What First Aid Qualifications Do I Need at Work?
🏢 What First Aid Qualifications Do I Need at Work?
Every workplace in the UK has a legal duty to make sure that employees receive adequate and appropriate first aid provision.
But with so many different qualifications available — Appointed Person, Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW), First Aid at Work (FAW), and even advanced options like FREC — it can be confusing to know exactly what you need.
This guide will help you understand which first aid qualifications are required for your workplace, based on the risk level of your activities and the number of employees you have.
⚖️ Understanding Your Legal Responsibilities
Under the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981, employers must:
Provide adequate and appropriate first aid equipment, facilities, and trained personnel, and
Carry out a first aid needs assessment to determine what’s required.
The law doesn’t prescribe a fixed number of first aiders — instead, it depends on the hazards, risks, and size of your workplace.
🧭 Step 1: Identify Your Level of Workplace Hazard
Low Hazard Workplaces
These are environments such as offices, shops, libraries, or call centres, where injuries are unlikely to be serious or frequent.
Higher Hazard Workplaces
These include environments like construction sites, engineering workshops, food processing facilities, chemical plants, warehousing, or any work involving:
Dangerous machinery or tools
Confined spaces
Hazardous substances
Working at height
Significant physical activity
The higher the hazard, the more trained first aiders you’ll need — and possibly to a higher qualification level.
👷 Step 2: Determine the Number of Employees and the Right Training
Low Hazard Workplaces
| Number of Employees | Minimum Requirement | Recommended Training |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer than 50 | Appointed Person (someone responsible for first aid arrangements, not necessarily trained) | Appointed Person Awareness |
| 50–100 | At least 1 Emergency First Aider at Work (EFAW) | EFAW Course |
| More than 100 | At least 1 First Aider at Work (FAW) per 100 employees or part thereof | FAW Course |
Higher Hazard Workplaces
| Number of Employees | Minimum Requirement | Recommended Training |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer than 5 | Appointed Person | Appointed Person Awareness |
| 5–100 | At least 1 EFAW or FAW (depending on risk level) per 50 employees | EFAW / FAW Course |
| More than 100 | At least 1 FAW per 50 employees or part thereof | FAW Course or Advanced FREC Training |
💼 Step 3: Consider Additional Risk Factors
You may need extra first aiders or higher-level training if any of the following apply:
You have inexperienced staff or workers with known health conditions.
Employees work alone, remotely, or travel frequently.
Your site operates shifts or out of hours.
Staff are spread across multiple buildings or floors.
You are remote from emergency medical services.
You have members of the public or visitors on site.
In these cases, having multiple EFAW or FAW trained staff is strongly advised, as well as considering FREC (First Response Emergency Care) qualifications for higher-risk or remote environments.
🚨 Step 4: When to Consider Advanced First Aid (FREC or IREC)
For workplaces with higher risk levels — such as construction, manufacturing, agriculture, utilities, or remote fieldwork — advanced first aid training provides a greater level of capability than standard workplace courses.
FREC 3 (First Response Emergency Care Level 3) is suitable for higher-risk industries or staff who may need to manage more serious incidents before paramedics arrive.
FROS 3 (First Response On Scene) is an equivalent course currently being replaced by the IREC qualification — the Immediate Response Emergency Care pathway.
These advanced qualifications cover topics such as:
Catastrophic bleeding control
Oxygen therapy and airway management
Spinal immobilisation
Use of defibrillators and advanced trauma care
🧠 Step 5: Review and Update Regularly
Your first aid needs can change as your business evolves. Review your risk assessment and first aid provision at least annually or after any significant change such as:
Expansion of staff numbers
Change of location or processes
Introduction of new equipment or materials
Make sure first aiders keep their qualifications in date — refresher training is typically required every three years.
🎓 First Aid Training with DAC Education
At DAC Education, we deliver all levels of workplace and specialist first aid training:
Appointed Person Awareness
Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW)
First Aid at Work (FAW)
FREC 3 and Advanced Trauma Training
Our trainers combine real-world experience with hands-on learning, ensuring your workplace meets legal standards and staff feel confident in an emergency.
👉 Book Your Workplace First Aid Course
(Delivered at our Suffolk HQ or on-site for groups of six or more.)
Disclaimer
This article provides general first aid guidance for UK workplaces. Always complete a formal first aid needs assessment and ensure your provision meets the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 and any industry-specific requirements.