In brief
In sudden cardiac arrest the first minutes are decided by chest compressions and an early shock; for a person who is unresponsive and not breathing normally, call 112, ask for the AED and start chest compressions. The Regulation on Portable Automated External Defibrillators, in force since 1 January 2026, makes it mandatory to keep an AED by the end of 2026 in workplaces with 500 or more employees on the same campus at the same time, by the end of 2027 for 200 or more, and by the end of 2028 for 100 or more.
Sudden cardiac arrest: what happens in the first minutes?
In sudden cardiac arrest the heart stops pumping blood effectively; within seconds the person collapses, does not respond and does not breathe normally. Between the moment the ambulance sets off and its arrival, the only thing that can keep blood flowing to the brain is chest compressions performed by someone on the scene. CPR at work is therefore a skill not only for first aiders but for everyone who happens to be there at that moment.
For rhythm disturbances, the most common cause of cardiac arrest, the second critical intervention is an electric shock. A portable automated external defibrillator (AED) analyses the heart rhythm itself and delivers a shock only if there is a shockable rhythm. This article first explains the steps of basic life support, then what workplaces that keep an AED need to do about the device's location, maintenance and user training.
First aid is performed by first aiders who have completed training approved by the Ministry of Health. In cardiac arrest, however, waiting for the first aider wastes time; the steps below are written for everyone, and the 112 operator will also guide you over the phone.
CPR at work: basic life support steps
- Check the surroundings. If there is a hazard such as electricity, moving machinery or chemicals, remove it first; stop the machine and isolate the power.
- Check for a response. Tap the person gently on the shoulders and speak loudly.
- Call for help. If there is no response, shout for help; have one person call 112 and another fetch the AED. If you are alone, put the phone on speaker.
- Open the airway and assess breathing. Use the head tilt, chin lift position; look for no more than 10 seconds to see whether the person is breathing normally. Infrequent, noisy "gasping" breaths are not normal.
- Start chest compressions. If there is no normal breathing, lay the person on their back on a firm surface and start chest compressions immediately.
- Give 30 compressions to 2 breaths. If you are trained, give 2 rescue breaths after 30 chest compressions. If you are not trained or do not wish to give breaths, perform continuous chest compressions.
- Use the AED as soon as it arrives. Switch the device on without pausing compressions and follow the voice prompts.
- Do not stop. Continue until the ambulance team takes over, the person wakes and begins breathing normally, or you are exhausted. If there is more than one person, swap the person doing compressions roughly every 2 minutes.
| Parameter | Adult technique |
|---|---|
| Hand position | Centre of the chest, lower half of the breastbone |
| Depth | 5–6 cm |
| Rate | 100–120 compressions per minute |
| Ratio | 30 compressions : 2 breaths (if trained) |
| Chest recoil | Allow the chest to rise fully after each compression |
| Interruptions | Pauses in compressions are kept as short as possible |
Ribs may break during chest compressions; this is not a reason to stop. Doing nothing for fear of doing it wrong is the biggest mistake in cardiac arrest.
How to use an AED
AEDs work with voice prompts and guide the user step by step. The 2026 regulation requires devices to have voice prompts in at least Turkish and English. The sequence of use is:
- Switch the device on. When you open the lid or press the button, the device starts speaking.
- Expose and dry the chest. A wet chest is dried; if there is heavy hair, the pad area is cleared with the razor in the kit.
- Attach the pads. Following the picture on the pads, one goes below the right collarbone and the other a few centimetres below the left armpit, on the side of the chest wall. Any medication patch on the chest is removed.
- Nobody touches during analysis. While the device analyses the rhythm, compressions pause and you say "everyone stand clear".
- If a shock is needed: The regulation requires devices placed in workplaces to be fully automatic; a fully automatic device delivers the shock itself after a voice warning. Your job is to make sure that nobody touches the patient at that moment. With an older semi-automatic device, you press the shock button yourself.
- Return to compressions immediately. After the shock, or when the device says "no shock advised", continue with 30:2 without waiting. The device re-analyses roughly every 2 minutes; the pads are not removed.
When is an automated external defibrillator mandatory in the workplace?
