AED Placement in the Workplace NZ: Where to Put a Defibrillator and Why It Matters

Why AED Placement Matters More Than Having One

Most businesses that invest in an AED make one critical mistake: they mount it in a back room, a first aid cupboard, or behind a locked door. The device exists on paper. In a cardiac emergency, it is useless.

Sudden cardiac arrest gives you minutes, not time to search. For every minute that passes without defibrillation, survival drops by 7 to 10 percent. With the average NZ ambulance taking 14 to 20 minutes to arrive in urban areas, an AED on your wall is only as good as how quickly someone can reach it.

What WorkSafe NZ Requires

WorkSafe NZ does not currently mandate AEDs in every workplace by a fixed number. What the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 (HSWA) does require is that every employer:

• Conduct a first aid needs assessment based on the nature and size of their business
• Provide adequate first aid equipment, facilities, and trained responders
• Ensure first aid can be administered promptly in an emergency

For higher-risk workplaces including manufacturing, construction, warehousing, and food processing, that assessment almost always leads to the recommendation of an AED. For office environments with 50 or more people, it is widely considered best practice and is increasingly expected by WorkSafe inspectors.

The key phrase from WorkSafe NZ guidance is “promptly accessible” — mounted visibly, clearly signposted, and reachable by any person on site within 3 minutes on foot.

Where to Place an AED in Your NZ Workplace

Offices and Commercial Buildings

• Reception or main entrance — highest foot traffic, most visible, accessible to visitors and staff
• Kitchen or lunchroom — high-use area where people are present throughout the day
• One per floor for multi-storey buildings — do not assume someone can safely use stairs or a lift during a cardiac event
• Mount at eye height (1.2 to 1.5 metres) with clear AED signage visible from at least 10 metres away

Warehouses and Industrial Sites

• Apply the 3-minute / 240-metre rule to every work zone
• Prioritise zones where heavy lifting, machinery, or electrical work occurs
• Mount near the site entrance and at workstation clusters, not just the office block

Retail and Hospitality

• Service counters or staff areas near the shop floor
• Must be reachable in an emergency without a key or access code
• For larger hospitality venues, consider placement near the bar, kitchen entry, or main events area

Construction Sites

• Site office or welfare unit — the central point where most workers pass through
• Consider a portable AED for large outdoor sites where the fixed unit may be too far away

Signage and Visibility

An AED that no one can find in a panic is useless. Every person on your site should be able to answer immediately: where is the AED?

• Mount the AED sign above the unit so it is visible above cubicle walls and furniture
• Include directional signs in corridors pointing toward the nearest AED
• Add the AED location to your site induction, emergency action plan, and evacuation notices

Who Can Use an AED?

AEDs are designed to be used by anyone including untrained bystanders. The device analyses the heart rhythm and will not deliver a shock unless one is required. You cannot accidentally harm a patient with a modern AED.

WorkSafe NZ still recommends formal CPR and AED training for designated first aid responders — at least one trained responder per 25 workers in lower-risk workplaces. Alsco Uniforms NZ offers AED supply and onsite AED training for groups of up to 10 people.

For more on NZ first aid compliance, see our complete guide: WorkSafe NZ First Aid Requirements: The Complete 2026 Employer Guide.

AED Maintenance: Your Responsibilities

• Monthly visual check — confirm the device is in place, undamaged, and the status indicator shows ready
• Battery and pad expiry tracking — both must be replaced before they expire
• Post-use reset — after any use, the AED must be professionally serviced before returning to deployment
• Annual service — a formal inspection by a qualified technician or supplier

Alsco Uniforms NZ manages this as part of our First Response service — supply, consumable tracking, and maintenance included. Our managed first aid kit service works the same way.

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