First aiders in the workplace: required number, costs and refresher training

In short: From two insured persons present, every business needs at least one first aider. With more than 20 insured persons, it is 5% in administration and retail and 10% in all other businesses. The training costs are usually borne by the statutory accident insurer (BG).

The required number at a glance

Example: a skilled-trade business with 45 employees needs 5 first aiders, an office of the same size 3. Allow for holidays, sickness and shifts.

Who pays?

The course fees for workplace first aiders are usually covered by the responsible accident insurer. We invoice it directly; you will need the billing form or your membership number.

Initial and refresher training

• Initial training: 9 teaching units
• Refresher training: 9 teaching units, at the latest every two years
• If the deadline is exceeded, initial training is required again

How to calculate correctly

What counts is the insured persons present, not the number of employment contracts. Someone who mainly works from home counts for the site only on their days in the office. In addition, the quota must be met at every site and in every shift.

• Agency with 30 employees, usually 18 of them in the office: arithmetically one first aider. Allowing for holidays and sickness, there should be three.
• Workshop with 25 employees: 10% gives 3 first aiders – rounded up, because there are no half first aiders.
• Production with 90 employees in three shifts: 30 people per shift, so 3 first aiders per shift and 9 in total, plus a reserve.

What is learned on the course

• Self-protection and securing the accident scene, emergency call
• Unconsciousness, recovery position
• Resuscitation with chest compressions, rescue breaths and defibrillator
• Wounds, bleeding, dressings
• Shock, burns, chemical burns, broken bones
• Heart attack, stroke, seizure, low blood sugar

The course lasts one day. On request, we address the typical hazards of your business – machinery, hazardous substances, working at height.

What else is part of it

First aiders alone do not make first aid work. The employer must also provide the following:

• First aid kits in sufficient numbers, easy to reach and complete
• Alerting facilities: everyone must know how to call for help
• Notice with emergency numbers, first aiders and the location of the first aid kit
• Documentation: every instance of first aid is recorded and kept for five years – in the first aid record book or digitally
• First aid room above a certain business size or level of hazard

Beyond a certain size, first aiders are no longer enough. When an occupational medic is required is explained in the guide Occupational medics: when they are mandatory.

Billing in practice

Before the course, you fill in the registration form of your accident insurer or give us your membership number. After the course, we invoice the course fee directly. Some insurers work with quotas or their own procedures; when you register, we will tell you what applies to your statutory accident insurer (BG). Continued payment of wages and travel costs are borne by the employer.

Training in your own business

From 12 participants we come to you. This saves travel time, and the team practises where it would have to help in a real emergency. Dates in Berlin can be found under the courses for workplace first aiders, on-site training under in-house training.

Frequently asked questions

Have first aiders trained