I am a safety officer, and have been informed that it is illegal to give aspirin or paracetamols to our employees. Could you advise?
It’s not illegal, but it could be unwise. As you’re probably aware the First Aid At Work regulations 1981 has a suggested list of what might be found in a firm’s first aid box. This includes bandages and dressings, but excludes medication of any kind. The “Guidance” section, supported by a code of practice, suggests that first aid does not include giving tablets and medicines. If therefore you were to give an employee an aspirin or paracetamol and something went wrong you could lay the firm open to a compensation claim.