What are the employer's obligations regarding first aid at work?
Verified 05 December 2025 - Public Service / Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister), Ministry of Labor
The employer must ensure safety of its employees and protect their health. He has to organize the emergency care to provide injured and sick employees with first aid equipment. We're taking stock of the regulations.
As part of its general obligation to ensure the safety of employees and to protect their health, the employer must assess occupational risks in the company.
The result of this assessment shall be recorded in the Single Occupational Risk Assessment Document (DUERP).
Depending on the risks present in the company, the employer defines the intervention instructions in the event of {circumflex over (a)} or medical emergency. The employer can be advised by the occupational physician.
All employees must be aware of these instructions. They are specified in a document prepared by the employer. This document must be easily accessible.
FYI
The employer must display, in premises accessible to workers, the address and call number of the emergency rescue services (firefighters, SAMU for example).
The workplace must be equipped with a first aid equipment adapted to the risks of the company.
This material must be easily accessible and be signposted.
The list of equipment is established by the employer after consultation with the occupational physician. For example, the employer may install a first aid kit, a medicine cabinet, and a defibrillator.
FYI
When an emergency room is provided, the emergency facilities and equipment may be stored there.
The employer must set up a first aid room in the company based on the number of staff and the activity of the company:
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Industrial establishments
A spare room is mandatory in the companies of 200 employees and more. This room should be easily accessible with stretchers. It can contain first aid equipment.
Other establishments
A spare room is mandatory in the companies of 500 employees and more. This room should be easily accessible with stretchers. It can contain first aid equipment.
The employer must set up a nurse in the company based on the number of staff and the activity of the company:
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Industrial establishments
The number of nurses varies according to the size of the company:
Less than 200 employees
A nurse is present if requested by the occupational physician and the Social and Economic Committee (CSE).
From 200 to 800 employees
These companies must have 1 nurse.
More than 800 employees
These companies must have 1 nurse and 1 additional nurse per 600 employees. For example, a company with 1,700 employees must have 2 nurses.
Other establishments
The number of nurses varies according to the size of the company:
Less than 500 employees
A nurse is present if requested by the occupational physician and the Social and Economic Committee (CSE).
From 500 to 1,000 employees
These companies must have 1 nurse.
More than 1,000 employees
These companies must have 1 nurse and 1 additional nurse per 1,000 employees. For example, a company with 2,100 employees must have 2 nurses.
An employee must be trained in first aid in each workshop where hazardous work is carried out.
An employee must also be trained on each site employing 20 workers at least for more than 15 days where hazardous work is carried out.
Trained employees cannot replace nurses.
FYI
It is recommended that more staff be trained to enable an effective response to an accident.
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The informants who answer you belong to the ministry in charge of labor.
First aid and first aid equipment
Nurses in industrial establishments with more than 200 employees and other establishments with more than 500 employees
Nurses in industrial establishments with less than 200 employees and other establishments with less than 500 employees
Mandatory documents and displays
Service-Public.fr
National Research and Security Institute (INRS)