First Aid Provision Isn't a One-Off Task
Getting your first aid provision right when you first set it up is important — but first aid arrangements that were adequate a few years ago may no longer reflect your business today. Staff numbers change, premises change, and certificates expire. Building in a regular review keeps your first aid provision genuinely 'adequate and appropriate', as required under the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981.
A Simple First Aid Refresh Checklist
- Check certificate expiry dates — Emergency First Aid at Work and First Aid at Work certificates are valid for three years. Build renewal training into your planning well before they lapse, so there's no gap in cover.
- Restock and check first aid kits — plasters, dressings and other consumables get used up or pass their use-by date. Check kits regularly and replace anything that's missing or out of date.
- Review cover for absences — if your only trained first-aider is off sick or on leave, is there someone else trained to step in?
- Reassess if anything has changed — new premises, new equipment, more staff, different shift patterns, or new higher-risk activities can all mean your existing provision is no longer sufficient.
- Check signage and accessibility — make sure first aid kits, AEDs and the names of trained first-aiders are clearly signposted and accessible to everyone, including visitors.
Why In-House Training Can Make Refreshing Easier
If you need to train or refresh several employees at once, in-house training can be a practical option — it avoids the cost and disruption of sending people to a training centre individually, and ensures everyone is trained to the same standard at the same time. This is particularly useful when staff turnover means several certificates are due for renewal around the same time.
The Cost of Getting It Right
Refresher training is a modest, predictable cost compared to the alternative — having no trained first-aider available when someone is injured or becomes seriously unwell. A well-maintained first aid setup, with in-date certificates and stocked kits, means your team can respond quickly and confidently when it matters most.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should first aid kits be checked?
There's no fixed legal interval, but checking kits regularly — for example, monthly or quarterly depending on how often they're used — helps ensure nothing is missing or out of date when it's needed.
What happens if a first-aider's certificate expires?
An expired certificate means that person is no longer considered a qualified first-aider for the purposes of your first aid provision. Plan refresher training well ahead of the three-year expiry to avoid any gap in cover.
Should I review my first aid needs assessment regularly?
Yes — it should be reviewed whenever your workplace changes significantly, such as a change in staff numbers, premises, or the type of work being carried out, and periodically even if nothing obvious has changed.