The relevant regulations are the Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981. This guidance to the regulations sets out the difference between a 'first aider' and an 'appointed person':

In any company, the number and type of first aid personnel would be based on an assessment. In assessing need, employers need to consider:

• workplace hazards and risks;
• the size of the organisation;
• the organisation's history of accidents;
• the nature and distribution of the workforce;
• the remoteness of the site from emergency medical services;
• the needs of travelling, remote and lone workers;
• employees working on shared or multi-occupied sites;
• annual leave and other absences of first aiders and appointed persons.

Whilst the regulations do not give specific personnel numbers, the guidance does give suggested numbers of first aid personnel:

Category of risk	Numbers employed at any location	Suggested number of first-aid personnel
Lower risk e.g. shops, offices, libraries Fewer than 50 At least one appointed person	Fewer than 50	At least one appointed person
-	50 - 100	At least one first aider
-	More than 100	One additional first aider for every 100 employed
Medium riske.g. light engineering and assembly work, food processing, warehousing Fewer than 20 At least one appointed person	Fewer than 20	At least one appointed person
-	20-100	At least one first aider for every 50 employed (or part thereof)
-	More than 100	One additional first aider for every 100 employed
Higher riske.g. construction, slaughterhouses, chemical manufacture, extensive work with dangerous machinery or sharp instruments Fewer than five At least one appointed person	Fewer than 5	At least one appointed person
-	5-50	At least one first aider
-	More than 50	One additional first aider for every 50 employed

The details above are suggestions only - they are not definitive nor are they a legal requirement. It is for you to assess your first-aid needs in the light of your particular circumstances.

Relevant publications

• L74, First aid at work, (ISBN 0 7176 1050 0 - available from HSE Books)

• First aid at work - free leaflet [193kb]