Employee training in CPR and the Heimlich maneuver is becoming increasingly important within the framework of occupational health and safety. Law 5239/2025 introduces specific obligations for businesses, strengthening operational preparedness and the ability to respond immediately to critical incidents in the workplace.
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and the Heimlich maneuver are essential first-response skills that can significantly contribute to the protection of human life in cases of cardiac arrest, choking incidents or other workplace emergencies.
The New Legal Requirement
Law 5239/2025 introduces a specific obligation for employee training in CPR and the Heimlich maneuver, strengthening the existing framework for first aid, fire safety, evacuation procedures and the management of serious and immediate workplace risks. The regulation is incorporated into Article 535 of the Greek Labour Code, which addresses first aid, fire protection, employee evacuation and emergency risk management.
According to the provision, employers are required to organize appropriate employee training per facility, depending on the number of employees and the operational needs of the business.
Requirements per Facility
For facilities employing up to fifty (50) employees, training is provided through educational videos and materials offered free of charge by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security through its official platform for first aid training.
For facilities employing more than fifty (50) employees, training must be delivered by certified first aid training providers and must cover at least 50% of the employees of the facility at least every three (3) years.
Practical Implementation and Operational Preparedness
This obligation should be approached as a key element of operational readiness and workplace safety culture. CPR and Heimlich maneuver training strengthens personnel preparedness and may prove critical in cases of cardiac arrest, choking incidents or other emergency situations within the workplace.
In practice, businesses are required to assess their facilities, the number of employees per site and the appropriate method for fulfilling the obligation. At the same time, proper training documentation, monitoring of training frequency and integration with risk assessment procedures, emergency response measures and incident management planning become increasingly important.
The effective implementation of the requirement helps employees understand both the core first-response actions and their role within the overall emergency preparedness framework of the facility.
Connection with ISO 45001 and ISO 39001
The new requirement can be effectively integrated into occupational health and safety management systems such as ISO 45001, strengthening employee competence, emergency preparedness and the overall prevention culture of the organization.
For businesses operating vehicle fleets, transportation activities or increased exposure to road safety risks, first-response preparedness can also be aligned with ISO 39001 for road traffic safety management.
Integrating the new requirement into management systems contributes to a stronger culture of prevention, employee protection and structured operational management.
QLC Support
At QLC – Quality Lean Center, as Certification, Business Development, Research and Innovation Consultants, we support businesses in understanding, organizing and documenting occupational health and safety requirements.
Our support includes the assessment of obligations per facility, alignment with ISO 45001 and ISO 39001 requirements, organization of documentation and preparation for compliance audits and inspections.
The proper implementation of employee CPR and Heimlich maneuver training strengthens employee protection, business reliability and the overall workplace safety culture.
Contact QLC’s Certification Consultants for documented support regarding occupational health and safety compliance requirements: info@qlc.gr · +30 2610 524 550 (Patras) · +30 210 444 9256 (Athens).