Construction Site First Aid Requirements in Ireland: First Aiders, Equipment and Emergency Arrangements

What first-aid arrangements are required on an Irish construction site? Practical guidance on risk assessment, occupational first aiders, equipment,...

First aid is often treated as a simple procurement exercise: buy a green box, put it in the site cabin and nominate someone who once did a course. That is not enough. A construction site presents a changing mix of hazards, from cuts and crush injuries to falls from height, electric shock, burns and plant incidents. The first-aid arrangements must be based on the particular risks, the number of people on site, the spread of the work and the time it would take emergency services to reach an injured person.

Good first-aid provision does not replace prevention. It is the final layer of protection when something has gone wrong. But when an accident happens, the quality of the first few minutes can make a major difference to the outcome.

The Legal Basis

Part 7, Chapter 2 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007 sets out first-aid requirements for Irish workplaces. Employers must provide adequate first-aid equipment, facilities and personnel, having regard to the type of work, the size of the undertaking, the particular hazards, the number of employees and the location of the workplace. Regulations 163 to 166 cover first aid. General Application Regulations 2007

The HSA identifies PHECC First Aid Response (FAR) as the recognised standard for occupational first aid. Initial FAR training is an 18-hour course and certification is valid for two years, subject to the current PHECC arrangements. HSA first-aid guidance

On a construction site, the PSCS must also make sure that the Construction Stage Safety and Health Plan includes effective emergency arrangements. Contractors must cooperate with these arrangements and ensure that their workers know how to summon help, where first-aid facilities are located and what to do in an emergency.

Start With a First-Aid Needs Assessment

There is no single fixed number of first aiders that suits every construction site. The correct level of provision should come from a first-aid needs assessment. This assessment should consider:

The number of workers on site, including subcontractors and visitors.
The type of work, including high-risk activities such as excavation, lifting, electrical work, hot work and work at height.
Whether the project has separate work zones, multiple levels or remote areas where access is difficult.
The shift pattern and whether trained first-aid cover is available whenever people are working.
The distance to the nearest hospital or emergency department and likely ambulance response times.
The presence of members of the public near the site.
Known health conditions or vulnerable workers, where this information has been appropriately managed.

A small, low-risk refurbishment project may need a very different arrangement from a multi-contractor project with 80 people, mobile plant, crane operations and excavation. Review the assessment as the site changes. First-aid needs often increase during structural works, fit-out, commissioning or peak labour periods.

Occupational First Aiders

An occupational first aider is a person trained to provide first aid at work. The number needed should reflect the risk assessment, but there must be reliable cover for the actual workforce present. It is not enough to name two first aiders if both work day shift while a separate night team operates without trained cover.

Display the names, work locations and contact numbers of first aiders at the site entrance, welfare areas and noticeboards. Workers should know who is available at the start of each shift. If the designated first aider is absent, the supervisor should know who is covering the role.

Construction work may justify additional skills beyond standard first-aid provision. For example, sites with a high risk of fall arrest, confined-space entry or remote working may need trained rescue personnel and dedicated rescue equipment. Do not assume an occupational first aider can carry out technical rescue. Rescue capability must be assessed separately for the hazard involved.

First-Aid Equipment and Facilities

The first-aid box must be suitably stocked for the site risks, kept clearly marked, protected from contamination and readily accessible. A box locked in the site office is of little use to a worker at the far end of a large project. Larger sites may need several boxes, mobile kits in site vehicles, and dedicated supplies for work areas such as workshops or plant yards.

Typical contents include sterile dressings, plasters, bandages, eye-wash equipment, disposable gloves, cleansing wipes, a resuscitation face shield and a burns dressing. The exact contents should be based on risk rather than a generic shopping list. A site carrying out hot work, chemical cleaning or concrete work may need additional eye and skin-irrigation provision.

Someone must be responsible for checking the boxes regularly. Record the date of the inspection, replace expired items and restock supplies immediately after use. First-aid equipment should never be used as a substitute for proper welfare or hygiene arrangements.

