First aid at work
The provision of immediate care to an injured or ill person at the workplace, pending professional medical treatment. Each jurisdiction requires employers to provide suitable first aid equipment, facilities, and trained personnel, but the thresholds and qualifications differ.
Also known as
By jurisdiction
UK HSE
“first aid at work”Exact equivalentThe Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981 (SI 1981/917) require employers to provide such equipment and facilities as are adequate and appropriate in the circumstances for enabling first aid to be rendered to employees who are injured or become ill at work. Employers must assess first aid needs, ensure adequate numbers of trained first aiders or appointed persons, and inform employees of first aid arrangements.
Irish HSA
“first aid at work”Close equivalentThe Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007 (Part 7, Chapter 2) require employers to take the necessary measures for first aid to be rendered to injured or sick employees. Employers must designate workers to apply first aid measures, ensure they are suitably trained, and provide first aid equipment appropriate to the nature of the work.
US OSHA
“first aid”Close equivalent“OSHA 29 CFR 1910.151 requires employers to ensure the ready availability of medical personnel for advice and consultation on matters of plant health. In the absence of an infirmary, clinic, or hospital near to the workplace which can be used for treatment of all injured employees, a person or persons shall be adequately trained to render first aid. First aid supplies approved by the consulting physician shall be readily available.”
Practitioner note: Provision follows the needs assessment, not headcount alone. Remote sites, lone workers and shift patterns usually require more than the minimum.