Free download
Free first aid needs assessment template
Work through your hazards, people and premises to decide the first-aid personnel, equipment and facilities your workplace needs, and keep a record of your decisions.
Download the template
Free to use, no sign-up needed.
What the template includes
22 fields in 6 sections.
About the workplace
- Site or address
- Date of assessment and assessed by
- Most people on site at any one time
- Hazard level (low or higher) and main work activities
Hazards and history
- Main hazards (machinery, substances, work at height, manual handling, etc.)
- Accidents and ill health in the last 3 years (check your accident book)
- Types of injury or illness most likely to happen
People
- Shift patterns and out-of-hours work
- Lone, remote or travelling workers
- Young workers, pregnant workers, or people with specific health needs
- Members of the public, pupils or customers on site
- Cover for holidays and absences of first-aid personnel
Premises
- Number of buildings and floors
- Distance and travel time to emergency medical services
First-aid provision decided
- Appointed persons (number and names)
- First aiders trained in EFAW (number and names)
- First aiders trained in FAW (number and names)
- First-aid kits: number and locations
- First-aid room needed? (Yes / No)
- Other equipment or training (for example, defibrillator, burns kits, eye wash)
Review
- Next review date
- Signature and date
How to use the template
- The Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 require adequate and appropriate first aid. This assessment is how you decide what that means for your workplace.
- Work through each section, using your accident book and risk assessments.
- Use the free calculator at useaccidentbook.co.uk/first-aid-calculator for HSE's suggested minimum number of first aiders.
- Plan for the most people on site at any one time, on every shift, including absences.
- Tell everyone who the first-aid personnel are and where the kits are.
- Review the assessment at least every year, and whenever your work, people or premises change.
How many first aiders do you need?
Use our free first aider calculator for HSE’s suggested minimum, then record your decision in the assessment. The First Aid at Work Regulations guide explains your duties.
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Frequently asked questions
What is a first aid needs assessment?+
An assessment of your workplace’s hazards, people and premises to decide what first-aid personnel, equipment and facilities are adequate and appropriate, as required by the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981.
How often should a first aid needs assessment be reviewed?+
Review it regularly, at least every year, and whenever something changes, such as the number of people, the work you do, your premises or your accident history.
Does the assessment need to include members of the public?+
The regulations do not require first aid for members of the public, but HSE strongly recommends including them in your assessment, especially where you have customers, visitors or pupils on site.
Who should carry out the assessment?+
The employer or someone they appoint, such as a manager or health and safety adviser, using the accident book and risk assessments as evidence.