The Regulation on Portable Automated External Defibrillators was published in Official Gazette No. 33102 of 9 December 2025 and entered into force on 1 January 2026. The regulation covers public institutions and organisations, private organisations, public transport vehicles and public spaces. Its Annex 1 lists the places where an AED must be kept in three phases. The rows relating to workplaces are:
| Deadline | Workplaces that must keep an AED |
|---|---|
| End of 2026 | Workplaces with 500 or more employees on the same campus at the same time (including the public sector) |
| End of 2027 | Workplaces with 200 or more employees on the same campus at the same time (including the public sector) |
| End of 2028 | Workplaces with 100 or more employees on the same campus at the same time (including the public sector) |
The same annex also lists places such as airports, shopping centres of a certain size, sports facilities, accommodation facilities and petrol stations. At the date of this article, the deadline for the 500-or-more threshold is about to expire; these workplaces must complete their preparations by the end of 2026, and workplaces with 200 or more employees by the end of 2027.
The threshold is expressed not as total payroll headcount but as the number of employees present "on the same campus at the same time". In shift-based facilities, assess how this wording applies together with your workplace physician and OHS specialist, and consult the provincial health directorate if in doubt. The regulation leaves the minimum number of devices and the principles of positioning to the Ministry (Art. 6/3).
AED location, signage and maintenance checks
Art. 6 of the regulation requires the device to be positioned where it can be reached as quickly as possible in an emergency, at a height everyone can see and reach. The device is not placed in a locked area or out of sight; it is kept in an alarmed, easy-to-open cabinet in a noticeable colour that protects it from heat, humidity, dust and rain. The cabinet carries instructions for use, and the location of the device is shown with warning signs.
When putting this into practice in a factory, answer the following questions:
- How long does it take to get to the device and back from the busiest production area, the canteen and the administrative building? Measure this time during a drill.
- On the night shift, is the building where the device is kept open, and does the security guard know where it is?
- Is the device's location shown in the emergency plan and on the evacuation plan?
- The regulation wants the device to be close primarily to trained users such as security staff; is the distance between the security lodge and the production area suitable?
The device tests itself and can transmit its status to OED-Net; even so, a regular visual check on site is needed:
| Check | Recommended frequency | Responsible |
|---|---|---|
| Is the status indicator showing "ready"? | Weekly | Security or first aider |
| Does the cabinet alarm work, is the cabinet unobstructed? | Weekly | Security |
| Pad and battery expiry dates | Monthly | Workplace nurse or first aider |
| Kit contents: spare pads, razor, scissors, gloves, mask | Monthly | First aider |
| After use: pad replacement, handover of the data record | After every use | Unit that purchased the device |
Record the checks on a form and track expiry dates with our OHS calendar tool. To plan it together with the first aid cabinet, see our article on first aid cabinet contents.
User training and drills
Under the regulation, an AED may be used by a healthcare professional, a first aider and a lay rescuer. A lay rescuer is a person who is not a healthcare professional, is present at the scene and provides first aid with the support of the health command and control centre within 112. In other words, no certificate is required to use the device, but training speeds up its use.
- First aiders: First aid training covers basic life support and AED use. The certificate is valid for 3 years; refresher training is taken in the 3 months before expiry. For details, see our article on the first aid certificate.
- All employees: A few minutes of practice in induction and refresher training: where the device is, calling 112, starting chest compressions.
- Security staff and shift supervisors: Know where the device is, how to open the cabinet and the meeting point for the ambulance.
- Drill: A cardiac arrest scenario is used in one of the annual emergency drills; the time it takes the AED to reach the scene is measured. For writing the scenario, see our article on the emergency drill.
Having enough first aiders on every shift is also part of the plan; for the night shift, our article on emergency teams on the night shift offers guidance. For large production facilities in Nilüfer and the surrounding OIZs (organised industrial zones) in Bursa, the device location and shift distribution need to be planned together. This planning falls within the scope of our workplace physician and emergency plan services.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can someone without training use an AED?
Yes. The regulation states that, in addition to healthcare professionals and first aiders, a lay rescuer may also use an AED. The device guides with voice prompts, and the 112 operator also provides support over the phone.
For how many employees is an AED mandatory?
An AED must be kept by the end of 2026 in workplaces with 500 or more employees on the same campus at the same time, by the end of 2027 for 200 or more, and by the end of 2028 for 100 or more.
Does an AED deliver unnecessary shocks?
An AED analyses the heart rhythm and delivers a shock only if it detects a shockable rhythm. The user's job is to make sure nobody touches the patient during analysis and shock, and to return to chest compressions immediately after the shock.
Where is a purchased AED registered?
It is registered in the Ministry of Health's OED-Net system within 30 days of purchase. The record includes the serial number, setting, location and floor.
A physician assigned for the time your hazard class requires: pre-employment and periodic examinations, fitness-for-work reports and health surveillance.
Bursa SİSTEMER OSGB Technical Team — written from the field experience of our OHS specialists and workplace physicians. Legal information is valid as of the publication/update date; contact us for an assessment specific to your business.