How to Complete a First Aid Needs Assessment
As an employer, ensuring the health and safety of your workforce isn’t just good practice – it’s a legal requirement.
Every workplace, regardless of size or sector, must have adequate first aid provisions to support employees in the event of an illness or injury. In this blog, we’ll guide you through the key steps to determine your business’s first aid requirements, helping you stay compliant and prepared.
Legal Obligations for First Aid
The Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981 outline that employers must provide:
A suitably stocked first aid kit
An appointed person or people to take charge of first aid arrangements
Information for employees about first aid provisions
These regulations apply to all workplaces, including self-employed individuals. The exact nature of your first aid arrangements will depend on the specific needs of your business, which you can determine through a first aid needs assessment.
Step 1: Assess Your First Aid Needs
Your workplace is unique, so your first aid provisions must reflect its specific requirements. To determine what is “adequate and appropriate” for your business, you need to understand what factors contribute towards the risk of injury or illness. The most simple way to do this is to follow our free first aid needs assessment and user guide. These guides have been tailored to meet the complex and varied needs of different organisations. On completion of your first aid needs assessment, you will understand what equipment and training is “adequate and appropriate” for your workplace, therefor meeting your legal obligations.
The guides cover the following topics and instructs you on how to assess these areas and what impact they may have on your required provisions:
1. The Type of Work You Do
What activities do your employees perform? For example, a construction site will have very different risks compared to an office environment.
2. Hazards and Risks
Identify potential hazards in your workplace and assess their likelihood of causing harm. For instance, machinery or hazardous substances may require more robust first aid measures.
3. Workforce Size
The number of employees influences how many first aiders or appointed persons you’ll need.
4. Staff Work Patterns
Consider shift work and flexible arrangements. You must ensure coverage for all working hours.
5. Absences
Plan for holidays, sickness, or other absences of first aiders and appointed persons.
6. Accident History
Review past incidents to understand patterns and identify specific risks that require mitigation.
Additional Considerations
Remote, Lone, and Travelling Workers: Do you have employees working off-site who may need portable first aid provisions?
Proximity to Emergency Services: Are your sites close to hospitals or paramedic services?
Shared or Multi-Occupancy Sites: If you share premises, coordinate first aid arrangements with other tenants.
Public Interaction: If you have customers or visitors on-site, consider their first aid needs.
Mental Health Support: Ensure your first aid provisions include support for mental health issues, such as training staff in Mental Health First Aid.
Step 2: Record Your Findings
While it isn’t mandatory to document your first aid needs assessment, doing so provides a clear record of how you arrived at your decisions. This can be invaluable for future reviews and demonstrating compliance with regulations.
To make this process easier, download our free First Aid Needs Assessment Template and User Guide. These resources simplify the assessment process and ensure you’ve covered all key considerations.
Step 3: Implement Your First Aid Arrangements
Once you’ve identified your needs, ensure you:
Stock Your First Aid Kit: Tailor the contents to your workplace’s specific risks.
Train First Aiders: Enroll key staff in first aid training to handle emergencies effectively.
Communicate Clearly: Display first aid information prominently and ensure all employees know where to find help.
Once you have identified your first aid needs, sent your “Needs Assessment” to Info@firststepsfirstaid.co.uk and we will provide a very affordable quote to provide all of your training and provisions.
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
How First Steps First Aid Ltd Can Help
At First Steps First Aid Ltd, we understand that navigating first aid regulations can be challenging. That’s why we’re here to help. Based in Portsmouth and serving organizations across Hampshire, we are proud to offer high-quality first aid training and first aid equipment to businesses of all sizes. As an FAIB registered provider with a 5-star Trustpilot rating, you can trust us to deliver exceptional service.
Our free First Aid Needs Assessment Template and User Guide are designed to help you evaluate your requirements with confidence, knowing you meet your legal obligations and can evidence this on one simple form. Contact us today if you need assistance with these resources or to book a training session for your team.
Final Thoughts
Determining your business’s first aid requirements is a crucial step in creating a safe and compliant workplace. By carefully assessing your needs and implementing appropriate measures, you’ll not only fulfill your legal obligations but also ensure the wellbeing of your employees.
Need advice or training? Reach out to First Steps First Aid Ltd and let us support you! We are a community and our friendly team of paramedics are happy to help out our local organisations.
