An injury in the workshop, a fainting spell at the reception, a burn in the kitchen... In a company as well as in a public venue, accidents don't just happen to others. The Labor Code therefore requires every employer to provide first aid equipment, and the regulations for establishments receiving the public (ERP) often add a defibrillator. First aid kit, medicine cabinet, defibrillator, eye wash station, first aid responders: here’s what is mandatory, what is simply recommended, and how to equip yourself properly.
First aid at work: what the Labor Code says
Every workplace must be equipped with first aid materials suitable for the nature of the risks and easily accessible, starting from the first employee. However, the Labor Code does not set any specific list: it is up to the employer to define this equipment, after consulting the occupational physician.
In practice, the employer must:
equip their premises with materials appropriate to the risks of the activity (first aid kit, medicine cabinet, eye wash station...)indicate it with a square or rectangular sign, featuring a white pictogram on a green backgroundorganize emergency response with the occupational physician, and document these measures in a record available to the labor inspectiondisplay the contact details of the occupational physician, emergency services, and labor inspection
Note: Buildings intended for at least 200 employees in the industry (500 in other sectors) must also include a treatment room, accessible for stretchers and equipped with a means of calling for help.
First aid kit in the workplace: what contents to include?
A workplace first aid kit should allow for cleaning, protecting, and covering a wound, as well as protecting the rescuer themselves. There is no official list, but occupational health services generally recommend:
disposable vinyl or nitrile gloves, and hand sanitizersterile compresses in individual packets and wound antisepticsaline solution in single doses, for rinsing a wound or an eyeindividual bandages, hypoallergenic adhesive tape, and elastic bandagesround-tipped scissors and a splinter forcepsa survival blanket and a mask for mouth-to-mouth resuscitationbags for contaminated waste, as well as a notebook and pen to record the care provided
Depending on the risks, a hemostatic pad for heavy bleeding, a burn kit, or, in the industry, a kit for severed limbs may be added. To ensure nothing is forgotten, the simplest approach is to start with a pre-assembled kit for your activity, such as those offered by Securimed for offices, construction sites, restaurants, or schools, and then supplement it with input from the occupational physician.
Note: no medication (neither tablets nor ointments) should be included in the kit without the approval of the occupational physician. If they do allow it, they must specify in writing who can administer them and under what circumstances.
First aid kit or medicine cabinet: which one to choose?
The kit is suitable for small teams, vehicles, and construction sites, as it can be taken to the injured person. The wall-mounted first aid cabinet is more appropriate for larger premises: it contains more supplies and is easily identifiable.
The best approach is often to combine both: a cabinet near the reception or first aid station, and kits close to high-risk areas (workshop, kitchen, warehouse), in vehicles, and for employees who work alone. In any case, the supplies must remain accessible at all times... including for the night shift team.
Defibrillator in ERP: the establishments concerned
All public establishments in categories 1 to 4 must have an automated external defibrillator (AED), as part of small category 5 establishments. The obligation has been implemented in stages: in 2020 for categories 1 to 3, in 2021 for category 4, and in 2022 for category 5.
For reference, a public establishment (ERP) is classified from category 1 (more than 1,500 people, including the public and staff) to category 4 (up to 300 people), with category 5 encompassing small establishments. For the latter, the list was revised in December 2025. The following are now included:
facilities for elderly or disabled personshealth establishments and centersindoor sports hallsdancing establishments and gaming roomsbus and train stations, as well as airportsmountain hotels and guarded mountain huts
It is also necessary for the establishment to be operational for more than three months and to accommodate a minimum number of people, as set by decree. The device must be visible, accessible at all times, and indicated by a specific sign (a white heart struck by a lightning bolt on a green background).
Defibrillator in the workplace: is it mandatory?
No, a company that does not receive the public is not required to install a defibrillator. However, the employer should discuss the matter with the occupational physician while assessing the risks: a large workforce, electrical hazards, or a site far from emergency services clearly argue in favor of equipping themselves.
