People at work can suffer injuries or be taken ill. It doesn't matter whether the injury or illness is caused by the work they do or not, it is important to give them immediate attention and call an ambulance in serious cases. You should make arrangements to ensure this happens. It can save lives and prevent minor injuries becoming major ones.

The Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1991 require you to provide adequate and appropriate first aid equipment, facilities and people so your employees can be given immediate help if they are injured or taken ill at work. What is 'adequate and appropriate' will depend upon the circumstances in your workplace and you should assess what your first aid needs are.

The minimum first aid provision on any work site is:

• a suitably stocked first aid kit
• an appointed person to take charge of first aid arrangements
• information for employees about first aid arrangements

Where your assessment of first aid needs identifies that a trained first aider is not required in your workplace, you should appoint someone to take charge of first aid arrangements. Even in a small, low-hazard business where first aiders are not considered necessary, there is always the possibility that an accident or sudden illness may occur. It is therefore important that there is always someone available to take charge of these arrangements.

The role of this appointed person includes looking after the first aid equipment and facilities and calling the emergency services when required. They can also provide emergancy cover where a first aider is absent due to unforseen circumstances (annual leave does not count). An appointed person is not necessary where there are an adequate number of appropriately trained first-aiders.

CTA Centre can sdvise you of your duties and legal requirements on these regulations.Please contact us for more information or to book a course.