One of the most common questions employers ask is simple: “Which first aid course does my business actually need?” The honest answer is that there is no single correct level for every workplace. The right level of first aid training is determined by risk, not by convenience or by what a neighbouring business happens to use.

First Aid Training Is Not One-Size-Fits-All

South African safety legislation does not prescribe a blanket first aid level for every employer. Instead, it sets a legal minimum standard for how many trained first aiders a workplace must have, and leaves the question of which level of training is appropriate to be determined by the nature of the work being done.

This means a low-risk office environment and a high-risk manufacturing floor may both be fully compliant with the law while running very different levels of first aid training — because their risk profiles are different.

General Safety Regulation 3: The Legal Minimum on Numbers

General Safety Regulation 3 (GSR 3) under the OHS Act sets the baseline ratio of trained first aiders to employees: at least one trained first aider for every 50 employees at a general workplace, and one for every 100 employees at offices and shops. We cover this ratio requirement in detail in our first aider ratio guide.

GSR 3 tells you the minimum number of first aiders you need. It does not, on its own, tell you which level of first aid training those first aiders should hold. That determination comes from risk assessment.

How a HIRA Determines the Right Training Level

A Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (HIRA) is the tool that connects your workplace’s actual hazards to the appropriate level of first aid response. We’ve explained the HIRA process in full in our guide to conducting a HIRA, but the short version for first aid purposes is this: the more severe and more frequent the injury risks identified in your HIRA, the higher the level of first aid competency your first aiders should hold.

A basic office HIRA will typically surface low-severity risks — minor cuts, slips, the occasional sprain. A HIRA conducted on a factory floor, a warehouse with mechanical handling equipment, or a site involving chemical exposure will surface a very different risk profile — one that calls for first aiders equipped to manage more serious trauma, shock, and life-threatening emergencies until professional medical help arrives.

When Basic-Level Training Is Sufficient

Lower-risk environments — typical offices, retail premises, and similar settings with few physical hazards — can generally be adequately served by first aiders trained at a foundational level, provided the GSR 3 ratio is met and the training remains current. The hazards identified in the HIRA for these environments tend to be low in both severity and likelihood.

When Higher-Level Training Is Required

Workplaces with elevated risk profiles need first aiders trained to handle more serious incidents. Risk factors that typically push a workplace toward more advanced first aid training include:

• Mechanical or moving machinery — increased risk of crush injuries, amputations, and severe trauma
• Working at height — fall-related trauma, including the risk of suspension trauma requiring immediate, competent intervention
• Chemical handling — burns, poisoning, and respiratory emergencies
• Remote or isolated sites — longer delays before professional medical help arrives, requiring first aiders capable of sustaining care for longer
• Construction and heavy industry — a combination of several of the above risk factors simultaneously

In these environments, a higher level of first aid competency isn’t a nice-to-have — it’s what a properly conducted HIRA will indicate is necessary to meet the employer’s duty of care under the OHS Act.

A Practical Approach for Employers

If you’re unsure which level of first aid training your workplace needs, the correct starting point is always the same:

1. Conduct or update your HIRA to identify the specific hazards present in your workplace
2. Use the severity and likelihood ratings from that HIRA to determine the appropriate level of first aid competency
3. Confirm your first aider numbers meet the GSR 3 ratio requirement
4. Match your training investment to the actual risk — not the minimum you can get away with, and not more than the risk profile justifies

This approach protects your employees, satisfies your legal obligations, and ensures your training spend is going where it actually reduces risk.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the OHS Act specify which first aid level a workplace must use?

No. The OHS Act and General Safety Regulation 3 set minimum ratios for the number of trained first aiders, not a specific training level. The appropriate level is determined by the hazards identified in your workplace’s HIRA.

Can a low-risk office get away with minimal first aid training?

Provided the GSR 3 ratio is met and the HIRA genuinely supports a low-risk classification, foundational first aid training is generally adequate for typical office environments. This should always be confirmed against your own documented risk assessment rather than assumed.

Who should conduct the HIRA that determines our first aid training level?

A HIRA must be conducted by a competent person familiar with the specific hazards of your workplace. Many employers use a qualified risk assessment practitioner or safety consultant to ensure the assessment is thorough and defensible.

Not sure what level of first aid training your risk profile calls for? Get in touch with Altramed — call 086 111 1504 or visit our First Aid Training page to see our full range of courses.