In the UK, workplace safety isn’t just a box-ticking exercise. For managers and health & safety leads, the reality is far more urgent. The risk of sudden cardiac arrest at work is real. Every year, thousands of employees across the UK collapse without warning, and survival depends on what happens in the first few minutes.

An Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is crucial in these moments, but owning an AED alone is not enough. It must be positioned so it can be reached and used within one to two minutes. Otherwise, those vital minutes slip by and the chance of survival falls with every passing moment.

For high-risk environments such as warehouses, manufacturing plants, logistics hubs, and busy commercial properties, the risks are even greater. Large floor areas, multiple levels, and heavy foot traffic all slow emergency response unless there is a clear, HSE-compliant AED strategy. Poor AED placement can result in confusion, wasted time, and, most seriously, lost lives. When businesses plan AED location by risk, layout, and accessibility, survival rates improve and incident response becomes more confident and effective.

Getting this right could mean saving a colleague’s life. It is one of the most practical, tangible improvements any workplace can make in first aid readiness.

Common Pitfalls

Many well-intentioned organisations fall into the same traps when deciding where to position their AED. Some of the most frequent mistakes include:

Assuming a single AED in reception is enough - Reception is not always the best place in a sprawling site, on a warehouse mezzanine, or behind a coded door.
Allowing convenience to override risk assessment - Staff often put AEDs where installation is easy or discreet, not where medical risk or footfall is highest.
Poor signage and locked cabinets - Hiding an AED behind locked doors, filing it in admin offices, or failing to use clear signage drastically reduces its effectiveness in an emergency.
Over-reliance on a designated first aider - If the only person who knows where the AED is happens to be off-site or on lunch, vital seconds are lost.

These pitfalls undermine the fundamental purpose of having an AED in the workplace. A device out of sight, out of mind, or out of reach is almost as ineffective as having none at all.

Step-by-Step Fix

1. Assess and Map Your High-Risk Areas
Walk the workplace and identify every environment where cardiac risk is elevated. This includes areas where strenuous work is performed, remote or isolated spots, and any space where members of the public or large groups gather. Don’t forget corridors, warehouse aisles, upper levels, and external yards if regular activity takes place. For every area, ask: “If someone was to collapse here, how quickly could help reach them?”

DefibSpace Tip:
Create a simple risk map on your floor plan, highlighting hotspots such as loading bays, production lines, stairwells, staff canteens, and any out-of-the-way offices.

2. Calculate Time-To-AED for Every Zone
Use a stopwatch to time how long it would actually take someone to fetch the AED from your proposed location to each risk point in your workplace, walking briskly but safely. The HSE and Resuscitation Council UK recommend an AED should be accessible within two minutes’ brisk walk from any location in its coverage zone. Real emergencies involve confusion, so aim for less wherever possible.

DefibSpace Tip:
Do not estimate distances. Physically walk the route with a timer during a normal working day, factoring in obstacles, doors, and crowding.

3. Decide on Central, Easily Accessible Positions
Choose locations where the AED is visible, reachable, and never blocked. In warehouses, the best place is usually a wall-mounted cabinet near the centre of activity, visible from key walkways and with direct signage. In multi-storey sites, consider one unit per floor or per building section. Avoid areas that become locked after hours or are in security-controlled offices.

DefibSpace Tip:
Use bold green-and-white AED signage overhead and at eye level, and supplement cabinets with direction arrows on walls or columns along main routes.

4. Ensure 24/7 Unimpeded Access
Check that your AED is never behind locked doors, blockaded by deliveries, or temporarily relocated. Make sure the night shift, cleaning crew, or weekend staff have the same access as office staff. Regularly walk the site during quiet hours and busy times to guarantee the AED is never blocked, even during re-stocking or events.

DefibSpace Tip:
Assign responsibility for weekly AED access checks to a named employee and link this check to other workplace inspections.

5. Train All Staff and Run Regular Drills
Placement only works if every team member knows exactly where the AED is and how to reach it. Hold regular training sessions, brief new starters, and introduce clear, photographic location guides. Simulate response time with occasional, unannounced drills that start from realistic working positions, not just the staffroom.

DefibSpace Tip:
Include AED routes and protocols in your induction packs and review after any fire drills or first-aid incidents. Update signage or placement if any confusion arises.

6. Maintain Signage and Cabinet Readiness
Over time, signage falls, cabinets become obscured, or units get unplugged. Appoint someone (often the first aider or facilities manager) to check the AED, cabinet, and signage weekly. Immediate repairs or replacement are essential.

