When it comes to workplace health and safety, first aid training is not optional. In fact, according to the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act 85 of 1993, any workplace employing more than 10 people is legally required to have at least one certified First Aider available during normal working hours. For employers, understanding first aid training accreditation is key to choosing the right training provider, ensuring legal compliance, and protecting employees.
This guide clarifies the first aid training requirements of the OHS Act and breaks down the different types of accredited first aid training available to employers in South Africa.
Legal requirement for First Aiders in the workplace
According to the General Safety Regulations (GSR) of the OHS Act, employers with more than 10 employees must have trained and certified First Aiders on site during working hours.
These First Aiders must be trained by:
- A recognised organisation such as St John’s Ambulance, The SA Red Cross Society, or the SA First Aid League, or
- A provider approved by the Chief Inspector of the Department of Employment and Labour (DoEL).
What does “approved by the Department of Employment and Labour” mean?
DoEL approval is typically based on whether the training provider holds recognised accreditation through one of the following accreditation bodies:
- The Health and Welfare Sector Education and Training Authority (HWSETA)
- The Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO)
Note that at the time of writing, South Africa is in the process of shifting away from SETA accreditation to QCTO accreditation, as the QCTO is now the official controlling body for the accreditation of all occupational skills programmes in the country.
To remain compliant with the OHS Act, employers should choose a first aid training provider that is accredited by the HWSETA or QCTO and approved by the DoEL. Doing so ensures that:
- Your First Aiders’ certificates are legally recognised
- Your workplace meets OHS Act compliance requirements
- Your team is trained to a consistent, high standard
Types of accredited first aid training in South Africa
There are several first aid training accreditation options available to employers, depending on the level of risk in the workplace and the level of training required. Below is a breakdown of the most common courses.
First Aid NQF Level 1 (accredited by HWSETA)
Overview:
First Aid NQF Level 1 is an excellent first aid course that is appropriate for all workplaces.
What is covered:
- Emergency scene management
- Personal, bystander, scene, and patient safety
- Basic life support (including CPR and AED use)
- Choking
- Patient assessment protocols
- Managing bleeding and wounds
- Treating burns and fractures
- Head and spinal injuries
- Environmental emergencies (heatstroke, hypothermia, etc.)
- Common medical emergencies like heart attacks and stroke
NQF level:
NQF level 1
Duration:
Two days
Who it is suitable for:
All workplaces, including low- to moderate-risk workplaces and office environments
First Aid NQF Levels 1–3 (accredited by HWSETA)
Overview:
This combined course provides a more comprehensive level of training with deeper theoretical knowledge and additional practical exposure.
What is covered:
- Everything covered in First Aid Levels 1 and 2, with additional detail
- Advanced patient assessment protocols
- Childbirth
- Drowning
- More complex trauma scenarios
- Additional hands-on practice
NQF level:
NQF level 3
Duration:
Five days
Who it is suitable for:
- Higher-risk workplaces (construction, manufacturing, warehousing)
- First Aiders who are due to renew their certification and are interested in advancing their skills instead of simply repeating First Aid NQF Level 1
Basic Emergency First Aid Responder (accredited by QCTO)
Overview:
This is a QCTO-accredited skills programme designed to replace the HWSETA-accredited First Aid NQF Level 1.
What is covered:
- Personal and scene safety
- Legal and ethical principles First Aiders need to be aware of
- CPR and AED use
- Choking
- Unconsciousness
- Shock
- Bleeding and fractures
- Medical Emergencies like strokes and heart attacks
- Burns
- Poisoning, bites, and stings
- Environmental emergencies
- Communication, handing over to the emergency services, and scene clean-up
NQF level:
NQF level 2
Duration:
Three days
Who it is suitable for:
All workplaces, including low- to moderate-risk workplaces and office environments
Intermediate Emergency First Aid Responder (accredited by QCTO)
Overview:
Builds on the Basic Emergency First Aid Responder skills programme with more advanced first aid skills and more in-depth theory.
What is covered:
- All content covered in Basic Emergency First Aid Responder
- Anatomical positioning and directional terms
- Gastrointestinal and genitourinary systems
- Head and spinal injuries
- Chest injuries
- Abdominal injuries
- Pelvic injuries
- Catastrophic bleeding and using a tourniquet
- Drowning
- Diabetes
- Anaphylaxis
- Seizures
- Inhaled, ingested, injected, and absorbed poisoning routes
- Exposure to communicable diseases
NQF level:
NQF level 3
Who it is suitable for:
- Medium- to high-risk workplaces
- First Aiders who have completed the Basic Emergency First Aid Responder course and are interested in upskilling
Advanced Emergency First Aid Responder (accredited by QCTO)
Overview:
This is the most advanced level of OHS first aid training within the QCTO skills programme pathway.
What is covered:
- All content covered in Basic and Intermediate Emergency First Aid Responder
- Immune and lymphatic system
- Role of the First Aider within the chain of survival and health care system
- Mental preparedness and de-stressing after an incident
- Diversity, sensitivity, and awareness
- Tension headaches and migraines
- Extremity trauma
- Asthmatic emergencies
- Oxygen administration
- Glasgow Coma Scale
- Hemo-glucose testing and administering glucose
- Childbirth
NQF level:
NQF level 4
Who it is suitable for:
- First Aiders working in high-risk industries (mining, heavy industry, large construction sites)
- First Aiders holding an Intermediate Emergency First Aid Responder certificate and interested in upskilling to the advanced level
Choosing the right first aid training for your workplace
For most workplaces in South Africa, First Aid NQF Level 1 or Basic Emergency First Aid Responder are appropriate choices for OHS first aid training. These high-quality, accredited courses meet the legal requirements of the OHS Act and provide an excellent standard of hands-on first aid training.
Any First Aiders showing interest in advancing their skills should be offered the opportunity to complete higher levels of first aid training certification. It is recommended that First Aiders working in high-risk environments complete the Intermediate/Advanced Emergency First Aid Responder courses or a First Aid Levels 1-3 combination course.
FAFST offers the following accredited first aid courses: