The Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981

UK Statutory Instrument 1981 No. 917 — creates 1 criminal offence.

Made

29 June 1981

In force from

1 July 1982

Extent

Not stated

Subject

Health and safety, environment, waste and fisheries

Made under

Schedule 3 to, the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974

Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the Regulations) — published with the instrument by the department that made it. © Crown copyright, reused under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

These Regulations provide that an employer shall make first-aid arrangements for his employees or shall ensure that these are made and that he shall inform his employees of such arrangements. The Regulations further provide that a self-employed person shall provide first-aid equipment for himself or shall ensure that it is provided. The Regulations apply, subject to the exceptions set out in Regulation 7, to all employment in Great Britain and to certain employment offshore as specified in Regulation 9. The Regulations supersede existing provisions (listed in Schedules 1 and 2) which are repealed or revoked. A code of practice approved by the Health and Safety Commission under section 16(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and to be published before the Regulations come into operation will give practical guidance on the Regulations.

Offences created by this instrument

• Contravention of The Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 the instrument as a whole · Revoked · Strict liability

What Parliament said about it

Contributions, debates and written statements mentioning this instrument by name. Parliamentary material is reused under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0.

• Business Of The House Commons · Commons Chamber · 30 November 1989 · Mr. John Browne (Winchester)

  Is my right hon. and learned Friend aware that last year there were some 8,000 serious accidents in schools, yet the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, which requires first aid cover for companies and even for banks, does not require such cover in schools? Is my right hon. and learned Friend aware that during the last Session early-day motion No. 174 was signed by 336 hon. Members, which is more than 50 per cent. of the entire House of Commons? [That this House applauds the Approved Code of Practice which followed the Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981 (Health and Safety at…

• Retailers: First Aid Awareness Lords · Lords Chamber · 28 January 2003 · The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Baroness Hollis of Heigham)

  My Lords, we have no specific information about large retailers' awareness towards customers in this matter as there is no legal requirement to provide such assistance. The Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981 set out employers' responsibilities. Employers must provide adequate and appropriate first aid facilities and equipment for employees who are injured or who become ill at work. The regulations do not require first aid provision for members of the public. However, research has found that on the whole employers, including retailers, are aware of their responsibilities.

• Mental Health First Aid in the Workplace Commons · Commons Chamber · 17 January 2019 · Jackie Doyle-Price

  I completely agree with the right hon. Gentleman, and my hon. Friend the Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work agrees too. Employers are often risk-averse about using voluntary work, and we in government need to ensure that we are making it easy for people to apply for those routes. My hon. Friend says she will write to the right hon. Gentleman on that matter. A number of points have been raised in this debate. On the issue of mental health first aid in schools, I can advise the hon. Member for Wakefield (Mary Creagh), who is not in her place, that the Government have a commitment to…

• Draft Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 Commons · General Committees · 15 April 2026 · Dr Caroline Johnson (Sleaford and North Hykeham) (Con)

  It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship this afternoon, Mr Stringer. Before discussing the regulations, I want to acknowledge their origin. The horrific Manchester Arena attack killed 22 people and injured more than 1,000 others. I express my condolences and good wishes to all those affected by that vicious attack. Those running events such as concerts are required to comply with the law, to follow Health and Safety Executive rules, including the purple guide, and—of particular relevance to this debate—to ensure that they have appropriate medical cover. I thank Sir John Saunders…

How Parliament handled it

Parliament's Statutory Instruments service records procedure from May 2017 onwards, and this instrument predates it. That is a limit of the source, not a statement that nothing happened.

Check the source

• This instrument on legislation.gov.uk The authoritative text, including amendments made since
• Other instruments from 1981