The Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981 require every business in the UK to provide adequate and appropriate first aid provisions.

The minimum provision requires every business to have a suitably stocked first aid box and an appointed person to take charge of first aid arrangements, so it is important to familiarise yourself with whom this is and where the box is kept.

You may also have a trained first aider, but if not the appointed person as a minimum is responsible for maintaining the first aid equipment and calling the emergency services if help is required.

Even a slight injury may become serious, so make sure that every injury is treated appropriately.

It is important that all accidents and near misses are recorded in the accident/incident book even if they did not result in an injury. It is then the manager’s responsibility to investigate the accident and see if any changes need to be made to work practices to prevent any re-occurrence. Some accidents, diseases and dangerous occurrences must be reported by law to the enforcing authority, as required by the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR).