> Disclaimer: SiteKiln gives you plain-English information, not legal or health and safety advice. Always follow your site-specific risk assessments and talk to a qualified professional.
The short version
The Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 say every employer must provide adequate and appropriate first-aid equipment, facilities and people so workers can get immediate help if they're injured or taken ill at work.
For construction sites, HSE spell it out: you must have a first-aid box, someone in charge of first-aid arrangements, and clear information telling workers who that person is and where to find them -- and on higher-risk/bigger jobs you'll usually need trained first-aiders, not just an "appointed person".
What the law actually requires
The Regulations apply to all workplaces, including those with fewer than five employees and the self-employed.
Employers must:
- Provide adequate and appropriate first-aid equipment, facilities and personnel so employees get immediate attention for injuries/illness at work.
- Carry out a first-aid needs assessment to decide what "adequate and appropriate" looks like for their work -- taking into account hazards, numbers on site, spread of the site, work patterns, and remoteness from emergency services.
- Make sure first-aid provision is available at all times people are at work, not just 8-4 when the appointed person is around.
HSE's construction FAQ then adds that all construction sites should have at least:
- A suitably stocked first-aid box.
- An appointed person to take charge of first-aid arrangements (including looking after equipment and calling the ambulance).
- Information for workers about first-aid arrangements -- who the first-aiders/appointed persons are and where they are located (e.g. notice in site hut).
For higher-risk work like construction, HSE's guidance makes it clear that trained first-aiders (EFAW/FAW) will normally be required, not just an appointed person.
What this means on your site
Your first-aid needs assessment for a construction job should look at:
- Type of work (construction is high-risk by nature).
- Likely injuries (falls, cuts, crushes, eye injuries, burns, manual-handling issues, plant incidents).
- Number of people on site and their spread (multiple storeys, multiple buildings).
- How far you are from emergency services and how long an ambulance would realistically take.
On a typical small-to-medium construction site, that will often mean:
- First-aid kits sized for the number of workers and tasks (you might need more than one kit on a spread-out site).
- At least one trained first-aider (EFAW or FAW), and more for larger or multi-storey sites or shift work.
- An appointed person (can be the same as a first-aider) to look after kits and make sure cover exists every shift.
- Clear signage and induction information so everyone knows who to go to and where first-aid equipment is kept.
If your site has particular risks (e.g. chemicals, hot works, remote location), you may need extra kit (eyewash, burns kits, trauma packs) and possibly a first-aid room -- your assessment should pick that up.
Minimum basics (even on a small job)
Even on a short or small job, HSE expect at least:
- A first-aid box that's accessible and properly stocked for construction-type injuries.
- An appointed person named and known.
- A simple system for calling an ambulance and guiding them in (address, access route, gate code etc.).
And because construction is high-risk, your needs assessment will almost always point to having at least one trained first-aider on site when work is going on.
Quick check: is first aid sorted on this job?
On any job, ask yourself:
Kit: Is there a clearly marked, accessible first-aid box on site, with stock that matches the kind of injuries we could get here (not just a few plasters)?
Person in charge: Do I know who is responsible for first-aid arrangements (appointed person), and who the trained first-aiders are?
Cover: Is there always at least one appointed person and (for this kind of construction work) usually a trained first-aider on site whenever work is happening, including nights/weekends if we're working then?
Info and access: Is the emergency information clear -- site address, how to call 999, how to get an ambulance to the right spot -- and is it up on the wall or in the induction brief, not just in someone's head?
What to do next
- Check your first-aid box right now -- is it stocked for construction injuries (burns dressings, eye wash, wound closures), or just a few plasters?
- Make sure everyone on site knows who the appointed person / trained first-aider is and where the kit is kept.
- Write down the site address, access route and gate code somewhere obvious so anyone can direct an ambulance in.
- If your EFAW or FAW certificate has lapsed, book a refresher before your next job starts.
- Do a simple first-aid needs assessment for your current site -- the type of work, number of people and distance from A&E all matter.
Sources
- Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 -- legal duty to provide adequate and appropriate first-aid provision.
- Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 -- general duties.
- Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 -- welfare and management duties.
- HSE -- Construction first-aid FAQ (minimum site requirements).
Disclaimer
This guide is general information for small UK construction businesses and trades, not formal legal advice.
SiteKiln is not a law firm and this page is not a substitute for getting advice on your specific situation.
Health and safety law and HSE guidance on first aid are updated from time to time, and how the First-Aid Regulations apply will always depend on the exact facts on your job and your role.
If you need help with your first-aid needs assessment or have concerns about provision on your site, get specific advice from a competent health and safety professional.
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