A defibrillator should be installed in a visible location that employees know and can reach without delay. The best location is not necessarily the most central point on the building plan. It is the location that allows the device to be retrieved quickly and brought back to the casualty without encountering a locked door, secure access point or other obstacle.<\/p>\n\n
The choice depends on the layout of the premises, operating hours, people flows and the risks specific to the site. SafetyFirst supports businesses with the sale and installation of AEDs<\/a>, adapting the equipment, its location and its signage to the building\u2019s actual constraints.<\/p>\n\n In the event of cardiac arrest, having a defibrillator in the building is not enough. The device must be easy to find, remove and bring quickly to the casualty.<\/p>\n\n The time to assess corresponds to a round trip:<\/p>\n\n This route should be tested under the site\u2019s normal operating conditions. Stairs, lifts, fire doors, badge-controlled access points, obstructed corridors and distances between buildings must all be taken into account.<\/p>\n\n Suva recommends placing the defibrillator in a central and easily accessible location while integrating it into the company\u2019s emergency plan. The aim is therefore not to find an available wall, but to reduce the time between the cardiac arrest and the arrival of the device.<\/p>\n\n An AED analyses the heart rhythm and guides the user during the intervention. Employees can also familiarise themselves with the main steps for using a defibrillator in an emergency<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n A company operating from a single office floor does not have the same needs as a logistics centre, factory or campus made up of several buildings.<\/p>\n\n The number of employees alone is therefore not enough to determine the right location. The following must also be assessed:<\/p>\n\n Two companies of a similar size may therefore need different numbers of defibrillators depending on the layout of their premises.<\/p>\n\n The defibrillator must be easy to identify without having to open several doors or ask where it is. A clear wall in a busy area is generally preferable to a discreet room, even if the latter seems better protected.<\/p>\n\n Locations that are often suitable include:<\/p>\n\n Visibility should be checked from the natural routes used by employees and visitors. A cabinet placed behind a door, piece of furniture, plant or noticeboard becomes harder to identify in a stressful situation.<\/p>\n\n The pictogram must also remain visible when the hall or corridor is busy.<\/p>\n\n The defibrillator should not be reserved for a few managers or first aiders. In an emergency, the nearest person may be an employee, visitor, contractor or temporary worker.<\/p>\n\n It is preferable to avoid:<\/p>\n\n Protection against theft or damage must remain compatible with immediate access. For example, a cabinet fitted with an opening alarm can signal that the device has been removed without preventing its use.<\/p>\n\n A defibrillator placed at reception may be fully accessible during the day but unusable when reception is closed.<\/p>\n\n This issue is particularly relevant to:<\/p>\n\n The location must remain accessible whenever employees, visitors or contractors are present.<\/p>\n\n Automatic doors, gates, lifts and badge-controlled access points must therefore be tested outside administrative hours. It must also be verified that a power cut or partial closure of the building will not prevent access to the AED.<\/p>\n\n The distance shown on a plan can be misleading. Two areas separated by just a few dozen metres may require a long detour because of a secure door, staircase or change of level.<\/p>\n\n To assess a location, start with the areas that are furthest away or most difficult to access:<\/p>\n\n The test is best carried out during an operating period. A clear corridor in the morning may become difficult to cross during a delivery, shift change or period of heavy traffic.<\/p>\n\n The defibrillator must be protected from conditions that could affect its operation or make it more difficult to use.<\/p>\n\n In an outdoor area, warehouse or workshop, the following factors must be considered in particular:<\/p>\n\n These constraints influence the choice of protection and the precise location. They must be assessed during the site survey and installation.<\/p>\n\n The entrance hall or reception is often a suitable location. This area is generally visible, familiar to employees and easy to indicate to visitors and emergency services.<\/p>\n\n This solution is suitable only if reception is:<\/p>\n\n In a large building, a device placed at the entrance may be too far from a workshop, upper floor or warehouse at the rear of the site.<\/p>\n\n Reception should therefore be considered a possible location, not an automatic solution.