Workplace first aid requirements

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

What the law requires in Portugal

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

The law requires adequate, ongoing training of designated workers without setting a duration or content; first-aid training with a practical component is expected. Theory may be completed online, with the practical assessed in person.

Region specifics

• Training of designated workers must be ongoing (continuous), not a one-off event, to keep skills current.

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.