Guide for employers · 2027 edition
First aid at work: what do you really have to do as an employer?
How many first aiders do you need, how often must they retrain and what belongs on the wall? The obligations from the Belgian Code on well-being at work, in plain language.
- Approved by the FPS Employment
- ERC guidelines
- 900+ training sessions a year
The legal framework
No fixed number. But a clear duty.
First aid at work is covered in Book I, Title 5 of the Belgian Code on well-being at work. As the employer, you organise it based on your risk assessment, with advice from the prevention advisor-occupational physician.
The number of first aiders, their training and your equipment therefore follow from what could happen at your workplace.
- A risk assessment that determines what first aid is needed
- Trained first aiders, present during all working hours and shifts, at every location
- An annual refresher for every first aider or, where applicable, at least every three years
- First-aid supplies and clear instructions tailored to your risks, possibly even a first-aid room
- A register in which every instance of first aid given is recorded
Who do you need to train?
Four factors determine the minimum number of first aiders you need
Number of employees
The larger your workforce, the greater the chance of simultaneous incidents.
Shifts and hours
A first aider during every shift, including nights and weekends. And that for every location.
Type of work
Machinery, working at height, chemicals or customer contact increase the risk.
Distance to help
Construction site, remote location or large campus: your own team becomes more important.
Training and refresher
Training once is not enough
A first aider first completes a basic course at an approved centre. After that, an annual refresher keeps knowledge and skills up to date.
Staff leave, shifts change, annual leave comes around and a refresher easily slips through the cracks. So keep track of who was trained and refreshed, and when.
Equipment and instructions
Under stress, knowledge isn't always within reach
Your first-aid supplies must match your risks and be easy for everyone to find. But even a trained first aider sometimes hesitates when it really happens.
With the ActiBox, visual action cards hang on the wall. One glance at the right card and everyone knows what to do, step by step.
Not sure what belongs in your first-aid kit? Use the free first-aid kit checklist and tick off, kit by kit, what it should contain.
How to approach it
Compliant in 5 steps
Map the risks
Review with your prevention advisor which accidents could happen at your workplace.
Appoint first aiders
Choose motivated people, spread across shifts and locations.
Have them trained
Basic course at an approved centre, with scenarios from your sector.
Equip
Supplies and action cards in the right place, checked and restocked.
Refresh every year
Plan the refresher ahead and keep your register up to date.
Everything in one checklist
Download the checklist and tick off what's already in order.
Frequently asked questions
Where do you stand today?
Take the free Safety Quickscan in just a few minutes. You'll instantly get a personal report with your focus points and 10% off your ActiBox.
Free checklist
2027 first-aid checklist
A ready-to-tick document to go through with your prevention advisor. Download it straight after filling in the form.