat, call 999, and record it in the accident book and RIDDOR.

A UK workplace body fluid spill kit with gloves, apron, absorbent granules and a yellow clinical waste bag Legal & compliance

Body fluid spill kit requirements for UK workplaces (2026 guide)

When you need a spill kit, what COSHH expects, what goes inside, how to clean up a blood or vomit spill safely, and how many to keep.

Green UK workplace first aid kits lined up ready for a busy vehicle workshop Industry guides

Garage & vehicle workshop first aid requirements (UK guide, 2026)

The kits, eyewash, burns and lone-worker cover a workshop needs, how many first-aiders, and how to evidence it under the 1981 Regulations.

A laboratory with a wall-mounted eyewash station and first aid kit ready for a chemical splash Legal & compliance

Laboratory first aid requirements (UK guide, 2026)

The eyewash, drench, burns and spill provision labs need, chemical-specific antidotes, first-aider training and how to evidence it under COSHH and the 1981 Regulations.

A clipboard and workplace first aid kit being checked during an inspection Legal & compliance

HSE first aid inspection: what inspectors check & how to prepare (UK, 2026)

What triggers a visit, what an inspector actually looks at, the enforcement they can use, and a checklist to get inspection-ready.

A workplace first-aider's certificate and training record being checked against a wall-mounted first aid kit Legal & compliance

First aid training records: what UK employers must keep (2026)

What a first aid training record should contain, whether keeping one is a legal duty, how long to keep it, how GDPR applies, and a free training-matrix template to track certificate expiry.

Rows of green BS 8599-1 first aid kits ready to be distributed to multiple UK workplace sites Legal & compliance

First aid compliance across multiple sites (UK guide, 2026)

Managing first aid across branches, depots or a whole estate: why every site needs its own needs assessment and first-aiders, how to standardise kits and records, and how to keep central oversight and proof.

Green BS 8599-1 first aid kits ready to be placed around a hair and beauty salon Legal & compliance

Salon & barber first aid requirements (UK hair & beauty guide, 2026)

The chemical-burn, dye-allergy and sharps hazards a hair, beauty or barber salon must plan for, how many first-aiders and what kit (eye wash, burns provision) you need, and the COSHH and records the HSE expects.

Different types of UK first aid kit — a green BS 8599-1 workplace kit alongside smaller travel and vehicle kits First aid kits

First aid kit types explained: which one do you need? (UK, 2026)

BS 8599-1 workplace, BS 8599-2 vehicle, catering, travel and personal kits — what each type is for, how it differs from kit size, and how to choose the right one from your needs assessment.

A workplace first aid point with a green kit, ready to treat permanent and agency staff alike Legal & compliance

First aid for agency & temporary workers: who's responsible? (UK, 2026)

Who covers agency, temp and casual staff — the agency or you? What the law requires, whether they count towards your first-aider numbers, and how to cover them.

A workplace first aid point with a green kit, ready to treat staff and visitors alike Legal & compliance

First aid for non-employees: visitors, contractors & the public (UK, 2026)

Do you have to cover visitors, contractors and the public? What the 1981 Regulations and HSWA actually require, contractor coordination, and how to build non-employees into your needs assessment.

Green BS 8599-1 first aid kits laid out ready to provide cover at a UK event Legal & compliance

Event first aid requirements (UK guide + cover ratios, 2026)

The legal duties, how to risk-score an event, rough first-aider ratios by crowd size, the kit and AED to provide, and how to record it — with the Purple Guide method organisers actually use.

A workplace first aid kit laid open showing sterile dressings and gloves but no tablets or medicines Legal & compliance

Can you keep painkillers & medication in a first aid kit? (UK, 2026)

HSE guidance is clear — no tablets or medicines in a workplace first aid kit. Why paracetamol, antiseptic creams and eye drops don't belong, what a kit should hold instead, and how to handle staff who need their own medication.

A clipboard checklist beside green BS 8599-1 workplace first aid kits ready for a compliance audit Legal & compliance

Workplace first aid compliance checklist (UK, 2026)

The seven duties behind "adequate and appropriate" — needs assessment, first-aiders, kits, AED, signage, records and review — with a section-by-section audit you can run once a year and prove.