The issue is far from theoretical. In France, cardiac arrest kills about 50,000 people each year, and seven times out of ten, it occurs in front of a witness. Every minute without CPR or defibrillation reduces the chances of survival by 10%, which average no more than 7%... but rise to 35% when the three actions (alert, compress, defibrillate) are performed correctly.
Since 2007, anyone can use a defibrillator: the device guides the procedure verbally and only delivers a shock if necessary. And since 2020, the "citizen rescuer" who provides voluntary assistance does not incur civil liability if the victim suffers harm, except in cases of gross negligence or intentional wrongdoing. To equip properly, the INRS lists the points to consider (users, training, alerting, maintenance) in its fact sheet on defibrillators in companies.
Eyewash station and safety shower: chemical risk areas
Eye wash stations and safety showers are essential wherever chemicals are handled: laboratories, chemical industry, surface treatment workshops, technical areas of swimming pools... They fall under the general obligation for equipment suitable for risks whenever there is a possibility of splashing on the skin or in the eyes.
Their effectiveness can be summarized in two numbers: they must be reachable within about ten seconds from the workstation, and then rinsed for at least 15 minutes. Models connected to running water are preferred, with tempered water (ideally between 20 and 25 °C), as water that is too cold may cause the victim to stop rinsing too early. Eye rinse bottles are useful where there is no nearby water source, providing assistance until a faucet can be reached.
Workplace first aid rescuers: how many are needed?
The Labor Code requires at least one trained first-aider in each workshop where dangerous work is carried out, and on every construction site with 20 or more people for more than 15 days involving dangerous work. Elsewhere, no specific number is set, but the employer must organize first aid, which practically involves trained personnel.
The reference training is that of the workplace first-aider (SST): 14 hours initially, followed by 7 hours of refresher training every two years to maintain certification. In terms of numbers, there must be enough SSTs present in each team, on each site, and at all times (including during holidays).
Note: Since 2021, employees must also be made aware of life-saving gestures before their retirement, during their working hours.
Construction site, kitchen, gym: emergency equipment according to the sector.
The basics remain the same everywhere, but each sector has its risks, and therefore its specific requirements:
Offices and retail: a basic first aid kit or cabinet is usually sufficient, plus a defibrillator if the establishment is required to have oneConstruction sites and green spaces: a kit in each vehicle, cold packs for injuries, and a survival blanket, as work is often done far from emergency servicesFood service and agri-food: a burn kit and blue bandages, which are easily visible if they fall into a preparation (there are even ones that metal detectors on production lines can detect)Sports facilities: the Sports Code requires a first aid kit, a means to quickly alert emergency services, and an organized rescue plan displayed, with useful numbersIndustry and laboratories: eye wash stations, safety showers, and, depending on the machines used, a kit for severed limbs
Expiration and maintenance: maintaining emergency equipment
First aid supplies are regularly checked: expiration dates of sterile dressings, antiseptic, and saline solution, as well as anything that has been used without being replaced. The simplest solution is to appoint a designated person responsible for checking the kit and restocking it after each use.
The defibrillator, on the other hand, is a medical device subject to maintenance requirements: one must follow the manufacturer's recommendations, monitor its status indicator, and timely replace the electrodes and battery. Public access establishments, like businesses that leave their device accessible, must also register it on Géo'DAE, the national database of defibrillators, along with the date of its last maintenance. As for safety showers, it is advisable to activate them at least once a month to drain stagnant water from the pipes (and prevent legionella).
In summary, an appropriate kit, trained personnel, and displayed emergency numbers form the minimum requirement for any business. The defibrillator, mandatory in most public access establishments, is highly recommended elsewhere... because when it is needed, every minute counts.
Note Well
ERP: a public establishment is any place where outside individuals are admitted, whether for free or not (store, restaurant, school, gym, train station...).DAE, DSA and DEA: the automated external defibrillator (AED) can be semi-automatic (DSA, you press a button to deliver the shock) or fully automatic (DEA, the shock is delivered automatically). In both cases, the device first analyzes the heart rhythm.