How many first aiders do I need? South African rules for 2026

2026-10-15 · First Aid · 6 min read

The current General Safety Regulations ratio, explained for SA employers: when a first aider becomes compulsory, how many you need, and which training counts.

Once more than 10 people work at your workplace, you need at least one certified first aider for every group of up to 50 employees. Shops and offices need one for every group of up to 100. The first aider must hold a valid certificate of competency and be readily available during normal working hours.

That is the short answer. The rest of this guide covers what counts as a valid certificate, how to work out your number when you run shifts, and how the rule reads since it was amended in December 2025.

What does the law actually say?

The rule sits in General Safety Regulation 3 (GN R1031 of 1986), which now applies under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 85 of 1993. Subregulation 3(4) was substituted by Notice 6907, published on 5 December 2025. The current wording sets out four things:

• The trigger: the duty applies where more than 10 employees are employed at a workplace.
• The ratio: at least one first aider for every group of up to 50 employees.
• The office and shop exception: in a shop or an office, as contemplated in the Basic Conditions of Employment Act, the ratio is one first aider for every group of up to 100 employees.
• The standard: the person must be readily available during normal working hours. Their first aid certificate must be current, and it must come from a training organisation the Chief Inspector has approved.

Two other parts of Regulation 3 matter as well:

• The general duty applies to everyone. Subregulation 3(1) requires every employer to take all reasonable steps to make sure people at work get prompt first aid. That applies even below 10 employees.
• First aid boxes come in earlier. Subregulation 3(2) requires a box at or near the workplace once you employ more than five people. Subregulation 3(6) requires a prominent notice saying where the box is and who is in charge of it.

How many first aiders do I need? A quick table

Because the rule says "every group of up to 50", the count steps up as soon as you pass each multiple. Work it out per workplace, not across the whole company.

The table gives the legal minimum. It is not always the right number for your operation.

Why the minimum is often not enough

The regulation's test is that a first aider is readily available during normal working hours. A single name on paper rarely meets that test once you look at how people really work.

• Shifts: if you run a day and a night shift, each shift needs its own cover. Size the count to the busiest shift, then make sure every shift has someone.
• Leave and sick days: a first aider on leave cannot help anyone. Train at least one back-up per shift.
• Large or spread-out sites: on a big site, a warehouse with a yard, or several buildings, a first aider far away is not "readily available". Place people near where the risk is.
• Higher-risk work: subregulation 3(5) adds a duty. Where hazardous, toxic or corrosive substances are used or handled, your first aider must also be trained to treat the injuries they cause, and in the emergency procedures for leaks and spills.

A practical rule of thumb: start from the legal number in the table, then add cover for each extra shift and one back-up for absences.

Which first aid training counts?

Only certificates from Chief Inspector-approved organisations count. The requirements for training providers changed over the past few years:

• Notice 682 of 2020 made a valid accreditation document part of a provider's application for approval.
• Notice R.328 of 2021 announced that the old first aid Level 1, 2 and 3 training offered under the earlier approval system ended from 1 April 2021.

Today, workplace first aid is delivered as registered skills programmes. When you book, check that the provider holds both:

1. Approval from the Department of Employment and Labour as a first aid organisation.
2. Accreditation for the specific skills programme.

Our First Aid training is delivered under Department of Employment and Labour approval CI 886/3/12/1. Each level is a QCTO skills programme:

All three are classroom courses. They can run at your workplace or at our campuses in Stikland and Germiston.

Level 1, 2 or 3: which should my first aiders do?

The regulation does not name a level, so choose based on your risks.

• Level 1 suits most offices, shops and low-risk workplaces. It covers emergency scene management, the primary and secondary survey, CPR and choking for adults, shock, bleeding and wounds, fractures and burns. Day 2 is the assessment, including bandaging, CPR and the recovery position.
• Level 2 suits workshops, warehouses and sites where injuries are more likely. It goes deeper into traumatic injuries, unconscious patients, spinal motion restriction and anaphylaxis.
• Level 3 suits higher-risk operations, and the person who leads the first aid team. It adds medico-legal aspects, scene preservation and transporting the patient.

A common approach is to train most first aiders at Level 1 and send one or two team leaders on to Level 2 or 3.

How long does a first aid certificate stay valid?

Our First Aid Level 1, 2 and 3 certificates are refreshed every 3 years. The regulation requires a valid certificate, so an expired one does not count towards your ratio.

Build refresher dates into your training records, and book the refresher well before the certificate lapses. A simple register of names, certificate dates and expiry dates prevents last-minute gaps when an inspector visits. Our free training records template gives you one ready to fill in.

A checklist to get compliant this month

1. Count employees per workplace and per shift, and use the table above to find your minimum.
2. Add cover for extra shifts and at least one back-up for absences.
3. Check whether hazardous substances are handled. If they are, plan the extra training required by subregulation 3(5).
4. Choose the level for each first aider (most at Level 1, team leads at Level 2 or 3).
5. Appoint each first aider in writing. The legal appointments pack includes a first aider appointment letter.
6. Provide first aid boxes once you have more than five employees, and put up a notice saying where they are and who is in charge.
7. Record every certificate and its expiry date, and diarise refreshers.

Getting it done without losing a week of production

Training several first aiders at once is usually quickest on your own site, because no one travels and you choose the days. We run first aid training at workplaces anywhere in South Africa, and at our Stikland and Germiston campuses. Tell us your headcount and the number of shifts you run, and we will quote for the right mix of levels. Or ask us a question directly.

General guidance only, not legal advice. Check the current regulations for your workplace, or speak to an OHS practitioner.

Common questions

How many first aiders are required per employee in South Africa?

Once a workplace has more than 10 employees, you need at least one first aider for every group of up to 50 employees. Shops and offices need at least one for every group of up to 100 employees.

Do I need a first aider if I have fewer than 10 employees?

The ratio in General Safety Regulation 3(4) only applies above 10 employees. You still have to take reasonable steps to make sure people get prompt first aid, and you need a first aid box once you employ more than five people.

How long is a first aid certificate valid?

Our First Aid Level 1, 2 and 3 certificates are refreshed every 3 years. Plan refresher training before the certificate lapses so your appointed first aiders stay valid.

Is First Aid Level 1 enough for a workplace first aider?

For most offices, shops and low-risk sites, Level 1 covers the basics. Where injuries are more likely, consider Level 2 or 3. Where hazardous substances are used or handled, subregulation 3(5) also requires your first aider to be trained to treat the injuries those substances cause.

Does the first aider have to be on site all the time?

The regulation says a certified first aider must be readily available during normal working hours. In practice, that means covering every shift, and having a back-up for leave and sick days.

Sources

1. General Safety Regulations, 1986 — Regulation 3: First aid, emergency equipment and procedures (as amended by Notice 6907, GG 53783, 5 December 2025)
2. Notice R.328 of 2021 — First aid training (Occupational Health and Safety Act)
3. Notice 682 of 2020 — Applications by first aid training providers
4. Labour Guide — Update: First aid and aid boxes