Record Keeping

Do I need to record incidents requiring the attention of a first aider?

HSE recommends that it is good practice to provide your first aiders/ appointed persons with a book in which to record incidents that required their attendance. The information kept can help you identify accident trends and possible areas for improvement in the control of health and safety risks. It can also be used for reference in future first aid needs assessments. This record book is not the same as the statutory accident book though the two could be combined.

There is a legal requirement to report accidents and ill health at work. Information on the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 is given in the HSE leaflet RIDDOR Ring and Report (MISC769) [117kb] .

What information should be recorded?

Useful information to record might include:

• date, time and place of incident;
• name and job of the injured or ill person;
• details of the injury/illness and what first aid was given;
• what happened to the person immediately afterwards (for example went home, went back to work, went to hospital);
• name and signature of the first aider or person dealing with the incident.

Who is responsible for keeping the records?

It is usually the first aider or appointed person who looks after the book. However, employers have overall responsibility.