<\/p>\n\n In administrative premises, the defibrillator can be placed in a central corridor, near a common area or close to the main circulation core.<\/p>\n\n It is better to avoid installing it inside an office, even if it is the office of a safety manager or first aider. The office may be closed or unoccupied when the emergency occurs.<\/p>\n\n Large meeting rooms, auditoriums, cafeterias and reception areas deserve particular attention. They may temporarily bring together a large number of people, including visitors who are unfamiliar with the premises.<\/p>\n\n In a multi-storey building, locating the device near the stairs and lifts may seem practical. However, it must be verified that the location remains visible and does not create an excessively long route from the ends of each floor.<\/p>\n\n In an industrial area, the location must take account of distances, noise, secure access and the movement of people or vehicles.<\/p>\n\n A defibrillator installed in the administrative offices does not necessarily cover:<\/p>\n\n The device must be accessible without requiring the responder to cross an area presenting an additional hazard. The person retrieving it should not have to move near an operating machine, cross a route reserved for forklifts or enter an area requiring specific equipment.<\/p>\n\n In a noisy environment, visual signage and the allocation of roles become even more important. An alert that is only audible may not be heard in every area.<\/p>\n\n Companies exposed to mechanical, thermal or logistical risks can also strengthen their preparedness with training in life-threatening emergencies and trauma in the workplace<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n A company gym, outdoor sports field, fitness area or changing rooms may justify locating a device nearby.<\/p>\n\n The AED should be located along the natural route to the sports area rather than in a distant administrative office. Its accessibility in the evening and at weekends must also be checked when these facilities remain open outside normal operating hours.<\/p>\n\n When the sports area is separate from the main building, a dedicated device may be necessary. The decision depends on the retrieval time, access arrangements and actual usage levels.<\/p>\n\n Car parks, garages, guard posts and secondary buildings are sometimes overlooked when choosing a location.<\/p>\n\n Yet these areas may be used early in the morning, late in the evening or outside reception opening hours. They may also be far from the main defibrillator or separated by secure doors.<\/p>\n\n The following must therefore be checked:<\/p>\n\n For a device located outdoors, protection against extreme temperatures, humidity and direct exposure to sunlight must be appropriate.<\/p>\n\n A badge-controlled door may seem easy for a regular employee to pass through. In a stressful situation, however, it can become an obstacle if the person does not have their badge with them or belongs to another team.<\/p>\n\n The same problem can arise with a key kept at reception, a code known only to a few managers or a locked cabinet.<\/p>\n\n Access to the AED should remain as direct as possible. Each additional step increases the risk of hesitation and wasted time.<\/p>\n\n In a multi-storey building, a single device located on the ground floor is not always sufficient.<\/p>\n\n The lift may be far away, occupied or unusable in certain circumstances. Stairs slow the journey, especially when the person has to go down and then back up with the device.<\/p>\n\n The retrieval time must be measured from every occupied floor. This check helps determine whether a second defibrillator is necessary.<\/p>\n\n Internal first aiders must know where the device is, but they may not be present when cardiac arrest occurs.<\/p>\n\n The information must therefore be shared with all teams. The location can be indicated:<\/p>\n\n Complicated access, poor allocation of roles or insufficiently familiar instructions are among the common workplace first-aid mistakes<\/a> that regular preparation can help correct.<\/p>\n\n A suitable location may no longer be suitable after renovations or changes to the layout.<\/p>\n\n A new partition, secure door, relocated reception area or closed corridor can change the access time. The choice must therefore be reassessed after:<\/p>\n\n The signage must make it possible to identify the AED\u2019s location immediately. The pictogram must be visible above or near the cabinet and not be obscured by furniture or an open door.<\/p>\n\n The installation height must make the sign easy to spot in a busy area, even when several people are moving through the corridor or hall.<\/p>\n\n The cabinet itself must stand out from its surroundings. A discreet installation or one that matches the furniture may look attractive, but it slows down identification of the device.<\/p>\n\n When the defibrillator is not directly visible, directional signs must guide users to it.