Workplace first aid requirements

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

What the law requires in Quebec

As a Canadian province, Quebec has its own occupational health and safety framework with jurisdiction over all workplaces.

No Quebec law prohibits online CPR/first-aid training. A workplace first aider must, however, hold a valid certificate conforming to CSA Z1210, which implies a practical assessment.

Region specifics

• The 16-hour 'Workplace First Aid' program is a subsidized program issued only by CNESST-contracted providers; the legal requirement is about designated workplace first aiders, and this specific subsidized certificate remains restricted to mandated providers.
• The 2026 reform lowers the threshold from 100 to 50 workers per first aider and aligns certificates to CSA Z1210 and kits to CSA Z1220.
• A first-aid room is required in establishments of 100+ workers, with resuscitation and transport equipment (stretcher, oxygen, etc.).
• The full course must be retaken to renew; there is no shortened refresher option.

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.