The One Legal Requirement Most Singapore Companies Overlook - Occupational First Aid

Workplace safety is paramount to protect employees and maintain a productive, secure environment.

If you’re an HR professional, safety officer, or business owner in Singapore, this may come as a surprise…

Did you know it’s mandatory under Singapore regulations for certain workplaces to have trained first aiders?

Yes, it’s not just a “good-to-have”—it’s a legal requirement under the Workplace Safety and Health (First-Aid) Regulations. Yet, many companies are unknowingly in breach.

So here’s what you need to know—and why ignoring this could cost more than you think.

First, What Does the Regulations Say?

According to the Workplace Safety and Health (First-Aid) Act, Chapter 354A, Section 65:

“Every workplace shall have a sufficient number of persons adequately trained in first-aid and who shall be available during working hours.” (Source: sso.agc.gov.sg)

Let’s break that down:

• If your company has 10 or more employees, or

• If the nature of your work involves physical risks (e.g. manufacturing, construction, logistics, F&B, etc.),

Then by law, you must send employees for Occupational First Aid training and maintain proper first aid facilities on-site.

Still unsure if this applies to your workplace? If you have a risk management plan or are subject to WSH audits—chances are, it does.

Why Is This So Important?

Let’s look at real headlines from just the past year in Singapore:

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/workplace-deaths-construction-sector-second-half-2024-manpower-ministry-4805621#:~:text=In%20the%20second%20incident%20on,about%2010m%20on%20the%20ground

🚧 Fatal Fall from Warehouse Roof (Dec 2024)

A 21-year-old worker fell 10 metres through a skylight and died on-site.

👉 Would trained first aiders have helped in those critical minutes? Perhaps not saved—but stabilised, reported faster, and followed proper emergency protocols.

🔗 https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/pasir-panjang-terminal-3-accident-forklift-operator-injured-shipping-container-psa-4769016#:~:text=Closed,shipping%20container%20with%20the%20forklift

🛠️ Forklift Operator Crushed by Toppled Containers (Nov 2024)

A worker was seriously injured when containers fell onto his forklift. He survived—likely due to quick action and timely emergency care.

🔗 https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/workplace-deaths-construction-sector-second-half-2024-manpower-ministry-4805621#:~:text=On%20Dec%208%2C%20at%20about,have%20received%20an%20electric%20shock

⚡ Worker Electrocuted in Changi (Dec 2024)

A 27-year-old suffered a fatal electric shock while pulling cables.

Had a trained first aider with CPR/AED skills been on-site, the outcome might have been different.

🔗 https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/worksite-death-tengah-hdb-plantation-edge-bto-indian-national-construction-workplace-safety-mom-4843271#:~:text=An%20Indian%20worker%20was%20fatally,in%20Tengah%20on%20Jan%202

🏗️ Worker Hit by Concrete Hose at Tengah Site (Jan 2025)

A 29-year-old Indian worker died after being struck in the chest by a concrete pump hose when the truck tipped over.

🔗 https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/construction-worker-dies-reversing-dump-truck-man-arrested-tanah-merah-coast-changi-east-4576651#:~:text=SINGAPORE%3A%20A%2035,MOM%29%20on%20Friday

🚛 Struck by Dump Truck at Changi East (Aug 2024)

A 35-year-old worker was hit and killed by a reversing dump truck—there was no proper traffic guide or spotter.

These aren’t just statistics—they’re wake-up calls.

In emergency moments, even one minute can make the difference between life, permanent injury, or death. That’s where trained first aiders matter.

What Exactly Is the Occupational First Aid Course?

At First Aid Training Centre Pte Ltd, our Occupational First Aid Course (OFAC) is MOM-recognised and WSQ-certified.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

• CPR & AED use

• Bleeding control and fracture management

• Handling burns, electric shocks, and unconscious casualties

• Managing workplace-specific scenarios

• First aid kit requirements and legal responsibilities

Upon completion, your employees will be certified and your workplace compliant with the WSH Act.

✅ Course duration: 3 days

✅ Certification validity: 2 years

✅ SkillsFuture & WSQ funding available

👉 Click here to register or learn more.

Yes, there are penalties for non-compliance. But more importantly—it’s about protecting your people. Workplace accidents can happen anywhere, even in offices. A colleague collapses. A cleaner slips. A technician gets shocked. The response in those first moments matters. So if your workplace doesn’t yet have certified first aiders, this is your chance to fix that—and stay ahead of the law, not behind it.

Take Action Now

Don’t wait for an incident or audit to force your hand. Be proactive.

👉 Send your staff for the Occupational First Aid Course today to safeguard your compliance and your team’s lives.