Every UK workplace needs a minimum number of trained first aiders based on risk and headcount. Construction sites are higher-risk, so most require at least Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) cover, with larger sites needing the full 3-day First Aid at Work (FAW) qualification.
Emergency First Aid at Work (1 day) covers the essentials — CPR, choking, bleeding, and shock — for lower-risk workplaces. First Aid at Work (3 days) is the full HSE-recognised qualification for higher-risk environments like construction sites, covering a wider range of injuries and illnesses.
The HSE requires employers to assess risk and headcount to decide numbers, but as a general guide, higher-risk workplaces like construction sites should have at least one first aider (FAW-trained) for every 25–50 workers on site.
CPR and use of a defibrillator, treating unconsciousness and choking, managing bleeding and shock, and (on the 3-day FAW course) fractures, burns, and a wider range of illnesses and injuries specific to workplace settings.
Emergency First Aid at Work runs from around £80–£85 for one day. The full 3-day First Aid at Work course is around £225.
Both EFAW and FAW certificates are valid for 3 years. HSE guidance recommends refresher training partway through to keep skills current, though this is not a legal requirement.
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