Visitors, Contractors and Shared Premises: Closing the First Aid Responsibility Gap
Employees are not the only people on your site. Visitors, interview candidates, delivery drivers and contractors create a responsibility that HR and managers must plan for. Shared premises add another layer: landlord duties, tenant boundaries and communal areas. The rule of thumb is simple—if they are on your site under your control, plan to look after them.
Begin by mapping who is present, where and when. Reception should know the names of first aiders on duty and the locations of kits and AEDs. Include first aid information in visitor sign-in screens and lanyard wallets. For contractors, require evidence of competence and clarity on who provides first aid cover in the work area. If the work is isolated or out of hours, your provision must stretch to them, and your appointed person must know how to reach them in an emergency. To turn these principles into action, train the right mix of EFAW and FAW first aiders per shift and location. You can plan and book this on one page: First Aid Training for Employers – EFAW/FAW Nationwide Delivery. For organisations managing multiple tenants or buildings, align standards with a single provider through: nationwide on-site employer delivery model. If AEDs are shared assets, make their placement and access part of the induction and drill them using: AED-inclusive workplace first aid training. For line managers who only need a summary and a booking route, share: on-site EFAW/FAW for your teams. For help writing a shared-premises protocol, get a consultation via: speak to our team about shared sites.
Define responsibilities with the landlord. Clarify who owns communal AEDs, who inspects them, and who pays for replenishment. Agree signage standards so visitors can find help without knowing the building. Ensure your muster points and ambulance access routes are shared and understood. Where tenants host large events, agree temporary cover.
Make reception and security first contact points. Train them to summon first aiders quickly and to fetch AEDs without hesitation. Give them a simple script and a laminated flowchart. Include out-of-hours procedures for lone workers or cleaning teams, and test them with short drills.
Close the loop with incident debriefs that include contractors and landlord reps if relevant. If a visitor incident exposes a gap—say, an AED behind a locked door—fix it and document the change. Governance for visitors and contractors is not complicated, but it must be explicit, rehearsed and visible. A single employer-centred partner for training and governance makes consistency far easier, starting with this hub: Education and Training Academy – Employer First Aid (EFAW/FAW).
Next Steps for Employers and HR Managers
✅ Book a consultation to assess training needs.
✅ Get a free risk assessment to ensure compliance.
✅ Claim free staff training to improve workplace safety.
