First Aider
Provides immediate first aid, maintains the first-aid log, and refreshes training every two years. Appointed in sufficient numbers per the headcount and risk class of the workplace.
DGUV Vorschrift 1 § 26 · ASR A4.3
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What does a First Aider do?
A First Aider (Ersthelfer) is an employee appointed by the employer to provide immediate first aid at the workplace until professional emergency services arrive. The legal anchor is DGUV Vorschrift 1 (Grundsätze der Prävention), in particular § 24 and § 26, read together with § 10 ArbSchG, which obliges every employer to organise first aid. The First Aider is the operational link between the moment of an accident and the rescue chain.
The core competence is acting correctly in an emergency: securing the accident site, performing the recovery position, CPR, controlling bleeding and treating shock, and triggering the emergency call. Beyond acute care, the First Aider keeps the first-aid log (Verbandbuch), in which every injury and treatment is recorded for at least five years. This documentation is relevant for later recognition of an occupational accident by the accident insurer (Unfallversicherungsträger) and serves as evidence in the reporting chain.
The number of First Aiders required follows DGUV Vorschrift 1 § 26: in administrative and commercial operations at least 5 percent of employees present, and in other operations at least 10 percent. ASR A4.3 governs the technical side, namely first-aid rooms, equipment and the contents and inspection of first-aid kits per DIN 13157 and DIN 13169. Training is delivered by an authorised body (ermächtigte Stelle) and must be refreshed every two years to keep the appointment valid.
Core duties of a First Aider
- Provide immediate first aid at the workplace until emergency services arrive (DGUV V1 § 24).
- Trigger the emergency call and guide responders to the accident site.
- Record every injury and treatment in the first-aid log (Verbandbuch) and retain it for five years.
- Check that first-aid kits per DIN 13157 / DIN 13169 are complete and within their expiry dates.
- Know the location of first-aid material, first-aid rooms and rescue equipment under ASR A4.3.
- Support the rescue chain and cooperate with the company doctor and safety specialist.
- Complete authorised initial training and a refresher course every two years (DGUV V1 § 26).
- Report serious accidents so the employer can notify the accident insurer where required.
- Take part in evacuation and emergency drills as a designated responder.
Appointment and required numbers
The employer appoints First Aiders in writing and ensures their training through an authorised body recognised by the accident insurer. Appointment is not discretionary: under DGUV Vorschrift 1 § 26 a minimum quota of trained First Aiders must be present during all working hours, including shifts, standby and field locations.
The required number depends on headcount and risk class. For administrative and commercial operations with more than 20 insured persons present, at least 5 percent must be trained First Aiders. For all other operations, including production and construction, the quota rises to at least 10 percent. With two to 20 employees, one First Aider is sufficient. Higher-risk environments or dispersed sites typically require additional appointments so that cover is maintained during absences.
Initial training comprises a recognised first-aid course; the appointment then stays valid only if a refresher course is completed every two years. The employer carries the cost and grants paid time for training. ASR A4.3 must be implemented in parallel so that first-aid material, signage and first-aid rooms are available where the headcount demands them.
- Any operation with more than one employee (minimum one First Aider).
- Reaching 5 percent cover in administrative/commercial operations.
- Reaching 10 percent cover in production, construction and other operations.
- Shift work or remote sites requiring continuous coverage.
- Expiry of the two-year refresher interval for an existing First Aider.
Where First Aiders are required
- Manufacturing and industry
- Construction and trades
- Logistics and warehousing
- Offices and administration
- Retail
- Healthcare and care facilities
- Education and schools
- Hospitality and catering
- Public sector
How CIVAC supports the First Aider role
CIVAC gives the responsible manager a single workspace to keep the First Aider quota auditable. Task templates track each appointment, the linked authorised training provider and the two-year refresher deadline, with reminders firing well before a certificate lapses so cover never drops below the DGUV Vorschrift 1 § 26 threshold. Headcount-based targets show at a glance whether 5 or 10 percent cover is met per site and shift. The audit trail records appointments, training certificates and first-aid kit inspections under ASR A4.3, so evidence is ready for the accident insurer or an inspection. All data is hosted with EU data residency.
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