First Aid in the Workplace

First aid is governed by the WHS Regulations and explained in the First Aid in the Workplace Code of Practice published by Safe Work Australia. Under the WHS Regulations, every PCBU must ensure that workers have access to first aid equipment and facilities, and that an adequate number of workers are trained to administer first aid (or that workers otherwise have access to a trained first aider).

This page is not legal advice. For specific compliance questions, consult a qualified health and safety advisor or lawyer.

Codes of Practice — guidance, not strict regulation

The duties themselves come from the WHS Regulations. The First Aid in the Workplace Code of Practice explains how to meet them in practical terms. A Code of Practice is approved under the WHS Act and is admissible in court as evidence of what is known about a hazard and the standard expected — but it is guidance, not a strict regulation. You may comply by following the Code, or by adopting a different approach that achieves an equivalent or better standard of health and safety.

The model Code is adopted in most jurisdictions; Victoria has equivalent guidance under its own OHS framework. Check the version published by your state or territory regulator.

What the regulations require

First aid equipment

Every PCBU must provide first aid equipment that is appropriate for the workplace. The regulations do not prescribe a fixed kit — the requirement is that provision is adequate given:

The nature of the work and the hazards involved
The size and location of the workplace
The number and composition of workers and other people at the workplace
The distance from medical and emergency services

The Code of Practice provides recommended kit contents and guidance on the number and placement of kits. Kits should be checked regularly to ensure contents are in date and replenished after use.

SteadyOn support: Use the Inspections module (First Aid Readiness template) to schedule and record first aid kit checks. The BRAG status will flag when a scheduled check is overdue.

First aid facilities

Where the nature of the workplace, work, or hazards makes it necessary, you must also provide first aid rooms or other appropriate facilities. The Code of Practice suggests a first aid room is generally appropriate for larger or higher-risk workplaces (for example, those with significant injury risk such as construction sites or manufacturing facilities).

Access to first aiders

Workers must have access to first aid — this means both having the equipment available and having a trained person available to provide first aid when it is needed.

The regulations do not set a fixed ratio of first aiders to workers. The Code of Practice provides guidance on numbers, based on risk and remoteness:

A practical starting point from the Code:

1 first aider for every 50 workers in low-risk workplaces (for example, offices, shops, libraries)
1 first aider for every 25 workers in high-risk workplaces (for example, construction, manufacturing)
1 first aider for every 10 workers in remote high-risk workplaces
A trained first aider available during all working hours, allowing for shifts, leave, and remote locations

These are guidance figures — your own assessment of first aid needs, based on your hazards and workforce, is what matters.

First aid training

First aiders must hold a nationally recognised first aid qualification, kept current. Common qualifications include:

Qualification	Suitable for
Provide First Aid (HLTAID011)	General workplace first aider
Provide CPR (HLTAID009)	Supplementary; refresh annually
Provide First Aid in Remote Situations	Remote / isolated workplaces
Advanced / occupational first aid	Higher-risk or industrial workplaces

The Code recommends first aiders refresh their CPR competency annually and renew their first aid qualification every three years.

SteadyOn support: Add a Training Course called “Provide First Aid” (set the validity to match the qualification, e.g. 36 months) and enrol your trained first aiders. Define a Role called “First Aider” with the course as a Requirement. Each enrollment’s BRAG status is calculated automatically:

Green — current and within the comfort window.
Amber — expiring soon (default 30 days).
Red — expired.
Blue — no expiry date or non-Passed status.

Open the First Aider role’s detail page to see who fills it and which assigned people have a gap (i.e. no current enrollment).

Inspections and record-keeping

While the regulations do not prescribe specific records, being able to demonstrate that:

First aid kits were checked and adequately stocked
Trained first aiders’ qualifications were current
First aid provision was reviewed as the workforce or workplace changed

…is essential if an incident occurs and you need to show your first aid arrangements were adequate.

SteadyOn support:

Requirement	SteadyOn record
First aid kit checks	Inspections — First Aid Readiness template
First aider qualification	Training Courses + Enrollments
Expiry monitoring	Enrollment BRAG (auto-calculated from expiry)
Gaps identification	First Aider role detail page — Assignments tab

When first aid requirements change

First aid provision is not static. You must review it when:

The number of workers increases or decreases significantly
New hazards are introduced to the workplace
Work locations change (for example, new remote sites)
A first aider leaves the organisation
A trained first aider’s qualification lapses

SteadyOn support: The enrollment’s BRAG status will automatically flag lapsing qualifications. Raise a corrective action to track the response (booking a refresher course, organising replacement training).