First Aid
First aid is the immediate, temporary care provided to an injured or ill person at the workplace before professional medical treatment is available, governed by provincial OHS first aid regulations.
What Is Workplace First Aid?
First aid in the workplace encompasses the initial response to injuries and sudden illnesses - from cleaning and bandaging minor cuts to managing life-threatening emergencies like cardiac arrest, severe bleeding, or chemical exposure until paramedics arrive.
Employer First Aid Requirements
- First aid kits: Stocked and accessible at each work location, contents defined by regulation based on workforce size and hazard level.
- Trained first aiders: A minimum number of workers must hold current first aid certification (varies by province: OFA in BC, Standard First Aid in most other provinces).
- First aid room: Required at larger sites or higher-hazard workplaces.
- First aid records: Every treatment must be documented in a first aid log.
- Emergency transportation: A plan to transport injured workers to medical facilities.
First Aid Certification Levels
Common levels include Emergency First Aid (1 day), Standard First Aid (2 days) and Advanced First Aid. The required level depends on workplace size, distance from emergency services and the types of hazards present.
Track First Aid Compliance
Make Safety Easy tracks first aid certifications and expiry dates, logs treatments digitally and monitors kit inspection schedules so your workplace is always compliant.