A small green personal first aid kit an employer supplies to a home-based worker Legal & compliance

Remote & home workers first aid requirements (UK guide, 2026)

First-aid duty follows the worker, not the postcode: what UK law requires for home, hybrid and mobile staff, what a personal kit needs, and how to keep dispersed kits stocked and provable.

Green BS 8599-1 first aid kits ready to be placed around a hotel's reception, kitchen and leisure areas Legal & compliance

Hotel first aid requirements (UK guide for hospitality, 2026)

Why hotels run higher-risk, 24/7 cover across every shift, first aid for guests, the kitchen, pool and lone night-worker hazards, and the kits and records the HSE and EHO expect.

A compact green first aid kit a self-employed worker keeps for their own use on the job Legal & compliance

First aid requirements for the self-employed (UK guide, 2026)

What sole traders and freelancers must do under the 1981 Regulations, what a personal kit needs, working on someone else's site, and the moment hiring flips you into full employer duties.

A green BS 8599-1 workplace first aid box mounted within reach of a work area Legal & compliance

Where to store first aid kits at work (UK location rules, 2026)

Where kits should go and why placement fails inspections: accessible signed locations, one per work area, near the hazard, and the locked-cupboard trap to avoid.

Green BS 8599-1 first aid kits ready to be placed around a gym floor, studios and poolside Legal & compliance

Gym & leisure centre first aid requirements (UK guide, 2026)

Your duty under the 1981 Regulations, why an AED is near-essential in a gym, how many trained staff and what kit you need, plus the pool and RIDDOR rules that catch operators out.

A workplace first-aider practising CPR during an annual refresher session Training

First aid annual refresher training (UK guide, 2026)

Whether the HSE-recommended annual skills update is a legal requirement, what it covers, who needs it, how it fits the three-year certificate cycle, and how to record it.

Green BS 8599-1 first aid kits ready to be placed around a nursery's rooms and taken on outings Legal & compliance

Early years first aid requirements (UK nursery & EYFS guide, 2026)

The EYFS paediatric first aid duty for children, the HSE duty for staff, how many PFA-trained people a nursery needs, the kit to keep accessible, and the Ofsted and RIDDOR records to hold.

Green BS 8599-1 first aid kits ready to be issued across a farm's buildings and vehicles Legal & compliance

Farm first aid requirements (UK agriculture guide, 2026)

Why agriculture is the UK's highest-risk industry, how many FAW first-aiders and kits you need across buildings and vehicles, lone-working cover, and provision for the self-employed.

Green BS 8599-1 first aid kits lined up for a factory production area Legal & compliance

Factory & manufacturing first aid requirements (UK, 2026)

Why manufacturing is higher-risk, how many FAW first-aiders per shift, the kits, burns, eye wash and AED provision a factory needs, and how to prove it all.

A row of green workplace first aid kits opened for a compliance audit Legal & compliance

First aid kit audit: how to audit workplace provision (UK, 2026)

What a first aid kit audit covers, how it differs from a routine inspection, a step-by-step method with a free audit checklist, and how to keep an audit trail inspectors accept.

Workplace first aid kit contents laid out with fresh dressings ready to restock the box Legal & compliance

How to restock a first aid kit at work (UK, 2026)

Who is responsible for keeping first aid boxes stocked, when to replenish, what to reorder versus bin, and how to record every restock so your provision stays compliant.

A green workplace first aid kit open on a kitchen surface with burns dressings visible First aid skills

Burns first aid at work: treatment & burn kit rules (UK, 2026)

How to treat a burn or scald step by step, when a burn needs hospital, and what UK workplaces need in a burns first aid kit under HSE and BS 8599-1 guidance.

A manager reviewing a written workplace first aid policy beside a green first aid kit Legal & compliance

How to write a workplace first aid policy (UK template, 2026)

What a first aid policy is, whether it's legally required, exactly what to include, and a free template you can copy to document your arrangements and prove them to an auditor.

A small business owner checking a green workplace first aid kit on the wall of a small office Legal & compliance

First aid at work for small businesses (UK guide, 2026)

Whether a small, low-risk business needs a trained first-aider, when an appointed person is enough, the minimum kit, and how to prove it all — even with a handful of staff.

