Is my employer obliged to have a first aider?

I work in a pub restaurant as a waitress.

My job, which entails carrying hot plates, working in the carvery etc entails a risk of burns, cuts and scalds (as do all waitressing jobs). Also, in the kitchen there are pots of hot gravy/boiling water which could cause serious scalds, as well as red hot cooking equipment, sharp knives (again as you would expect in any kitchen).

By law, should there be a first aider present in this workplace?

If it is of any relevance there can be up to 10 people working in the restaurant (kitchen and waiting on) at a time

It depends on How Many are employed there at any one time.

Not the nature of the work.

It is actually a combination of the number of people employed and the nature of the work which decides how many first aiders/appointed people are required in the UK. Report It

yes there should be, or if not there should be a designated healeth @ safety excutive

yes i would contact HEALTH AND SAFETY in uk and ask for advice.

yes im sure thry should have a first aider

Yes, in the UK there should be a first aider for every so many people, & you should have a Health & safety rep.; By law.
Speak to the local CAB, or contact your Health & Safety rep.

Have you asked your employer if there is a First Aider. ?
If there isn't he/she can send you on a course for basic First Aid, so ask.

It is a requirement that someone on the premises should know the basics, so ask to see the 'rules/regulations' hand-book of where you work, or telephone the Head Quarters if it's a large company/corporation, they will inform you of the companies policies.

Caramac x

Have a look at the link below. The rules vary dependant on the industry, but I would say that a restaurant would qualify as at least medium risk, which means that they have to have 1 appointed person if fewer than 20 people are employed and 1 first aider if 20-50 people are employed.

An appointed person doesn't have to have training and can't give first aid treatment unless they have had training. An appointed person basically takes charge in the event of an incident. There is however an appointed person training course which is 1 day.

A first aider must have undergone first aid at work training - which is 4 days, with a test/exam at the end.

http://www.hse.gov.uk/contact/faqs/first...

Yes, there should be a first aid kit, and there probably is. Have you asked for some type of first aid and been told they do not one? Usually the kit is kept in the office, and the workers must ask the manager (and show the burn, cut, etc) to use it. This is done so that the kit is not stolen or emptied and so that the manager can document when a worker get hurts.