Workplace first aid requirements

If you run or manage a workplace in Costa Rica — 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 Costa Rica.

What the law requires in Costa Rica

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

No explicit ban on online first-aid training for the workplace; the law and regulations require first-aid capability without prescribing the format.

Region specifics

• An occupational health commission (Comisión de Salud Ocupacional) is mandatory from 10 workers.
• The Occupational Health Council funds preventive programs with 50% of the surplus of the work-risk insurance.

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.