Workplace First Aid Training in France – Occupational First Aider (SST)

Formation SST en entreprise : informations clés

🇫🇷 French-speaking participants: Formation SST initiale — référentiel complet en français  ·  Recyclage MAC SST

Dans de nombreuses entreprises, un accident du travail survient sans qu’aucun salarié ne soit capable d’intervenir immédiatement. Un salarié formé SST qui intervient dans les premières minutes peut faire la différence entre une blessure grave et un pronostic vital engagé. C’est précisément ce vide opérationnel que le secourisme en entreprise vient combler.

What is SST training?

The Sauveteur Secouriste du Travail is a company employee trained to perform two complementary roles: provide immediate first aid to any victim of a workplace accident or sudden illness, and act as an occupational risk prevention agent within the organization. This dual role is what fundamentally distinguishes the SST from a standard first aider. A PSC1-certified person knows how to respond in an emergency. The SST goes further: they understand the specific hazards of their company, know who to report them to, how to contribute to reducing them, and how to integrate into the internal emergency response chain. The initial SST course runs 14 hours in person over 2 days. It is delivered by a certified trainer belonging to an organization accredited by the Assurance maladie Risques professionnels network and INRS. Upon completion, the SST certificate is issued to participants who pass the certification assessments. It is valid for 24 months nationally and is equivalent to the PSC1 qualification under the decree of 5 December 2002.

Is SST training mandatory in France ?

SST training is not mandatory for all employees, but employers must train first aiders in workshops and worksites presenting specific hazards (Article R4224-15 of the Labour Code). Article L4121-1 requires employers to take all necessary measures to ensure the safety and protect the physical and mental health of their employees: training SST first aiders is a direct component of this general obligation. Training Workplace First Aiders enables the company to: respond from the very first minutes and reduce the human consequences of accidents · meet the regulatory requirement for organized emergency response · integrate active day-to-day risk prevention into operations · demonstrate compliance during a labour inspectorate audit or CARSAT assessment.

How many SST first aiders does a company need?

There is no fixed mandatory number. The headcount must be determined according to risks, working hours, and organizational structure. In practice, training one SST per team and per shift is the recommendation generally endorsed by occupational health services and CARSAT to ensure continuous coverage.

En pratique, former un SST par équipe et par shift est la recommandation généralement retenue par les services de prévention et la CARSAT pour garantir une couverture permanente

Duration, validity and certificate renewal

An SST first aider who has not completed their MAC SST refresher within 24 months can no longer be considered a valid first aider within the company’s emergency response organization. An employer who has not arranged the renewal is exposed to liability in the event of a workplace accident.

Learning objectives

Le SST applique une méthode structurée : protéger, examiner, alerter, secourir. Cette conduite à tenir constitue la base de toute intervention efficace en entreprise, en attendant le relais avec les secours extérieurs.

The SST (Occupational First Aider) follows a structured emergency response approach based on four key steps: Protect, Examine, Alert, and Provide First Aid.

Upon successful completion of the SST training, each participant will be able to:

• Understand the role of the SST within the company’s emergency response and occupational risk prevention system.
• Identify persistent hazards and secure the intervention area without putting themselves or others at risk.
• Examine a casualty and recognize signs of life-threatening distress.
• Alert the appropriate emergency services by delivering a clear, accurate, and complete emergency message.
• Provide appropriate first aid according to the victim’s condition and the emergency situation.
• Safely use an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) in the event of cardiac arrest.
• Identify hazardous situations in the workplace and report them through the appropriate channels.
• Contribute actively to the implementation and continuous improvement of occupational risk prevention measures within the company.

The 8 certified SST competencies

Domain 1 : Responding to a workplace accident

Competency 1: Position the SST role within the company’s emergency response organization and identify the legal framework of the intervention.
Competency 2: Protect appropriately: suppress or isolate the persistent hazard, or extract the victim without self-exposure.
Competency 3: Examine the victim: identify signs of immediate life threat and prioritize actions accordingly.
Competency 4: Alert emergency services: define the content of the alert message, identify who to contact and ensure the alert is transmitted as quickly as possible.
Competency 5: Provide appropriate first aid: select and perform the correct action, monitor the victim’s condition until handover to emergency services.

Domain 2 : Contributing to occupational risk prevention

Competency 6: Position the SST role within the company’s prevention organization and act as a prevention agent.
Competency 7: Characterize occupational hazards: identify dangers, determine risks and their potential consequences.
Competency 8: Participate in risk control: eliminate or reduce accessible risks, transmit information to those responsible for prevention, and propose improvement actions.

