Jacob Shaw

How many First Aiders do QLD workplaces need?

Written by Jacob Shaw ·

“How many First Aiders do we need?” is one of the most common questions we get from Queensland businesses. The answer depends on how risky your work is, how many people you have on site, and how far you are from medical help. Here’s how to work it out, based on Queensland’s First aid in the workplace Code of Practice.

What the law says

Under the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (Qld), a business or employer, called a “person conducting a business or undertaking” (PCBU) in the legislation, must make sure that:

  • First Aid equipment is provided and every worker can access it
  • Workers can access facilities for administering First Aid
  • An adequate number of workers are trained to administer First Aid, or workers can access other people who are trained

The regulation doesn’t give a number. Instead, Queensland’s First aid in the workplace Code of Practice explains how to decide what’s “adequate”. Codes of practice can be used in court as evidence of what’s reasonable, so following the code, or doing something that achieves the same or a better standard, is the safest approach. You can read the code on WorkSafe Queensland.

Step 1: work out your risk level

The code splits workplaces into two broad groups.

Low risk workplaces are those where workers aren’t exposed to hazards that could cause serious injury or illness. Think offices, retail shops, libraries and most professional services.

High risk workplaces are those where workers are exposed to hazards that could result in serious injury or illness and would need First Aid. That includes:

  • Construction sites
  • Manufacturing, factories and warehouses with forklifts or heavy machinery
  • Work with hazardous chemicals, electricity or at heights
  • Agriculture, forestry and fishing
  • Commercial kitchens can also fall into this group, depending on the equipment and the hazards

Your workplace may be a mix. A business with an office upstairs and a workshop downstairs should look at the risks in each area.

Step 2: apply the recommended ratio

The code recommends these minimum numbers of trained First Aiders:

Workplace type Recommended First Aiders
Low risk 1 First Aider for every 50 workers
High risk 1 First Aider for every 25 workers
Remote high risk (e.g. mining, far from medical help) 1 First Aider for every 10 workers

Example: a retail business with 70 staff on site needs at least 2 First Aiders. A construction company with 40 workers on a site needs at least 2 First Aiders on that site, and should think about whether a third makes sense given the hazards and the site layout.

These are minimums, so it’s always worth rounding up.

Step 3: think about shifts, leave and layout

A ratio on paper means nothing if your only First Aider is on holiday, or on a different shift. The code expects First Aiders to be available whenever workers are working. Ask yourself:

  • Shifts: Is there a trained First Aider on every shift, including nights and weekends?
  • Leave and sick days: If one First Aider is away, are you still covered?
  • Multiple floors or sites: Can a First Aider reach someone quickly, anywhere in the workplace?
  • Workers on the road or alone: Do mobile workers, delivery drivers and people who work alone have the training, or the means to call for help?
  • Visitors and the public: Do you have customers, students or other people on site who might need First Aid?
  • Distance from help: How long would an ambulance take to reach you?

In practice, most of our business clients train more staff than the minimum, so they’re never caught short.

What training do First Aiders need?

The code says First Aiders should hold a nationally recognised Statement of Attainment issued by a Registered Training Organisation (RTO). For most workplaces, that’s:

First Aiders should then keep their skills current:

Some workplaces need more than the standard course:

Not sure which course fits? See our comparison of HLTAID009, HLTAID011 and HLTAID012.

First Aid kits and First Aid rooms

Every workplace needs at least one First Aid kit, and workers need to be able to reach it quickly. Larger or spread-out workplaces will need more than one. The code lists recommended contents and suggests extra modules for specific hazards, such as burns kits in commercial kitchens and eye wash where chemicals are used. Kits should be checked regularly and restocked after use.

The code also recommends a dedicated First Aid room for larger workplaces: 200 or more workers at a low risk workplace, or 100 or more at a high risk workplace.

Since automated external defibrillators (AEDs) have become affordable, many businesses now keep one on site too. They’re simple to use, and in a cardiac arrest they can make the difference. Our guide on how to use a defibrillator explains how they work.

Checklist for employers

  • Assess the risks in your workplace and decide whether it’s low or high risk
  • Count your workers per site, per shift
  • Apply the ratio and round up for leave, shifts and layout
  • Train your First Aiders with an RTO and keep a register of their certificate dates
  • Book CPR refreshers every 12 months and First Aid renewals every 3 years
  • Provide, check and restock First Aid kits
  • Display the names and locations of your First Aiders and First Aid kits
  • Review your First Aid arrangements when your workplace or workforce changes

Training your team in Brisbane or on the Gold Coast

We run First Aid courses in Brisbane and on the Gold Coast every week, so you can send staff to a public course whenever it suits. Each certificate is emailed the same day, and we send every student a reminder when their CPR is due, which takes the tracking off your plate. For larger groups, get in touch and we’ll help you plan it.

For more on why training matters beyond compliance, read the importance of First Aid training in the workplace.