Emergency Communication and Access

Every site needs a clear method for summoning help. The emergency number 112 or 999 should be displayed prominently, but the plan must also identify the exact site address, Eircode where available, site entrance, access route and a suitable person to meet the ambulance at the gate. On a large or rural site, this information can save valuable time.

Consider mobile-phone coverage. If the work is underground, in a basement, in a remote rural location or in a large reinforced concrete structure, normal mobile coverage may be unreliable. The emergency plan should identify an alternative method of communication where necessary.

Keep emergency routes clear. A site with vehicles parked across the gate or materials stored on the internal access road may delay an ambulance. The PSCS should check emergency access as part of regular site inspections.

First Aid and Accident Reporting

Every first-aid treatment should be recorded in a confidential accident book or incident record. The record should state what happened, where and when it happened, who was involved, what treatment was given and who provided it. These records help the employer identify recurring patterns, such as repeated hand injuries from one task or frequent eye irritation during cutting operations.

Some accidents and dangerous occurrences must also be reported to the HSA under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Reporting of Accidents and Dangerous Occurrences) Regulations 2016. First-aid treatment alone does not necessarily make an incident reportable, but the employer should assess every serious event against the reporting criteria and preserve relevant evidence.

Common Failings on Construction Sites

Typical failings include a first-aid box with expired or missing contents, no trained cover for all shifts, unclear emergency access, first-aid records not being kept, and no link between the site risk assessment and the equipment provided. Another common issue is failing to update arrangements as the workforce expands or work moves into a more hazardous phase.

The solution is simple but requires ownership. Complete the needs assessment, appoint enough competent people, provide accessible equipment, train the workforce on the emergency arrangements and review them regularly.

Conclusion

Construction-site first aid must be proportionate to the risk, available whenever people are working and properly integrated into the site emergency plan. A stocked box is only one part of the system. If you need help reviewing first-aid arrangements, emergency procedures or Construction Phase Safety and Health Plans, Safety Check can provide practical site support across Ireland.

Planning for the Injuries Most Likely on Your Site

First-aid planning should reflect credible scenarios, not just minor cuts. On a site with work at height, consider how a fallen worker would be reached and whether suspension trauma is a risk. On a project with concrete work, consider eye and skin exposure. On a site using plant and lifting equipment, consider crush injury, major bleeding and difficult access for an ambulance. This exercise often reveals that the emergency plan needs more than a first-aid box.

Run a simple emergency drill at the start of major phases. Test whether workers can explain the site address, whether the gate can be opened, whether an ambulance can reach the work area, and whether the appointed person knows where the first-aid equipment is located. Record the lessons and update the plan.

Welfare, Hygiene and Infection Control

Good welfare supports effective first aid. Clean water, washing facilities, suitable gloves and a hygienic treatment area reduce the risk of infection. First aiders need access to hand-washing facilities and a safe method for disposing of contaminated waste. Where blood or body fluids are involved, use disposable gloves and follow the site procedure for cleaning and disposal.

Information for Workers and Visitors

Include first-aid information in every site induction. Workers should know the emergency number, assembly point, first-aider names, location of first-aid boxes and the process for reporting treatment. Visitors and delivery drivers should know how to raise an alarm and where to go if an emergency occurs. Clear signs, regularly checked noticeboards and simple maps are effective controls.

Keeping the Arrangements Current

First-aid provision must change with the project. When the workforce grows, a new work front opens, night work begins or high-risk activity moves onto the site, revisit the needs assessment. A contractor bringing a large team onto a project should not assume the existing first-aid arrangement will automatically cover its people. Confirm the cover with the PSCS before work starts.

Review the emergency contact sheet at least monthly. Check the site address, Eircode, nearest emergency department, gate contact, first-aider list and emergency access route. Small changes, such as moving the site entrance or welfare compound, can make the displayed information inaccurate.

These checks are quick, but they turn a basic first-aid provision into a dependable emergency response system.