Workplace first aid requirements

First Aid & CPR Arkansas

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

What the law requires in Arkansas

How many designated first-aiders?

No fixed ratio of first-aiders to workers is mandated. 29 CFR 1910.151(b) requires that, absent an infirmary, clinic or hospital in 'near proximity,' one or more persons be adequately trained to render first aid. OSHA interprets 'near proximity' as a 3-to-4-minute response time in high-hazard settings (suffocation, severe bleeding, electrocution), and up to 15 minutes in low-hazard settings. The number of trained first-aiders must be commensurate with the workplace hazards.

AgencyFederal OSHA (no approved State Plan); enforced by the applicable federal OSHA area office
Governing actOccupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (federal, 29 U.S.C. § 651 et seq.)
Regulation29 CFR 1910.151 (Medical Services and First Aid) — general industry; 29 CFR 1926.50 for construction
Required trainingNo specific course, level or number of hours is mandated by law. 29 CFR 1910.151(b) is performance-based: the first-aider must be 'adequately trained' to render first aid appropriate to the workplace hazards. OSHA guidance (OSHA Best Practices Guide 3317, ANSI/ISEA Z308.1) points to first aid and, where hazards warrant, CPR/AED — but sets no mandatory syllabus or hour count.
Certification validity2-year certification · renew before expiry
Online training acceptanceOnline courses accepted

Arkansas follows federal OSHA standards (29 CFR 1910.151). Employers must ensure a trained first aider is on-site or that a medical facility is reachable within 3-4 minutes.

Online first-aid and CPR training is accepted for the workplace requirement: no explicit ban exists. OSHA nonetheless recommends a hands-on skills-demonstration component (especially for CPR).

Region specifics

  • Arkansas has no OSHA State Plan: federal OSHA applies directly to the private sector.
  • The duty is response-time-based (3-4 min / 15 min), not a fixed headcount of first-aiders.
  • OSHA sets no fixed certificate validity nor workplace training-hour count; 2-year validity = standard CPR/first-aid credential cycle.

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.

The course

Our course, built to the CSA Z1210-17 standard, 100% online and leading to a certification, meets and exceeds this requirement.

First Aid – Intermediate Level (16h) – CSA Z1210-17 CompliantWorkplace

First 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.

16 h14.78 $
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First Aider – General Public (8h)Workplace

First Aider – General Public (8h)

This 8-hour training, designed for the general public, provides essential knowledge for effective emergency intervention. It is intended for anyone wanting to learn first aid skills, such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), wound and bleeding management, or the handling of critical situations. Accessible and practical, this course develops vital skills for protecting and rescuing loved ones or anyone in danger, thereby strengthening community safety.

8 h9.64 $
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