Published: April 2026
Reading time: 6 minutes
Suitable for: Business Owners, Managers and Supervisors
Topics: Health Surveillance | First Aid | Risk Assessment | Occupational Health
Ask Harwood
One of the questions most businesses will ask is:
“Do I legally need a trained first aider? Is an online first aid course enough?
Here’s a recent example.
Question
Hi Harwood,
I’m hoping you can settle a debate we’re having in the office.
We’re a small business with eight employees and someone recently asked whether we’re legally required to have a trained first aider on site. I’ve looked online but seem to be getting different answers depending on where I look.
We’re an office-based business, although a couple of our employees regularly visit clients and occasionally work alone.
Do we legally need to send someone on a First Aid at Work course, or is having a first aid kit enough? We’ve also seen a number of online first aid courses available. Would completing one of these meet our legal responsibilities, or do we need someone to attend practical training?
I’d really appreciate some guidance.
Many thanks,
David
Office Manager
Our Answer
This is one of the most common queries we receive, and it’s easy to see why there’s confusion. There are plenty of myths surrounding workplace first aid requirements, including the belief that every business must have a trained first aider or that the requirement automatically applies once you employ more than 50 people.
The reality is a little more nuanced.
The Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 do not specify a set number of first aiders or an employee threshold. Instead, the law requires employers to provide adequate and appropriate equipment, facilities and personnel to ensure employees receive immediate attention if they are injured or become ill at work.
The level of first aid provision your business needs should be determined through a First Aid Needs Assessment.
When carrying out this assessment, you should consider factors such as:
- The hazards and risks within your workplace.
- The number of employees.
- The size and layout of your premises.
- Lone workers or employees working away from site.
- Shift patterns and out-of-hours working.
- The distance from emergency medical services.
- Whether members of the public regularly visit your premises.
- Previous accidents and incidents.
Every workplace is different, so the answer will depend on the risks involved rather than simply the number of employees.
What about the “50 employee rule”?
Many people have heard that businesses with more than 50 employees must legally have a qualified first aider, however this is not a legal requirement
The HSE’s guidance has historically suggested that many low-risk workplaces with more than 50 employees are likely to require at least one fully trained First Aid at Work (FAW) first aider. However, this is guidance rather than a legal requirement.
Likewise, a business with fewer than 50 employees may still need trained first aiders if its activities present a higher level of risk or if other factors—such as lone working, remote locations or shift work—mean additional first aid provision is necessary.
The important point is that your First Aid Needs Assessment should determine the level of provision, not simply your headcount.
Is an online first aid course enough?
Online first aid courses can be an excellent way to increase awareness and help employees understand how to respond in an emergency.
However, an online course alone will not normally satisfy your legal responsibilities if your First Aid Needs Assessment identifies the need for a qualified first aider.
Qualifications such as Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) and First Aid at Work (FAW) require practical training and assessment by a competent training provider.
Online learning is best viewed as:
- A way to improve general first aid awareness
- Refresher learning between formal qualifications
- Training for employees who aren’t designated first aiders but may benefit from understanding basic first aid principles
If your assessment concludes that your workplace requires a qualified first aider, practical accredited training will still be required.
What should a typical office do?
For many small, low-risk offices, suitable arrangements might include:
- A suitably stocked first aid kit
- An appointed person responsible for first aid arrangements
- Clear emergency procedures
- Employees knowing where first aid equipment is located
- A regular review of first aid arrangements as the business grows or changes
Some organisations also choose to train one or more employees as first aiders even when it isn’t strictly necessary, providing additional reassurance for both employees and visitors.
Our expert’s advice
Rather than asking:
“Do I legally need a first aider?”
Ask yourself:
“If someone became ill or was injured at work today, have we made suitable arrangements to ensure they receive immediate help?”
That’s the question the law expects employers to answer.
By carrying out a suitable First Aid Needs Assessment, you’ll be able to identify the level of first aid provision that is appropriate for your workplace and demonstrate that you’ve considered your legal responsibilities.
Have a question?
If you’ve got a health and safety question you’re unsure about, there’s a good chance someone else is wondering the same thing.
The Health & Safety Portal contains practical guidance, editable templates and e-learning courses to help you understand your legal responsibilities and apply them confidently within your own business.
