Workplace first aid requirements
First Aid & CPR Colombia
If you run or manage a workplace in Colombia — 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 Colombia.
What the law requires in Colombia
How many designated first-aiders?
The employer must form, train, drill and equip a prevention, preparedness and emergency-response brigade covering first aid, sized by risk class (I to V) and headcount. Firms with more than 50 workers fall under the full standards. No rigid national numeric ratio, but the brigade must be proportional to size and risk, covering all shifts and areas.
Colombia governs occupational health and safety through national legislation that requires employers to provide first aid in the workplace.
Resolution 0312 requires brigade training and drilling without mandating a format; the practical component (drills, first-aid skills) stays in person. Grey zone: accepted.
Region specifics
- The minimum standards (7, 21 or 60 depending on size and risk class) expressly include forming, training and equipping an emergency brigade that integrates first aid.
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 – 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.
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.
Specifically need the "Workplace first aid" certificate?
That specific regulatory certificate must be completed in full with the legislating body: Ministry of Labour (Ministerio del Trabajo), Directorate of Occupational Risks.
In Colombia no one may provide SST services — including SST training — without a valid SST licence. Brigade training falls within the SG-SST and is usually delivered by the ARL or a licensed provider. A non-licensed online provider does not satisfy the legal requirement; it can only complement the training.