Posted By Heather Aston They would be in breach of the law. The duty is to provide suitably trained persons to administer first aid. It doesn't say they have to be employees - although they usually are. This assumes of course that the employer's risk assessment has shown a requirement for first aiders. Heather

Posted By Brett Day Just a thought don't do what one one company I worked for did and say 'you, you and you are doing the course'. As when a serious accident occoured, they were conspicuous by their absence !!

Posted By steven bentham A way for you to comply with the spirit of the legislation is to consider the level of risk at your workplace and the numbers of persons involed. If you can't get volunteers to act as designated first aiders I would make all managers/supervisors an appointed person to supervise the first aid box and any injuries are shipped off to hospital. Write the first aid duties into all managers and foremans jobs. I am sure the regulator would look that you were making a good attempt to be reasonable safe. If it is a high risk working environment or where their is higher risks for members of the public (such as a leisure centre) make it a condition of employment. No comply = no job. First aid providors often scare monger delegates with what will happen to them if it goes wrong and they will get sued personnally! I can't think of many instances when this has happened. If your first aid providor is providing crap legal advice - get shut of them as well.