<\/p>\n\n Signs with arrows may be necessary:<\/p>\n\n The signage must lead all the way to the device without creating ambiguity. An isolated pictogram without directional information can waste time.<\/p>\n\n The location of the AED must appear on the company\u2019s emergency plan. Physical signage should be supplemented by simple instructions indicating the essential actions:<\/p>\n\n This preparation is part of a coherent workplace safety and emergency response organisation<\/a> suited to the risks, staffing levels and layout of the site.<\/p>\n\n In a large building, the question is not simply where to install a device. It is necessary to determine which areas can be reached quickly from each location.<\/p>\n\n A coverage area may correspond to:<\/p>\n\n This approach prevents a defibrillator from being theoretically available on the site but too far away from certain teams.<\/p>\n\n Testing should begin in the furthest areas, not in spaces located near reception.<\/p>\n\n For each area, the following must be checked:<\/p>\n\n A simple simulation often reveals difficulties that are invisible on a plan.<\/p>\n\n It is useful to have the test carried out by someone who is not very familiar with the building. This helps verify whether the signage is clear enough for a visitor or new employee.<\/p>\n\n Several AEDs may be necessary when a company occupies several floors, buildings or areas separated by access controls.<\/p>\n\n This is particularly the case when:<\/p>\n\n There is no universal number of devices that applies to every company. The decision must be based on the actual coverage of the site and the time needed to bring an AED to a casualty.<\/p>\n\n A suitable location is not enough if no one knows how to respond. The company must plan a simple organisation:<\/p>\n\n These roles can be adapted to the size and activity of the company. The key is to prevent several witnesses from waiting for instructions or all leaving to fetch the device.<\/p>\n\n This organisation can be formalised by choosing to integrate BLS-AED into the company\u2019s MSST action plan<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n An automated external defibrillator analyses the heart rhythm and guides the user with visual or voice instructions. Training nevertheless remains useful for quickly recognising cardiac arrest, starting chest compressions and using the device with less hesitation.<\/p>\n\nReducing the time needed to retrieve the device<\/h3>\n\n
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Adapting the location to the site layout<\/h3>\n\n
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The essential criteria for choosing an AED location<\/h2>\n\n
A device that is immediately visible<\/h3>\n\n
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Easy access for everyone on site<\/h3>\n\n
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Accessibility suited to actual operating hours<\/h3>\n\n
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Distance assessed under real conditions<\/h3>\n\n
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An environment suitable for the device<\/h3>\n\n
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The best locations according to the type of space<\/h2>\n\n
Entrance hall and reception<\/h3>\n\n
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Offices, open-plan areas and meeting rooms<\/h3>\n\n
Production areas, workshops and warehouses<\/h3>\n\n
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Sports facilities and areas involving physical exertion<\/h3>\n\n
Car parks, garages and outlying buildings<\/h3>\n\n
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Obstacles that can make a defibrillator inaccessible<\/h2>\n\n
Doors, badges and keys<\/h3>\n\n
Stairs and lifts<\/h3>\n\n
A location known only to first aiders<\/h3>\n\n
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Changes to the layout of the premises<\/h3>\n\n
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How should a defibrillator be signposted in a workplace?<\/h2>\n\n
Making the device identifiable from a distance<\/h3>\n\n
Providing guidance from the main routes<\/h3>\n\n
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Linking signage to emergency instructions<\/h3>\n\n
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Where should AEDs be placed in a large building?<\/h2>\n\n
Think in terms of coverage areas<\/h3>\n\n
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Test routes from the most challenging locations<\/h3>\n\n
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Plan for several devices on large sites<\/h3>\n\n
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Integrating the defibrillator into the emergency organisation<\/h2>\n\n
Assigning roles before an emergency<\/h3>\n\n
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Training employees to use the AED<\/h3>\n\n