First aid at work vs emergency first aid at work: which do you need?

Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) is the shorter course. According to HSE it is a one-day course that qualifies someone to give emergency first aid to a person who is injured or becomes ill at work. First Aid at Work (FAW) is the longer course, described by HSE as a three-day course. It includes the EFAW syllabus and adds how to deal with a range of specific injuries and illnesses. Which one you need depends on your first aid needs assessment, not on a fixed rule by headcount. This article covers Great Britain; Northern Ireland has its own arrangements.

The short answer: what is the difference?

HSE directs people to its guidance on first aid training and qualifications for the syllabuses of the one-day and three-day courses. We have not quoted hour counts here because the HSE pages we checked describe the courses in days, not hours.

Who needs which course?

HSE's guidance for employers under the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 is that first aid provision must be "adequate and appropriate in the circumstances". Employers should assess their first aid needs to decide what that means for them. Factors HSE lists include:

• the nature of the work and the hazards in the workplace;
• the size of the workforce and work patterns;
• absences of first-aiders (holidays, sickness, shifts);
• accident and ill-health history;
• remote workers, shared sites and first aid for non-employees.

HSE does not require you to write the assessment down, but says recording it can help show how you reached your decisions. Since the 2024 update to HSE's L74 guidance, employers are also expected to consider employees' mental health in the needs assessment.

HSE does not say that a particular type of business must have FAW rather than EFAW. What it does say is that if your workplace has significant risks, such as machinery or hazardous materials, you are more likely to need a trained first-aider. A trained first-aider is someone trained by a competent provider, typically in FAW, EFAW or another level your needs assessment identifies. Employers can choose the level of first aid training that suits their business needs and circumstances. The choice between them is a decision for your assessment, not a legal formula.

What if you do not need a trained first-aider?

The 1981 Regulations allow an employer to appoint a person to take charge instead of providing a trained first-aider, where the nature of the work, the number of employees and the location make that adequate and appropriate. HSE describes this "appointed person" as the minimum requirement. They take charge of first aid arrangements, including equipment, facilities and calling the emergency services. HSE says an appointed person is not required to have any formal training, but an employer can send them on an EFAW course, which would make them a first-aider in regulatory terms. An appointed person should be available whenever people are at work.

How long do first aid certificates last?

HSE says certificates for first aid at work last three years. First-aiders must requalify before the certificate expires, and once it lapses the person is no longer considered competent to act as a workplace first-aider. HSE also strongly recommends annual refresher training to keep basic skills and knowledge up to date. HSE also says defibrillator training is now an integral part of the FAW and EFAW syllabus. That annual refresher is a recommendation, not a mandatory requirement, according to HSE.

For how these timescales compare with other subjects, see our guide on how often health and safety training needs renewing.

Choosing a training provider

HSE stopped approving first aid training providers following a 2013 amendment to the regulations. HSE states that the only first aid training it approves is for specialists on offshore installations. That means no workplace course is "HSE approved", and you should be wary of any provider that says otherwise. Instead, the employer is responsible for making sure whoever trains their employees is competent. HSE's guidance for employers on selecting a provider (updated in 2024) lists these routes to look at:

• qualifications from awarding organisations regulated by Ofqual, SQA or the Welsh Government;
• voluntary approval schemes, with UKAS the recognised accreditation body;
• independent providers who can demonstrate their competence;
• the Voluntary Aid Societies recognised by government.

Certificates from outside Great Britain need checking: HSE says employers should check the syllabus and training standards are appropriate. HSE also states that First Aid at Work and Emergency First Aid at Work certificates issued by HSE Northern Ireland can be accepted as equivalent to GB qualifications.

Where this applies

The Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 are marked on legislation.gov.uk as applying to England, Wales and Scotland. If you operate in Northern Ireland, check the guidance of HSE Northern Ireland (HSENI) instead. Everything above about HSE guidance should be read as Great Britain only.

Frequently asked questions

Is EFAW enough to be a workplace first-aider?

Yes, in regulatory terms. According to HSE, successfully completing an EFAW course enables someone to act as a first-aider in the workplace. Whether EFAW is enough for your workplace depends on your needs assessment.

Can an FAW course be run over four days?

Yes. HSE says the training should be conducted over a minimum of three days and a maximum of ten weeks.

Do I have to do annual refresher training?

No, it is not mandatory. HSE strongly recommends it to help first-aiders keep their skills up to date. The certificate itself needs renewing every three years.

Is mental health first aid the same thing?

No. HSE says employers should consider mental health in the needs assessment, and that someone trained in FAW or EFAW may be able to give initial support during an acute episode if they know how to reach professional help. Specialist mental health first aid training is a separate course.

What happens if I do not provide adequate first aid?

HSE says breaches of the regulations are dealt with proportionately, and enforcement could include notices or prosecution.

Closing thoughts

Start with the needs assessment, pick the course level it supports, check the provider's competence, and diarise the three-year expiry for every first-aider. For other professional development and compliance training topics, visit the Learnsignal CPD hub.

This article gives general information only and is not legal, regulatory or compliance advice. HSE guidance is updated from time to time, so check hse.gov.uk and take advice for your own workplace.