Why pubs and bars need a different approach
The Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981 require every workplace, including pubs and bars, to have adequate first aid provision. What's "adequate" depends on a risk assessment, and a busy bar's risks don't look like an office's. Cuts from broken glassware, falls on wet or crowded floors, choking, and incidents linked to intoxicated customers are what bar and floor staff actually deal with, alongside the usual range of workplace injuries.
EFAW or FAW: which one does a pub or bar need?
Most independent pubs and bars are fine with Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW), a one-day course that meets the HSE requirement for at least one trained first aider in a lower-risk setting. Larger venues, sites with multiple floors, outdoor areas, or 50 or more staff across shifts often need the fuller First Aid at Work (FAW) qualification instead.
| Course | Best for | Format |
|---|---|---|
| EFAW | Independent pubs, smaller bars, single-floor venues | 1 day, classroom-based |
| FAW | Larger venues, multi-floor sites, 50+ staff | 1 day online + 2 days in person |
See the full breakdown in our EFAW vs FAW guide, or check the full course comparison if you're still deciding.
What bar-relevant first aid training actually covers
Scenarios weighted for pub and bar teams
- Cuts and lacerations from broken glassware and bottles
- Falls and slips on wet, busy or crowded floors
- Choking, relevant to both staff and customers
- Incidents linked to intoxication, including falls and collapse
- Burns, where the venue has a kitchen serving food
Where food is served alongside drinks, our Anaphylaxis & Auto-injector training works well as a bolt-on for front of house and kitchen staff handling allergen queries.
Trained around trading hours, not against them
We run pub and bar training onsite, before opening, after close, or on a quiet weekday, so you're not closing the venue or losing a trading night to send staff off-site. Groups stay capped at 8 as standard, so there's real time to work through the scenarios your team actually faces on a busy night.
Frequently asked questions
Do pubs and bars need first aid training?
Yes. The Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981 require every workplace, including pubs and bars, to have adequate first aid provision based on a risk assessment of the premises and how it operates.
Is EFAW enough for a pub or bar?
For most independent pubs and bars, EFAW meets the requirement for at least one trained first aider. Larger venues, those with multiple floors or outdoor areas, or sites with 50 or more staff often need FAW instead.
Does the training cover intoxication-related incidents?
Our EFAW and FAW courses for hospitality clients weight practical time toward the scenarios bar teams actually see, including falls, cuts from glassware, and choking, alongside the core first aid syllabus.