Whether you run a café, salon, small office, trades business, or online shop, UK law still expects you to provide adequate and appropriate first aid. The fact that you are a small business does not remove your responsibilities under the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981. This guide explains what small businesses must do, how much is realistic, and how to choose the right first aid provision without over-spending.
For more detailed workplace guidance, see our Workplace First Aid Policy Guide and First Aid Risk Assessment Guide.
Yes. All employers – including micro businesses and small employers – must make sure employees can receive immediate attention if they are injured or taken ill at work. This normally means:
The exact level of provision depends on your first aid needs assessment, not just your headcount.
Key regulations that apply to small employers include:
HSE gives flexibility to small businesses. You do not have to provide the same level of equipment as a large factory, but you must still have sensible arrangements based on your risks.
| Type of Small Business | Typical Risks | Suggested First Aid Provision |
|---|---|---|
| Small Office (up to 10 staff) | Minor cuts, slips, trips, eye strain, headaches. | 1 small BS 8599-1 kit, appointed person, clear signage. |
| Café / Coffee Shop / Small Restaurant | Burns, cuts, slips on wet floors, minor scalds. | 1–2 small or medium BS 8599-1 kits, burn dressings, trained first aider on busy shifts if possible. |
| Hair & Beauty Salon / Barber | Cuts from scissors/razors, chemical splashes, slips. | 1 small BS 8599-1 kit, eye wash, appointed person, clear procedure for chemical splashes. |
| Small Retail Shop | Cuts from stock, trips, minor manual handling injuries. | 1 small or medium BS 8599-1 kit, appointed person, accident book. |
| Tradesperson / Workshop (low–medium risk) | Cuts, minor burns, splinters, strains, outdoor work. | Medium BS 8599-1 kit, additional plasters/dressings, vehicle kit for work on the road. |
| Home-Based / Remote Small Business | Similar to office risks, plus home environment hazards. | Compact home/office kit as per our Remote Worker First Aid Guide. |
Small businesses do not need to guess kit size. You can use the BS 8599-1 workplace standard as a guide. We explain these sizes in detail in our First Aid Kit Sizes UK Guide and BS 8599-1 vs BS 8599-2 Article.
As a rough guide:
You can view our range of workplace and travel kits in our First Aid Kits Collection.
Not every small business needs a fully qualified first aider, but you must decide this through your risk assessment. For low-risk environments with very few staff, HSE may consider an appointed person sufficient. We explain this role in our Appointed First Aiders Guide.
However, if you have:
…then a trained emergency first aider at work (EFAW) is strongly recommended. For the difference between equipment and skills, see our First Aid Kit vs Training Guide and Basic First Aid Skills Article.
Many small businesses rely on lone workers or staff who travel alone – such as mobile hairdressers, cleaners, engineers, or delivery drivers. These workers still need first aid provision while away from the main workplace.
For detailed advice, see:
Even very small businesses should keep a simple system for recording incidents. This helps you learn from accidents and proves that you manage health and safety properly.
Your first aid arrangements should not be a one-time decision. Review them when:
Use our First Aid Audit & Inspection Checklist to keep your small business on track, and our HSE First Aid Inspection Guide if you are ever visited by an inspector.
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