Workplace first aid requirements

If you run or manage a workplace in Brazil — an office, shop, construction site or factory — the law requires you to have enough trained first-aiders on your staff, ready to help a colleague in an emergency.

An employer duty — to rescue a colleague

Workplace first aid is not a job qualification: it is the employer's duty to appoint and train enough first-aiders, scaled to headcount and risk level, so someone can act immediately if a colleague is injured. The exact number and rules depend on the regulations that apply in Brazil.

What the law requires in Brazil

Brazil governs occupational health and safety through national legislation that requires employers to provide first aid in the workplace.

NR-1 allows distance and blended delivery for many mandatory trainings; the hands-on first-aid component is usually delivered in person. Grey zone: accepted.

Region specifics

• The CIPA is mandatory and its size is calculated by risk grade and headcount (Table I of NR-5); below the threshold, a trained 'designated' employee replaces the commission.

Why it matters

A workplace emergency can happen at any time. When it does, the difference between a positive outcome and a tragedy often comes down to whether someone nearby is trained to respond. Having certified first aiders on staff isn't just a legal requirement — it's an investment in your team's safety.