Workplace first aid requirements
First Aid & CPR Singapore
If you run or manage a workplace in Singapore — an office, shop, construction site or factory — the law requires you to have enough trained first-aiders on your staff, ready to help a colleague in an emergency.
An employer duty — to rescue a colleague
Workplace first aid is not a job qualification: it is the employer's duty to appoint and train enough first-aiders, scaled to headcount and risk level, so someone can act immediately if a colleague is injured. The exact number and rules depend on the regulations that apply in Singapore.
What the law requires in Singapore
How many designated first-aiders?
Where more than 25 persons are employed, the occupier must appoint first-aiders readily available during working hours. Ratio: 1 first-aider per 100 persons in higher-risk workplaces (quarries, construction sites, shipyards, petroleum/petrochemical, woodwork) and 1 per 150 in any other workplace. The 'employed' headcount includes outsourced contractors on site.
Singapore governs occupational health and safety through national legislation that requires employers to provide first aid in the workplace.
Online theory is permitted; the mandatory hands-on skills assessment (CPR, AED, first aid) is completed in person with a recognized provider — a blended model, standard for the statutory workplace first-aider certificate.
Region specifics
- Workplaces with 25 persons or fewer need no appointed first-aider but must keep a maintained, accessible first aid box.
- The count is based on persons actually present (headcount), including contractors, not on the company's contractual staff numbers.
Why it matters
A workplace emergency can happen at any time. When it does, the difference between a positive outcome and a tragedy often comes down to whether someone nearby is trained to respond. Having certified first aiders on staff isn't just a legal requirement — it's an investment in your team's safety.
Is this really what you're looking for?
Our first-aid and CPR courses are 100% online, lead to a recognized certification, and exceed the required standards; a hybrid option is also available and fits most needs. Choose the course that fits your situation:
The course
Our course, built to the CSA Z1210-17 standard, 100% online and leading to a certification, meets and exceeds this requirement.
CSA Z1210-17First Aid – Intermediate Level (16h) – CSA Z1210-17 Compliant
Upon successful completion of this 16-hour IN-PERSON intermediate-level first aid training, the candidate will receive a valid certification that meets the requirements of 'Intermediate First Aid Training' as defined in the CSA Z1210-17 standard.
CSA Z1210-17First Aid – Healthcare Professional (16h) - Compliant with CSA Z1210-17
This 16-hour first aid training, compliant with the CSA Z1210-17 standard, is specifically designed for healthcare professionals. Upon completion, the candidate will receive a certification valid for two years, meeting the requirements of 'Intermediate First Aid Training' as defined in the CSA Z1210-17 standard. Skills will be updated annually, and the training must be renewed every two years to maintain active certification. Tailored for nurses, it strengthens the safety of residents in long-term care facilities and other healthcare settings.
Specifically need the "Workplace first aid" certificate?
That specific regulatory certificate must be completed in full with the legislating body: Ministry of Manpower (MOM) — Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Division / WSH Council.
Strict requirement: the statutory OFA certificate can only be issued by a MOM-approved training provider listed on the official Learning Service Provider register. Our online training is not on that list: it CANNOT satisfy the statutory workplace first-aider requirement, only prepare/complement the theory ahead of the in-person OFA course with an approved provider.