HSE Guidelines - Minimum Number of Appointed Persons and First Aiders.

NB: An Appointed Person can be considered an ´Emergency´ First Aider for low risk environments with a small number of personnel, after completing a 4 - 6 hour course, but the HSE considers a person to be a ´First Aider´ when they have successfully completed a 4 day course (or *2 day refresher* course as required).

* The 2 day refresher courses need to be completed within three years of previous certification.*

It is the responsibility of each Organisation to perform their own Risk Assessment to decide how many Appointed Persons / First Aiders they need.

Risk Category No. of Employees Minimum Number of First Aiders

 

Lower Risk
e.g. shops, offices, libraries

Fewer than 50   At Least 1 Appointed Person at all times.
50 to 100   At Least 1 First Aider at all times.
More than 100   At Least 1 more First Aider for every 100 employed.

 

Medium Risk
e.g. light engineering, assembly work, food processing, warehousing.

Fewer than 20   At least 1 Appointed Person at all times.
20 to 50   At least 1 First Aider at all times.
More than 50   At least 1 more First Aider for every 100 employed.

 

Higher Risk
e.g. any construction work, slaughter houses, chemical manufacture, work with machinery or sharp instruments.

Fewer than 5   At least 1 Appointed Person at all times.
5 to 50   At least 1 First Aider at all times.
More than 50   At least 1 more First Aider for every 50 employed..