Employees practising CPR on manikins during a course run by a first aid training provider Training

How to choose a first aid training provider (UK due diligence, 2026)

The HSE stopped approving providers in 2013 — so choosing a competent one is now on you. The four provider routes and the due-diligence checks the HSE expects.

Green BS 8599-1 first aid kits ready to be placed near the tills and stockroom of a retail shop Legal & compliance

Retail & shop first aid requirements (UK guide, 2026)

Whether a shop needs a first aider, the lone-working and stockroom hazards to plan for, first aid for customers, and the kits and records the HSE expects across one store or a whole chain.

Chefs working in a busy commercial restaurant kitchen surrounded by hot surfaces and knives Legal & compliance

Restaurant & catering first aid requirements (UK guide, 2026)

Why a kitchen is higher-risk, how many first-aiders you need across front-of-house and kitchen shifts, the burns and allergen hazards to plan for, and the kits the HSE and EHO expect.

Green BS 8599-1 first aid kits ready to be placed around a care home's units Legal & compliance

Care home first aid requirements (UK guide for managers, 2026)

HSE duties for staff vs CQC duties for residents, 24/7 first-aider cover across every shift, and the kits, AEDs and records a home needs.

Green BS 8599-1 first aid kits ready to be placed around a warehouse Legal & compliance

Warehouse first aid requirements (UK guide for employers, 2026)

Why a warehouse is higher-risk, how many FAW first-aiders and kits you need per shift, the forklift and racking hazards to plan for, and a checklist to get compliant.

Green BS 8599-1 first aid kits ready to be placed around a low-risk office Legal & compliance

Office first aid requirements (UK guide for employers, 2026)

Whether an office needs a first-aider, how many, what goes in the kit, and the low-risk baseline every office employer must meet.

Green UK workplace first aid kits, the equipment the 1981 Regulations require employers to provide Legal & compliance

The Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981, explained

The law behind every workplace first-aid rule, in plain English: what "adequate and appropriate" means, who's covered, the core duties, and the five steps to comply.

Green first aid kits lined up ready to be distributed across a school's classrooms and labs Legal & compliance

School first aid requirements (UK guide for schools, 2026)

The three rulebooks schools sit under — HSE for staff, DfE for pupils, EYFS paediatric first aid — plus how many first-aiders and kits you need, and who counts as the employer.

A workplace first aider kneeling beside an open green first aid kit ready to give treatment Roles & responsibilities

Role of a first aider: duties and responsibilities at work (UK, 2026)

What a workplace first aider actually does before, during and after an incident, what they must record, staying qualified, and the limits of the role.

A green personal first aid kit packed ready for a lone worker to carry off-site Legal & compliance

Lone worker first aid requirements (UK guide, 2026)

What the law requires for lone and remote workers: personal kits, raising the alarm, the needs-assessment factors, and a checklist to copy.

A green BS 8599-1 workplace first aid box ready to be placed on site Legal & compliance

How many first aid kits do I need? (UK workplace guide, 2026)

Why there's no per-employee number, how kit size and kit count are decided separately, and a rule of thumb by site type.

A workplace first aid notice board where mental health first-aiders are also listed Legal & compliance

Mental health first aid at work: is it a legal requirement? (UK, 2026)

What the HSE actually requires, how mental health fits your needs assessment, training options, and how many first-aiders you need.

A workplace first aid box and notice board kept stocked by an appointed person Legal & compliance

Appointed person for first aid: duties, training & when you need one (UK, 2026)

What an appointed person does, whether they need training, and how they differ from a qualified first-aider — plus when one is enough.

Green first aid kits with hi-vis strips ready to be issued across a construction site Legal & compliance

Construction site first aid requirements (UK guide, 2026)

CDM 2015 duties, how many first-aiders and BS 8599-1 kits you need, and how to keep cover across a spread-out or multi-site job.

A green BS 8599-1 workplace first aid box marked with the white first aid cross Legal & compliance

What size first aid kit do I need? BS 8599-1 sizes explained (UK, 2026)

Small, medium and large BS 8599-1 kits compared — what each holds, how many people it covers, and how to pick the right size.

Workplace first aid supplies laid out to check, including sealed eyewash Legal & compliance

Eyewash station requirements: UK workplace guide (2026)

When a workplace legally needs eyewash, sterile pods vs plumbed stations, expiry dates, and how often to check them.

