Workplace first aid requirements
First Aid & CPR Hong Kong
If you run or manage a workplace in Hong Kong — 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 Hong Kong.
What the law requires in Hong Kong
How many designated first-aiders?
The occupier must provide first aid boxes and trained first-aiders scaled to the number of persons employed. In practice a qualified first-aider is required once a headcount threshold is reached, with numbers stepping up in bands; for higher-risk and 'notifiable workplaces' (construction sites, cargo handling, quarries) additional designated first-aiders are required in proportion to the on-site workforce.
Hong Kong governs occupational health and safety through national legislation that requires employers to provide first aid in the workplace.
Online theory is permitted; the mandatory hands-on skills assessment (CPR, AED, first aid) is completed in person with a recognized provider — a blended model, standard for the statutory workplace first-aider certificate.
Region specifics
- The regime is dual-track: Cap. 509A covers general workplaces (offices, shops) while the Notifiable Workplaces Regulations under Cap. 59 impose stricter requirements on construction sites, container/cargo handling and quarries.
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.
Is this really what you're looking for?
Our first-aid and CPR courses are 100% online, lead to a recognized certification, and exceed the required standards; a hybrid option is also available and fits most needs. Choose the course that fits your situation:
The course
Our course, built to the CSA Z1210-17 standard, 100% online and leading to a certification, meets and exceeds this requirement.
CSA Z1210-17First Aid – Healthcare Professional (16h) - Compliant with CSA Z1210-17
This 16-hour first aid training, compliant with the CSA Z1210-17 standard, is specifically designed for healthcare professionals. Upon completion, the candidate will receive a certification valid for two years, meeting the requirements of 'Intermediate First Aid Training' as defined in the CSA Z1210-17 standard. Skills will be updated annually, and the training must be renewed every two years to maintain active certification. Tailored for nurses, it strengthens the safety of residents in long-term care facilities and other healthcare settings.
CSA Z1210-17First Aid – Intermediate Level (16h) – CSA Z1210-17 Compliant
Upon successful completion of this 16-hour IN-PERSON intermediate-level first aid training, the candidate will receive a valid certification that meets the requirements of 'Intermediate First Aid Training' as defined in the CSA Z1210-17 standard.
Specifically need the "Workplace first aid" certificate?
That specific regulatory certificate must be completed in full with the legislating body: Labour Department (Occupational Safety and Health Branch), Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
Strict requirement: only an organisation approved by the Labour Department may issue the certificate that makes a person a statutory 'First Aider' under Cap. 509A. Our online training is not an approved organisation: it CANNOT satisfy the statutory requirement, only prepare/complement the theory ahead of the in-person 30-hour course with a recognised organisation.