Workplace first aid requirements

If you run or manage a workplace in Netherlands — 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 Netherlands.

What the law requires in Netherlands

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

BHV training includes a practical component (first aid, evacuation); an annual refresher is expected to maintain competence. Theory may be delivered online, with the practical remaining in person.

Region specifics

• First-aid arrangements (number and training of BHV'ers) must be set from the company's own risk inventory and evaluation (RI&E).

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.