A green workplace first aid box marked with the white first aid cross Legal & compliance

First aid signage requirements (UK workplace guide, 2026)

What the law says about first aid signs, the green-and-white symbol, where signs must go, and how to sign kits, first-aiders and AEDs.

Green first aid kits with hi-vis strips ready to be issued to a fleet of work vehicles Legal & compliance

Vehicle first aid kit requirements: BS 8599-2 & fleet guide (UK, 2026)

Whether work vehicles legally need a kit, the BS 8599-2 contents by size, and how to keep a whole fleet compliant.

A green workplace first aid box with a white cross Kit contents

What should be in a workplace first aid kit? (UK checklist, 2026)

The British Standard BS 8599-1 contents, how many kits you need, and what to add for higher-risk sites.

An open first aid kit with dressings and gloves laid out for checking Inspections

How often should first aid kits be inspected?

What the HSE expects, sensible inspection frequencies by risk level, and what to check each time.

Green UK workplace first aid kits with hi-vis strips Legal & compliance

UK workplace first aid requirements: HSE & ISO 45001 explained

Your legal duties under the 1981 Regulations, how many first-aiders you need, and how ISO 45001 fits in.

Green UK workplace first aid kits lined up ready for a needs assessment Legal & compliance

How to do a first aid needs assessment (UK guide + template, 2026)

The five factors the HSE expects you to weigh, how many first-aiders you need, and a free template to record it.

First aiders on a training course — building enough trained people to cover holidays and sickness Legal & compliance

First aid cover during holidays & staff absence (UK guide, 2026)

Why the minimum isn't enough, how much spare cover to train, and a simple rota so you're never left with no first-aider.

Employees practising CPR on manikins at a first aid training course Legal & compliance

How many first aiders do I need? (UK ratios + calculator, 2026)

The HSE risk-based ratios by headcount, worked examples, and how to calculate the right number for your workplace.

Chefs working in a busy commercial restaurant kitchen Kit contents

Kitchen & catering first aid kit: what should it contain? (UK, 2026)

The BS 8599-1 catering kit contents, why every plaster is blue, and what EHOs check on inspection.

A hand ticking items off a checklist in a notebook Checklist

First aid kit checklist: essentials + a 10-minute audit routine

A printable contents checklist and a four-step audit routine with pictures — plus how an app automates it.

A workplace first-aider tending to a colleague, showing trained first aid provision in action Legal & compliance

First aid at work training requirements: the UK employer's guide (2026)

What training you must provide — appointed person vs EFAW vs FAW, how many people, choosing a provider, and keeping certificates valid.

Employees practising CPR on manikins during a first aid at work course Legal & compliance

FAW vs EFAW: which first aid qualification do you need? (UK, 2026)

First Aid at Work vs Emergency First Aid at Work — course length, cost, scope, and which one your workplace legally needs.

Employees practising CPR on manikins at a first aid training session Legal & compliance

Who is responsible for first aid equipment at work?

Employer duty vs appointed person vs first-aider — and whether a first-aider is legally required on site.

A hand writing an accident record in a notebook next to a first aid kit Legal & compliance

Accident book & RIDDOR: what to record and report (UK, 2026)

What goes in the accident book, when an injury becomes RIDDOR-reportable to the HSE, the deadlines, and how long to keep the records.

Employees practising CPR and defibrillator use on manikins at a first aid course Legal & compliance

Are defibrillators a legal requirement at work? (UK AED guide, 2026)

Whether a workplace AED is legally required, when you should have one, where to place it, and how to keep the pads and battery in date.

Employees practising CPR on manikins during a first aid at work certificate course Training

How long does a first aid certificate last? (UK guide, 2026)

When FAW and EFAW certificates expire, whether annual refreshers are required, and how to requalify before your three years run out.

An open first aid kit with dressings and gloves laid out to check expiry dates Inspections

Do first aid kit items expire? (UK expiry dates guide, 2026)

Typical shelf life by item, where to find the date on the pack, what the HSE expects, and how to run an expiry check.

Green UK workplace first aid kits ready to stock a first aid room Legal & compliance

First aid room requirements: do you need one? (UK guide, 2026)

When a workplace needs a dedicated first aid room, what it must contain, who manages it, and how to decide from your needs assessment.

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