Workplace first aid requirements

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

What the law requires in Uruguay

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

Decree 291/007 requires prevention training without prescribing a format; the hands-on first-aid component stays in person. Grey zone: accepted.

Region specifics

• Bipartite/tripartite framework: Decree 291/007 (from ILO Convention 155) creates sectoral commissions and a National Council for Occupational Health and Safety for dialogue and prevention.

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.