Legal Requirement
Under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 85 of 1993 (OHS Act) and its subordinate First Aid Regulations (GNR 1857 of 7 December 1990), every employer with five or more employees is legally obligated to provide trained first aiders and properly equipped first aid kits in the workplace.
Failure to comply constitutes a contravention of the OHS Act, which carries penalties including fines and — where non-compliance results in injury or death — potential criminal liability for the responsible employer or responsible manager.
Certificates must be renewed every three years for Levels 1–3. DUNMORE issues certificates that are recognised across the South African labour market and accepted by Department of Labour inspectors.
Statutory First Aider Requirements
The following requirements are prescribed by the First Aid Regulations (GNR 1857) and General Safety Regulations. “High risk” refers to environments classified as hazardous under the OHS Act (manufacturing, construction, forestry, chemical, etc.).
Source: First Aid Regulations GNR 1857 of 1990, Regulation 3, read with Appendix 2. Consult the full regulations for sector-specific provisions.
Applicable Legislation
Occupational Health and Safety Act 85 of 1993 (OHS Act) — Section 8
Places a general duty on every employer to provide and maintain a working environment that is safe and without risk to the health of their employees. This explicitly includes the provision of first aid facilities.
First Aid Regulations (GNR 1857 of 7 December 1990)
Promulgated under the OHS Act. Regulation 3 requires employers to provide first aid equipment and trained first aiders on-site. The number of first aiders required is based on workforce size: 1 per 50 employees in low-risk environments, 1 per 10 in higher-risk settings. Appendix 2 specifies the minimum training content and duration.
General Safety Regulations, Regulation 3 (GNR 1031 of 1986, as amended)
Requires that first aid boxes are provided and accessible to all employees in the workplace. Contents must be maintained in good order and checked at regular intervals.
Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act 130 of 1993 (COIDA)
Obliges employers to report all occupational injuries and diseases. Adequate first aid response is a practical requirement for appropriate injury management and reporting. First Aid training directly supports COIDA compliance outcomes.
National Road Traffic Act 93 of 1996 — Regulation 168
Requires that specific first aid kits be present in commercial and public vehicles. Personnel operating such vehicles may be required to hold a valid First Aid certificate as a condition of employment or licensing.
Mine Health and Safety Act 29 of 1996 — Section 22
Requires mine employers to ensure that trained first aiders are available on every shift. First Aid training for mining-adjacent and forestry operations must meet sector-specific standards.
Available Programmes
All programmes are SETA-accredited or QCTO-registered. Certificates are NQF-aligned and nationally recognised.
First Aid Level 1 (Basic)
Entry-level workplace first aid. Covers CPR, choking, bleeding, fractures. Required for all workplaces under GNR 1857.
First Aid Level 2 (Intermediate)
Intermediate assessment and response. Covers burns, poisoning, medical emergencies, and documentation.
First Aid Level 3 (Advanced)
Advanced pre-hospital care. Suitable for first aiders in high-risk or remote environments.
Emergency First Aid Responder (EFAR)
QCTO-accredited occupational qualification. Equips learners for structured emergency response in field and event settings.
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
Focused CPR and AED training. SAQA unit standard aligned. Suitable for annual re-certification.
Paediatric First Aid
Designed for educators and caregivers. Covers infant and child CPR, choking, allergic reactions, and common childhood emergencies.