Health and safety is about preventing people from being harmed at work or becoming ill through work, the law states that we must not put ourselves; other workers or the public in danger and this applies to all businesses of all sizes.

The basic health and safety rules for a business require you to provide toilets, washing facilities and drinking water for all your employees which includes part time staff, permanent staff, temporary staff and those with disabilities. The Health and Safety Executive provide a free guide at www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg259.pdf on health and safety for small businesses.

On the issue of the legal requirement for a first aider The Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981 require you to provide adequate and appropriate equipment, facilities and personnel to enable first aid to be given to your employees if they are injured or become ill at work. Adequate and appropriate will depend on your business but can be identified by carrying out a risk assessment. Most small businesses will however only need to fulfil the minimum first aid requirement which is to have a suitably stocked first aid box on site and an appointed person on site to take charge of first aid arrangements.

See also: Funding for health and safety needs