Workplace first aid requirements
First Aid & CPR Panama
If you run or manage a workplace in Panama — 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 Panama.
What the law requires in Panama
How many designated first-aiders?
Occupational-risk prevention plans must include, as minimum content, worker health surveillance and first-aid care (art. 23), and the employer must promote first-aid training for designated personnel. The requirement is a risk-appropriate first-aid and brigade capability rather than a fixed numeric ratio per worker.
Panama 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 regulation mandates promoting training without fixing the format.
Region specifics
- A safety and hygiene committee is required in workplaces; the CSS oversees compliance through its National Occupational Health and Safety Subdivision.
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.
Is this really what you're looking for?
Our first-aid and CPR courses are 100% online, lead to a recognized certification, and exceed the required standards; a hybrid option is also available and fits most needs. Choose the course that fits your situation:
The course
Our course, built to the CSA Z1210-17 standard, 100% online and leading to a certification, meets and exceeds this requirement.
CSA Z1210-17First Aid – Healthcare Professional (16h) - Compliant with CSA Z1210-17
This 16-hour first aid training, compliant with the CSA Z1210-17 standard, is specifically designed for healthcare professionals. Upon completion, the candidate will receive a certification valid for two years, meeting the requirements of 'Intermediate First Aid Training' as defined in the CSA Z1210-17 standard. Skills will be updated annually, and the training must be renewed every two years to maintain active certification. Tailored for nurses, it strengthens the safety of residents in long-term care facilities and other healthcare settings.
CSA Z1210-17First Aid – Intermediate Level (16h) – CSA Z1210-17 Compliant
Upon successful completion of this 16-hour IN-PERSON intermediate-level first aid training, the candidate will receive a valid certification that meets the requirements of 'Intermediate First Aid Training' as defined in the CSA Z1210-17 standard.
Specifically need the "Workplace first aid" certificate?
That specific regulatory certificate must be completed in full with the legislating body: Ministry of Labor and Workforce Development (MITRADEL) and the Social Security Fund (CSS).
Entities delivering first-aid training must be registered with the Ministry of Health and submit their list of endorsed instructors; an unregistered provider cannot officially certify the training. As an unregistered online platform, we only complement the hands-on training of an authorised provider.