Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW)
Emergency First Aid at Work training delivered at your workplace. One focused day. Practical skills. A qualification your organisation can rely on.
| QUALIFICATION: Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) | ||
| DURATION: 1 full day / 6 learning hours | DELIVERY: Face-to-face only | GROUP SIZE: Max 12 learners |
| CERTIFICATE: Accredited Award in EFAW | VALIDITY: 3 years / Annual refresher recommended | AWARDING BODIES: Worksafe, FAIB, Nuco, Highfield |
| Meets Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 and HSE Approved Code of Practice L74. All content reflects the Resuscitation Council UK 2025 Resuscitation Guidelines | ||
Course Overview
Several months after completing his Emergency First Aid at Work training with us, one of our delegates got back in touch. He’d used what he’d learned. Someone’s life had been saved. He wanted us to know.
That’s not an unusual story. Over the years, we’ve had a number of those calls. They don’t get less significant.
Emergency First Aid at Work is one of the most widely held workplace first aid qualifications in the UK. In one practical day, it gives learners the skills and the confidence to act when something goes wrong: cardiac arrest, choking, severe bleeding, sudden illness. Not theoretical knowledge. Actual ability to respond. This course meets the requirements of the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 and the HSE Approved Code of Practice L74. All content reflects the Resuscitation Council UK 2025 Resuscitation Guidelines. On completion, learners receive an accredited EFAW qualification at RQF level, recognised by the HSE as meeting workplace first aid legal obligations where a one-day course is appropriate following a first aid needs assessment.
Course Details
- Duration: 1 full day (6 learning hours)
- Delivery: Face-to-face only, at your venue
- Certificate: Accredited Award in Emergency First Aid at Work
- Awarding organisations: Worksafe, FAIB, Nuco, Highfield
- Validity: 3 years. Annual refresher strongly recommended.
- Group size: Maximum 12 learners per trainer
Who This Course Is For
EFAW is the qualification most UK employers need to meet their legal duty under the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981. If your first aid needs assessment identifies a one-day qualification as appropriate, this is it.
- Offices, retail, hospitality, leisure, education, charity, and professional services
- Small to medium-sized businesses appointing designated workplace first aiders
- Customer-facing and public-facing staff who may encounter sudden illness or injury
- Remote, hybrid, or lone-working teams where immediate external help may be limited
- Managers, supervisors, and duty holders with health and safety responsibilities
- Individuals wanting a recognised, practical qualification for work or volunteering
Higher-risk environments such as construction, manufacturing, and heavy machinery may need First Aid at Work (3 Day) instead. Our Workplace First Aid UK Guide covers how to make that call.
Not sure which level is right? Get in touch, and we’ll help you work it out before you commit.
The Legal Requirement
Under the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981, every UK employer has a legal duty to make adequate and appropriate first aid provision for their employees. That duty includes trained personnel, appropriate equipment, and clear procedures. It applies to every workplace, regardless of size or sector.
The HSE Approved Code of Practice L74 sets out how employers meet that duty. It requires a first aid needs assessment to determine the right level of provision, and EFAW meets the L74 standard, where a one-day qualification is the appropriate outcome of that assessment.
The practical case is equally clear. Cardiac arrest survival rates fall by approximately ten per cent for every minute without CPR and defibrillation. In the time it takes an ambulance to arrive, a trained bystander is the single most significant factor in whether someone survives. Online-only first aid training does not meet the legal requirement. We’ve covered this in detail: Why Online-Only First Aid Training Is Not Compliant for Workplaces.
What the Day Covers
All content reflects the Resuscitation Council UK 2025 Resuscitation Guidelines and current HSE guidance throughout. Topics covered include:
- Emergency action planning and scene safety
- The role and responsibilities of the workplace first aider
- Primary survey and casualty assessment
- Cardiac arrest versus heart attack: recognition and response
- CPR technique and AED use, including correct pad placement
- Choking: partial and complete obstruction in adults
- Severe bleeding and shock
- Seizures and sudden illness
- Burns and scalds
- Anaphylaxis
- Minor workplace injuries
- Post-incident responsibilities and documentation
Every course is also built to include your industry-specific common risks and your organisation’s incident reporting systems as standard.
How the Course Is Delivered
This course is delivered face-to-face only. That’s not a preference. It’s a legal requirement.
The HSE is clear that practical first aid competencies must be physically assessed. A certificate produced without hands-on practice and direct observation of skills doesn’t meet the standard set by the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 or the Approved Code of Practice L74. We don’t offer online-only EFAW, and we wouldn’t if we could.
Groups are capped at 12 to ensure every learner gets sufficient hands-on practice time. Every session is built around your working environment, your sector’s risks, and your internal reporting procedures. We also design each course to incorporate your specific workplace hazards, your organisation’s layout, and the findings of your first aid needs assessment. If you haven’t carried out a needs assessment yet, we can guide you through what’s involved during the enquiry process.
Delivery includes:
- Hands-on CPR practice on training manikins with direct trainer feedback
- Practical AED training with training defibrillators
- Scenario-based learning built around realistic workplace emergencies
- Individual assessment of practical competencies throughout the day
EFAW or First Aid at Work?
Before booking, employers must carry out a first aid needs assessment. The Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 require it, and the outcome determines which qualification is appropriate.
EFAW is right for low to medium-risk environments with smaller workforces: offices, retail, hospitality, care, schools, and professional services.
First Aid at Work (3 days) is right for higher-risk workplaces, larger organisations, or where the hazard profile demands a higher level of competence: construction, manufacturing, and heavy industry.
We don’t make that determination for employers; the responsibility sits with you. But we do provide guidance throughout the enquiry process, and our Workplace First Aid UK Guide covers needs assessments, qualification levels, and legal obligations in full.