DefibSpace Tip:
Add AED inspection to your digital facilities checklist and use tamper tags to ensure you will know if the kit has been moved or accessed.

AED Placement Checklist (Quick Reference)

Have you mapped all activity hotspots and risk areas?
Are all high-risk zones within two minutes' walk of an AED?
Are AEDs wall-mounted, highly visible, and accessible at all times?
Is there clear, NHS-standard green-and-white signage at all approach routes?
Can all staff (including temporary and night shift) reach the AED easily?
Are all staff trained on the AED’s location and operation?
Is there a process for weekly checking of access and readiness?
Are new risk areas or building changes reviewed for AED coverage?

If you can't tick every box, revisit your AED placement.

What Most People Miss

Even the most safety-conscious businesses tend to overlook one critical point: emergencies do not happen in predictable locations. Simply thinking, "we have an AED on the premises" breeds false confidence.

What sets effective AED provision apart from the average is regular scenario planning and review. The best workplaces re-assess AED placement every time their site changes—after a layout rearrangement, the opening of a new department, or a change in shift patterns. They also make sure every worker, not just a trained first aider, knows what the AED looks like and how to reach it.

Cross-referencing AED location against times of day, staffing patterns, and public access is often missed. The central post room may not be open overnight, and some parts of the building may become isolated after 6pm.

Industry leaders keep AED strategy active and flexible across the whole workforce, not as a one-off task.

The Bigger Picture

Investing time in proper AED placement has wide impact. Effective AED placement strengthens your safety culture and compliance in several ways:

Improved Emergency Response - When AEDs are always within reach, staff act faster and with more confidence. Quicker shocks mean higher survival rates, fewer life-altering injuries, and better morale after an incident.
Legal and Reputational Protection - After a serious incident, documented evidence of careful AED assessment and placement demonstrates your commitment to HSE guidance and best practice. This reduces liability and can protect against enforcement action.
Staff Engagement - Including workers in placement decisions and drills sends a clear message—their safety matters. This boosts confidence and compliance across other health and safety measures.
Ongoing Readiness - With processes for reviewing AED strategy already in place, you are prepared for growth, layout changes, or increased public access.

Proper AED planning is a small upfront investment compared to the potential costs—human and financial—of an unprepared response to cardiac arrest at work.

Wrap-Up

AED location is not a tick-box exercise. In high-risk UK workplaces, it is a critical part of a comprehensive emergency plan. By assessing site-specific risks, timing access from every corner, using clear NHS-standard signage, and regularly training all staff, you set your organisation apart on safety. Review placement with each site change and keep processes current. Following these steps will save lives and protect your business.

If you are seeking an AED suitable for demanding environments, the ZOLL AED Plus Fully-Automatic Defibrillator stands out for its clear audio instructions and durable build. For more practical guidance, tools, and compliant products, visit DefibSpace’s defibrillator selector and resource centre.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Where should I install an AED in a warehouse?
Position it centrally, at an easily accessible height, and on a wall or pillar visible from all main work areas. Avoid corners or areas likely to be blocked by stock.

How many AEDs do I need?
This depends on the size of your premises, the number of employees, and the time it takes to reach any point. Each high-risk zone should be reachable within two minutes brisk walk.

Can the AED be locked up for security?
No. The AED must be accessible at all times, even outside working hours. Use an alarmed but unlocked wall cabinet in indoor environments for both access and basic security.

Who is allowed to use the AED?
Anyone can use an AED, not just trained first aiders. Modern devices like the ZOLL AED Plus guide the user step-by-step with voice and visual prompts. Training is excellent but not essential for use.

Is there an HSE legal requirement for AEDs?
While not yet mandatory for every workplace, HSE strongly encourages a risk-based approach. Many sectors and insurers now expect AED provision where high risks are identified.

Jargon Buster

AED (Automated External Defibrillator): A portable device that detects cardiac arrest and can deliver a controlled electric shock to restart the heart.
HSE (Health and Safety Executive): UK regulator for workplace health and safety, issuing official guidance on emergency response standards.
Risk Assessment: A systematic process to identify, evaluate, and control hazards in the workplace, especially those that could lead to critical incidents.
Response Time: The time it takes from discovery of a casualty to starting treatment (in this context, applying the AED).
Visible Signage: Clear, high-contrast green-and-white signs showing the location or direction of AEDs, matching NHS and HSE recommendations.