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How Many First Aiders Do I Need in My Workplace?
Find out how many first aiders your workplace may need, what affects your first aid provision and whether EFAW or FAW training is appropriate.
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Most low-risk workplaces require one Emergency First Aider for every 25–50 employees, depending on the findings of a first aid needs assessment.
Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
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First aid training gives you the knowledge and confidence to act in an emergency. But how long does that training last? Here’s everything you need to know.
If you are responsible for first aid at work, one of the first questions you are likely to ask is: how many first aiders do we actually need?
There is no single legal ratio that applies to every workplace in Northern Ireland. Instead, employers must make adequate and appropriate first-aid arrangements based on the circumstances of their workplace and the findings of their first aid needs assessment.
That means the right level of cover will depend on factors such as how many people you employ, the hazards associated with your work, your shift patterns, the layout and location of your workplace, and the types of injury or illness that could reasonably occur.
For some small, low-risk workplaces, relatively simple arrangements may be enough. Larger or higher-risk organisations may need several trained first aiders, additional equipment and more advanced training.
This guide explains what you should consider and how to work out what is appropriate for your workplace.
HSENI states that employers in Northern Ireland have a legal duty to make arrangements so employees can receive immediate attention if they are injured or become ill at work.
Is there a legal number of first aiders you must have?
The Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1982 require employers to provide suitable first-aid arrangements, but they do not set a universal rule such as “one first aider for every 20 employees”.
Instead, employers are expected to assess what is appropriate for their particular workplace.
HSENI explains that first aid provision should take account of factors including the number of employees, the size and location of the workplace and the type of work being carried out.
A small office with relatively low hazards is likely to have very different requirements from a warehouse, construction environment, manufacturing site or organisation operating across several locations.
The question therefore isn’t simply:
“How many employees do we have?”
It is:
“What first aid provision do we need to make sure someone can receive prompt and appropriate help if they become injured or ill at work?”
For some low-risk workplaces, the assessment may conclude that a trained first aider is not required. In that situation, HSENI says an appointed person should take responsibility for first-aid arrangements.
The appointed person may be responsible for maintaining first-aid equipment and calling the emergency services when required. They do not have to hold a first-aid qualification.
Where trained first aiders are required, you should have enough appropriately trained people available to provide suitable cover whenever the workplace is operating.
IMPORTANT
Your arrangements need to work when people are actually at work. Having three trained first aiders on a staff list does not necessarily mean you have three available at all times. Consider holidays, sickness, different shifts, hybrid working, employees working away from the main site and people who regularly work alone. HSENI notes that an appointed person may provide emergency cover for unexpected absence of a first aider, but planned annual leave should be accounted for when arranging first aid cover.
What should a first aid needs assessment consider?
A first aid needs assessment should look at the real circumstances of your organisation rather than relying on a generic staff-to-first-aider ratio.
The following areas are particularly useful to consider.
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QUICK ANSWER
Most low-risk workplaces require one Emergency First Aider for every 25–50 employees, depending on the findings of a first aid needs assessment.
Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
Get your recommendation
IMPORTANT
Employers are legally responsible for ensuring adequate first aid provision under the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981.
TRAINER TIP
If you’re unsure whether you need First Aid at Work or Emergency First Aid at Work, start by completing our free Workplace First Aid Requirements Calculator.
"The biggest mistake employers make is assuming every workplace needs the same number of first aiders."
Chris Busby
Director & Lead Trainer
Over 600,000
workplace injuries occur annually in the UK.
Source: HSE — Workplace injuries and ill health 2023/24
Regular training and preparedness can significantly reduce risk and save lives.
The number of people at work
The more employees you have, the more likely it is that you will require multiple trained first aiders to provide dependable cover.
Remember to consider how many people are normally present at the same time rather than simply your total headcount.
The hazards associated with your work
A low-risk office is likely to have different needs from a workplace involving machinery, vehicles, chemicals, manual handling, work at height or other significant hazards.
Your existing workplace risk assessments can help identify the types of injury or illness your first-aid arrangements should be capable of responding to.
Previous accidents and incidents
Look at your accident and incident records.
Are there recurring types of injury?
Have previous events highlighted gaps in first-aid equipment, training or response arrangements?
HSENI recommends monitoring accidents and ill health and reviewing your first-aid provision where appropriate.
Shift patterns and working hours
If your organisation operates evenings, nights or weekends, suitable first-aid arrangements should be available during those periods too.
A first aider who normally works Monday to Friday will not provide meaningful cover for a weekend or night shift.
Holidays and absence
Your provision should remain adequate when trained members of staff are unavailable.
This is one reason why many employers train more people than the minimum number they expect to need at any one time.
Workplace size and layout
A first aider may technically be on site but still be too far away to provide prompt assistance.
Large buildings, warehouses, multi-floor offices and organisations spread across several buildings may require first aiders in different parts of the site.
Lone and remote workers
People working alone, travelling between locations or working remotely may need different first-aid arrangements.
Depending on the risks involved, this might include individual first-aid equipment, additional training or arrangements for obtaining assistance.
Members of the public
Your legal duty under workplace first-aid regulations relates primarily to employees, but organisations may choose to consider visitors, customers, service users and members of the public when determining their overall first-aid provision.
For businesses regularly dealing with large numbers of people, this can be an important practical consideration.
Distance from emergency medical help
Think about how quickly additional medical assistance can reach your workplace.
A workplace in a remote location may need more robust arrangements than one where emergency assistance can normally be accessed very quickly.
Particular workplace risks
Some workplaces may require additional or specialist first-aid training because of the risks involved.
HSENI specifically advises employers to consider whether first aiders require additional training to deal with injuries arising from special hazards.
IMPORTANT
A first aid needs assessment should be reviewed rather than completed once and forgotten. Review your arrangements when there are significant changes to your workforce, premises, working practices, equipment or workplace risks, and when accidents or incidents suggest that your existing provision may no longer be appropriate.
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