Certification and Validity
On completion, learners receive an accredited Emergency First Aid at Work qualification, valid for 3 years, delivered through one of our awarding organisations: Worksafe, FAIB, Nuco, or Highfield.
Annual refresher training is strongly recommended by the HSE. CPR technique deteriorates faster than most people expect without regular practice. Our Basic Life Support and AED Training is the natural next step: a focused, practical skills update between full requalification cycles.
Why Organisations Book With Prima Cura
Most training providers arrive with a course. We arrive with yours.
Before the day, we gather information about your workplace: your incident reporting forms, your internal procedures, the specific hazards your team actually faces. On the day, your trainer works that into every scenario, every discussion, every practical exercise. If your staff work in a care home, they’re not practising on hypothetical office workers. If your team are lone workers, that context shapes how the session runs.
It means the training lands. Not because it was well-delivered in a generic sense, but because it was relevant to the people in the room and the situations they’ll actually encounter.
A few other things that matter to the organisations that book with us:
- 98.9% learner satisfaction across all Prima Cura courses
- All trainers hold Enhanced DBS certificates and maintain ongoing CPD
- We advise honestly on the qualification level at the enquiry stage. If a different course is a better fit for your workforce, we’ll say so before you book, not after
We respond to all enquiries within one working day.
Where We Deliver
We deliver in-house training at your workplace or chosen venue across Manchester, Greater Manchester, and the wider North West. We also deliver nationally across England, including North England, South England, London, and Surrey.
All sessions are led by experienced Prima Cura Training instructors. Groups are capped at 12 per trainer to protect the quality of hands-on learning.
Our associate network means we can deliver across England. You can meet the team on our Associates page.
FAQs
Is this qualification legally recognised?
Yes. The Emergency First Aid at Work qualification meets the requirements of the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 and the HSE Approved Code of Practice L74, where a one-day qualification is appropriate following a first aid needs assessment. It is delivered through HSE-recognised awarding organisations: Worksafe, FAIB, Nuco, and Highfield.
Do I need EFAW or First Aid at Work?
That depends on the outcome of your first aid needs assessment, which is a legal requirement before appointing workplace first aiders. EFAW is appropriate for lower-risk environments with smaller workforces. FAW is appropriate for higher-risk environments, larger organisations, or where the hazard profile demands greater competence. Our EFAW vs FAW guide covers this in detail.
Can EFAW be completed online?
No. The HSE is clear that practical first aid competencies must be physically assessed. Online-only first aid training does not meet the legal requirement under the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 or the Approved Code of Practice L74. We’ve covered this in full: Why Online-Only First Aid Training Is Not Compliant for Workplaces.
Does this course follow the latest first aid guidelines?
Yes. All content is aligned with the Resuscitation Council UK 2025 Resuscitation Guidelines, which reflect the most current international evidence on basic life support, defibrillation, and first aid. For a full summary of what changed in the 2025 update, see our guide: The 2025 First Aid Changes Explained.
Further Reading
- Workplace First Aid UK Guide: the complete guide for decision-makers on first aid legal obligations, needs assessments, and qualification levels
- EFAW vs FAW: Which Qualification Does Your Business Need?: A detailed comparison to help you choose the right course
- Why Online-Only First Aid Training Is Not Compliant: What the HSE requires and why cheaper online certificates don’t meet it
- How to Verify a First Aid Training Provider: what to check before you book with anyone
- Why First Aid training is capped at 12 learners: the explanation
Related Courses
- First Aid at Work (3 Day)
- Basic Life Support & AED Training
- Paediatric First Aid Training
- Emergency First Aid for Schools
- Emergency First Aid with Life-threatening Bleeding
- Basic First Aid
Book or Enquire
Book your training or request a quote
To book EFAW training or request a quote, use the enquiry form on this page or contact us directly.
Tell us your team size, your sector, and your preferred dates. We’ll come back with a quote and any advice on qualification level if you need it.
Our prices start from £650 + VAT for a group of up to 12 learners. That’s a guideline figure, not a fixed rule. The final cost depends on a few things: where you’re based, how many people need training, and any specific requirements around the day. Some bookings come in under that, some come in over. Either way, you’ll always get a clear quote before anything is confirmed.
Give us a call on 0333 999 8783 or drop us an email at info@primacuratraining.co.uk and we’ll work out what makes sense for you.
We respond to all enquiries within one working day.
Our Commitment to Quality and Compliance
At Prima Cura Training, all courses reflect current UK guidance and best practice.
All trainers are experienced professionals with relevant qualifications and ongoing CPD. Because many of the organisations we support work with vulnerable individuals, all trainers hold Enhanced DBS checks.
This course is reviewed against updates from the Resuscitation Council UK, the Health and Safety Executive, and current UK health and safety legislation, including the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 and the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. All content reflects the Resuscitation Council UK 2025 Resuscitation Guidelines.
You can read more on our Quality Assurance and Compliance page.
Reviewed by Stephanie Austin, Owner and Lead Trainer, Prima Cura Training 25+ years in health and social care | 15+ years as a trainer | Last reviewed: June 2026 | Next review: June 2027
This page is for general guidance only and reflects current UK health and safety legislation, HSE guidance, and Resuscitation Council UK 2025 guidelines as of the date of review. It does not constitute legal advice. Employers remain legally responsible for carrying out a first aid needs assessment, determining the appropriate level of first aid provision for their workplace, and ensuring their arrangements comply with the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 and the Approved Code of Practice L74. The Emergency First Aid at Work qualification is appropriate where a first aid needs assessment determines that a one-day course meets the needs of the workplace. It does not replace First Aid at Work, where that level of qualification is required.
