Workplace First Aid: Legal Requirements for Australian Employers

Australian work health and safety (WHS) law places a clear duty on employers to provide adequate first aid arrangements — but "adequate" isn't a fixed number or a one-size-fits-all checklist. Here's what employers actually need to know to meet their obligations.

*Disclaimer: This article provides general guidance only and is not legal advice. For your specific obligations, consult your state or territory WHS regulator or a qualified workplace safety professional.*

The Core Legal Obligation

Under the model Work Health and Safety Act and Regulations — adopted, with minor variations, across most Australian states and territories — employers (described as "persons conducting a business or undertaking," or PCBUs) must ensure:

• Access to first aid equipment appropriate to the workplace
• Access to facilities for the administration of first aid
• Access to trained first aid personnel, where the size, nature, and risk profile of the workplace requires it

Safe Work Australia's *First Aid in the Workplace* Code of Practice provides detailed guidance on how employers should assess and meet these obligations — it's worth reviewing directly if you're setting up or reviewing your workplace's first aid arrangements.

How Many First Aid Officers Are Required?

There's no single national number — the right level of first aid coverage depends on a proper risk assessment considering:

• The number of workers at the workplace
• The nature of the work being performed (higher-risk industries need more coverage)
• The layout and size of the workplace (multiple sites or floors may each need coverage)
• The distance from the workplace to external emergency medical services

Safe Work Australia's Code of Practice includes indicative guidance figures depending on risk level and workforce size, but every workplace should conduct its own assessment rather than assuming a generic ratio applies.

What Qualification Do First Aid Officers Need?

Designated first aid officers are generally expected to hold a current HLTAID011 (Provide First Aid) certificate, which is the nationally recognised unit covering the full scope of workplace first aid response. As covered in our guide on First Aid Certification Validity, this certification needs to be kept current — valid for 3 years, with CPR skills specifically recommended for annual refreshing.

Employers are responsible for ensuring their first aid officers' certifications remain current — an expired certificate effectively means that staff member no longer meets the legal requirement, even if they were certified at some point in the past.

First Aid Kits and Facilities

Beyond trained personnel, employers must also provide:

• First aid kits stocked appropriately for the workplace's specific risks, and regularly checked and restocked
• Clear signage indicating the location of first aid kits and facilities
• A designated first aid room or area for larger or higher-risk workplaces, where appropriate

Record-Keeping and Review

Good practice (and in many cases a specific requirement) includes maintaining records of:

• Staff first aid certifications and expiry dates
• First aid kit contents and restocking dates
• Incidents where first aid was administered, for ongoing risk assessment purposes

Reviewing your first aid arrangements periodically — particularly after any workplace changes, incidents, or growth in staff numbers — helps ensure your coverage stays adequate as your business evolves.

Getting Your Team Compliant

If you're setting up workplace first aid arrangements for the first time, or reviewing existing coverage after a WHS audit or incident, training a cohort of staff together is often the most efficient path to compliance. See our guide on Corporate Group First Aid Training for how group bookings work.

Book Workplace First Aid Training with ORBIT

ORBIT delivers HLTAID011 (Provide First Aid) training for individuals and groups across 8 Victorian locations, helping businesses meet their WHS first aid obligations with properly certified staff.

Contact ORBIT About Workplace Training →