COURSE PROGRAMME

MAC SST Refresher : Workplace First Aid Renewal

Is your SST certificate about to expire? The MAC SST refresher must be completed every 24 months to maintain the certificate’s validity. Our team organizes sessions in English at Pontault-Combault and can also deliver training directly at your premises anywhere in France. Need to organize SST training for your international team in France?

Which sectors need SST first aiders in France?

SST training applies to all sectors of activity. In workshops presenting hazardous work and on certain worksites, the presence of SST-trained employees is mandatory under the Labour Code. International groups particularly concerned include manufacturing and industrial sites, construction and civil engineering, logistics and warehousing, corporate headquarters and office environments, healthcare and social care, education and research.

In-company Workplace First Aid Training Anywhere in France

Our INRS-certified Occupational First Aid (SST) trainers deliver the training directly at your premises anywhere in France. The course is taught entirely in English and adapted to your company’s working environment, occupational hazards and internal emergency procedures.

We travel with all the equipment required for practical training, including adult, child and infant CPR training manikins, training Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs), complete first aid training kits, professional simulation equipment, individual training materials and scenario-based practical exercises tailored to your industry.

Whether your teams work in manufacturing, logistics, construction, healthcare, laboratories, offices or international headquarters, the practical scenarios are adapted to the specific risks encountered in your workplace.

Funding for international companies in France

SST training is not eligible for funding through the French CPF (Personal Training Account).

Funding is generally provided through:

• The employer.
• The company’s Skills Development Plan.
• The appropriate OPCO (French Skills Funding Operator).

Main OPCO funding bodies

• OPCO 2i – Manufacturing, industrial production, automotive and aerospace.
• Constructys – Construction and civil engineering.
• AKTO – Security, cleaning services and temporary staffing.
• OPCO EP – Retail, craft trades and liberal professions.
• AFDAS – Media, audiovisual, culture and creative industries.

Our team assists you throughout the entire funding process, including eligibility checks, administrative formalities and the preparation of your OPCO funding application before the training begins.

Performance indicators

Why choose Sécurité Premium Formation for your SST training in France ?

What our clients say

Regulatory references

FAQ : Workplace First Aid Training (SST) in France

What is SST training ?

SST training (Sauveteur Secouriste du Travail) enables any employee to acquire the competencies needed to respond effectively to a workplace accident and contribute to occupational risk prevention within their company. The course runs 14 hours over 2 days and leads to a certificate valid for 24 months, registered in FORPREV.

Is SST training mandatory in France ?

SST training is not mandatory for all employees, but employers must train first aiders in every workshop where hazardous work is carried out (Article R4224-15 of the Labour Code) and on every worksite with at least 20 workers for more than 15 days. Beyond this legal minimum, the number of SST first aiders must be sized according to risks, working hours, and the actual organization of the company.

Are there any prerequisites for SST training ?

No prerequisites are required. SST training is open to any employee, regardless of their level or sector of activity.

How long does the initial SST course last ?

The initial SST course runs 14 hours in person, delivered over 2 consecutive or spaced days. This is a mandatory minimum duration that cannot be reduced.

How long is the SST certificate valid ?

The SST certificate is valid for 24 months from the date of issue. Before this period expires, the holder must complete a MAC SST refresher course (7 hours) to renew their certification. Without this refresher, they lose their recognized first aider status within the company’s emergency response organization.

Can SST training be delivered entirely in English ?

Yes. Sécurité Premium Formation delivers SST training in English for international groups at its Pontault-Combault center in Île-de-France, and in-company anywhere in France. All certification assessments and certificates comply fully with INRS requirements. Bilingual French/English documentation is provided for HR and regulatory records.

Is SST training fundable through French OPCO operators ?

Yes, for companies subject to French labor law and contributing to a sectoral OPCO. The application must be submitted before the course starts. SPFormation handles the full administrative process, from identifying the competent operator to submitting the funding application.

What is the difference between SST and PSC1 ?

The PSC1 covers first aid in a general context. The SST goes further by integrating company-specific occupational hazards, the first aider’s prevention role within the company, and the internal emergency response organization. SST is the certification recommended by INRS for employees in a company context.

What is the difference between SST and First Aid at Work (UK) ?

The UK First Aid at Work (FAW) qualification is regulated by the HSE and typically runs 18 hours. The French SST is regulated by INRS, runs 14 hours, and includes a mandatory occupational risk prevention component that FAW does not cover. Both certifications are valid only in their respective country. Companies operating in France must comply with French Labour Code requirements and obtain SST certification registered in FORPREV, regardless of any qualifications obtained abroad.

When should the MAC SST refresher be scheduled ?

The MAC SST must be completed before the 24-month expiry of the SST certificate. We recommend anticipating renewal 2 to 3 months before the FORPREV deadline. For companies with multiple SST-certified employees, grouping renewals into a single in-company session simplifies tracking and reduces the per-participant cost.