First Aid Training Malaysia: How Many First Aiders Do You Need?

Do employers in Malaysia have to train first aiders?

In practice, yes. Section 15 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994 requires employers to ensure, so far as is practicable, the safety, health and welfare of employees, including training and emergency procedures. DOSH states that providing first-aid facilities and first aiders meets the welfare part of this duty.

The numbers come from the DOSH Guidelines on First-Aid in the Workplace (2nd Edition, 2004), which are guidance, not a regulation. The old factory rule, regulation 38 of the 1970 Safety, Health and Welfare Regulations, is listed by DOSH as repealed since the Factories and Machinery Act 1967 was repealed on 1 June 2024.

Breaching the section 15 duty is an offence under section 19, with a fine of up to RM500,000, imprisonment of up to two years, or both.

How many first aiders does your workplace need?

Table 4.1.1 of the DOSH guideline is the benchmark. Low-risk workplaces such as offices need one first aider below 20 workers, two for 21 to 150, and two per 150 above that. High-risk sites need one for every 20 workers or part thereof, on every shift.

Examples: an office of 60 on one shift needs two first aiders; an office of 320 needs six (three blocks of 150) and a first-aid room; a high-risk factory with 85 workers on each of two shifts needs five per shift, ten in total.

• Shifts. Each shift needs its own first aiders (paragraph 4.1.2); add cover for leave and turnover.
• Shared sites. The principal employer provides cover, or the employers agree in writing who will (paragraph 4.1.3).
• Chemicals. First aiders need extra training on chemical poisoning and decontamination (paragraph 7.2). See our CHRA guide.
• Remote sites. Weigh the distance to the nearest clinic or hospital (paragraph 3.2).

What should a workplace first aider course cover?

Appendix 2 of the DOSH guideline sets a two-part minimum. Part One is basic life support: CPR, choking and the recovery position. Part Two is first aid and basic trauma life support: patient assessment, spinal injury, shock, fractures and wounds. Both parts end with a theory and practical assessment.

AED (automated external defibrillator) use is not in the 2004 guideline, but OSHMed’s BOFA includes it for workplaces that keep a defibrillator.

How long is a first aid certificate valid?

The DOSH guideline recommends that first aiders attend a recognised course once every three years, and that employers record each training date. Competency certificates from St John Ambulance of Malaysia and the Malaysian Red Crescent run for up to three years, so book refreshers before they lapse.

Keep a register of each first aider’s shift, course date and certificate expiry. The guideline also asks for casualty records kept for five years and a yearly review using its Appendix 5 checklist.

In-house or public class: which suits your company?

Public classes suit one or two staff, or replacements between training cycles. In-house training suits employers who need several first aiders at once: one session covers every shift, scenarios use your own site and hazards, and nobody travels. In-house classes are usually quoted per group, public classes per seat.

Course length varies from one-day sessions to two-day programmes. Compare the content and assessment against Appendix 2, not only the number of days.

How do you compare first aid training providers?

Compare what the certificate proves, not only the fee. Ask each provider how the course maps to Appendix 2 of the DOSH guideline, how participants are assessed, who issues the certificate and for how long, and what instructor training the trainers hold, in writing.

1. Recognition route. Appendix 1 lists Ministry of Health institutions, Ministry of Education hospitals, NIOSH, MASTEM, the Malaysian Red Crescent Society, St John Ambulance Malaysia, and organisations whose trainers were trained by these bodies and approved by the DOSH Director General.
2. Syllabus and assessment. Both Appendix 2 parts, with written and practical tests.
3. Certificate. The issuer, the validity period and the record you receive.
4. Trainers. Names, instructor training and the trainer to participant ratio.

DOSH registers training providers course by course, and its list of categories has no first aid category. Check what any provider’s registration covers.

What else must be in place besides trained first aiders?

First aiders need equipment and visibility. The DOSH guideline asks for a clearly marked, well-stocked first aid box within easy reach, a first-aid room where there are more than 150 employees, a notice naming your first aiders and their locations, and a badge or armband for each.

• First aid box. Appendix 4 recommends 25 items, from bandages and gloves to a CPR barrier device. Keep only first aid materials inside and restock quickly.
• Large sites. Provide enough boxes for the area, and review the set-up yearly with the Appendix 5 checklist.

For background on why first aid skills matter at work, see our earlier article on why BOFA matters in the workplace.

OSHMed Solutions Sdn Bhd, an occupational safety and health consultancy in Kajang, Selangor, runs in-house Basic Occupational First Aid (BOFA) training at employers’ premises across Malaysia, covering CPR and AED use, cuts, burns, fractures, sprains, workplace injuries, choking and poisoning. OSHMed is a DOSH-registered training provider for the Ergonomic Trained Person (ETP) course. For BOFA, ask for the outline, assessment method and certificate details with your quote. See our training services.

Before you decide: three common objections

Three objections often delay first aider training: staff already did a CPR class, the workplace is only an office, and the first aiders were trained years ago. Each is checked below against the DOSH guideline before you set a budget.

"Our staff already attended a CPR class."

CPR is only Part One of Appendix 2. A workplace first aider also needs Part Two, with a practical test.

"We are only an office."

Low-risk sites still need one first aider below 20 workers and two from 21 to 150. Offices also face fainting, falls and cardiac arrest.

"Our first aiders were trained four years ago."

The guideline asks for a recognised course every three years. Book a refresher and update your register.

Frequently asked questions

Your next step

Run the planner, then compare the result with your current first aider list and certificate dates. Close the gaps shift by shift.

Then see the BOFA course page or send us your result on WhatsApp. Using chemicals too? Read our CHRA guide and the OSH coordinator guide.

Sources and references

Disclaimer: This article is general information for employers and is not legal advice. Requirements depend on your workplace, processes and the current law. For a decision on your premises, speak to a DOSH-registered competent person or contact DOSH (JKKP).