First aid
Last updated on November 6, 2024
First aid is emergency care given immediately to an injured person.
First aid helps prevent injury and future disability. In serious cases, it may save a life.
First aid services are required under the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation.
As of November 1, 2024, the level of first aid at your workplace is determined by:
- Staff numbers
- Proximity to a BC Ambulance Station
- ​Accessibility of the workplace to BC Ambulance staff
- ​Activities of the workplace
On this page
- New first aid regulations effective November 1, 2024
- First aid attendants (FAA) roles and responsibilities
- First aid kits
- First aid certification and training
- First aid records
- First aid reporting
- Hepatitis B vaccination
- Resources
New first aid regulations effective November 1, 2024
Requirements for first aid in all BC workplaces, including the BC Public Service, are changing. WorkSafeBC made these changes in the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation (OHSR), and they take effect on November 1, 2024.
All BC Public Service workplaces must complete a new first aid assessment to determine their new first aid requirements. The first aid assessment includes new factors to be considered and different requirements for levels of training, first aid kit contents and other equipment.
The first aid assessment using the new criteria must be completed by all workplaces by October 31, 2024. This timeline ensures a first aid attendant with the right training is available during the operational hours of the workplace and the workplace has the appropriate supply of first aid equipment.
See the WorkSafeBC website or YouTube channel to view an informational video.
Frequently asked questions
First aid responsibilities: assessments, attendants, supplies and procedure
WorkSafeBC requires employers to ensure first aid services are provided at their workplaces. People leaders, on behalf of their ministry employer, are responsible for the following:
- Completing an annual first aid assessment. A new first aid assessment must be completed by October 31, 2024
- Providing the required first aid equipment, facilities and supplies meeting the new WorkSafeBC requirements
- Making sure all employees are aware of first aid services and procedures
- Making sure first aid attendants' schedules permit adequate coverage during regular working hours
- Always having adequate first aid attendant backup when necessary
- Ensuring first aid attendants have been trained, tested, certified and re-certified as required by the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation
- Completing a yearly first aid drill
- Making sure that the appropriate financial allowance level is paid to Intermediate or Advanced first aid attendants. Read more at Licenses and Certificates
On behalf of the employer, people leaders may assign a representative to complete a first aid assessment and/or manage the first aid program. People leaders remain responsible for ensuring the workplace complies with regulatory requirements.
First aid assessments
All workplaces must complete a new first aid assessment by October 31, 2024.
The assessment should be conducted as soon as possible. The new first aid requirements may change the first aid program currently in place in your workplace.
The criteria for the new first aid assessment include:
- The number of workers at your workplace
- The travel time from the workplace to the closest BC Ambulance station
- Accessibility of the workplace to BC Ambulance employees
- The work activities undertaken at your workplace
The assessment considers these criteria and establishes the level of training and equipment required for your workplace. Additionally, your workplace must consult with the joint occupational health and safety committee and/or employees to review the types of injuries that are likely to occur in the workplace. This ensures the minimum first aid services provided are sufficient for promptly treating and transporting injured workers.
How to complete a first aid assessment
Workplace Health and Safety at the BC Public Service Agency is providing an online assessment tool to help workplaces assess their first aid needs, produce a summary and help with customizing first aid procedures to your workplace. The tool is available as of October 2, 2024.
The online assessment tool will assist most workplaces with determining their first aid needs. Staff from Workplace Health and Safety are available to assist with assessments that the online assessment tool is unable to complete.
When and how often to complete a first aid assessment
After completing your initial new first aid assessment, a documented annual review is required to ensure nothing has changed and appropriate first aid training levels and equipment systems are appropriate.
A new and complete first aid assessment is required if any of your workplace conditions have changed since the initial assessment. For example, changes in the number of employees, changes to your workplace location or the introduction of new activities into your workplace.
Changes to workplace first aid procedures
The online assessment tool allows information on your existing first aid procedures to be entered. The assessment produces an updated set of procedures including information on completing a first aid drill.
When to complete a First aid drill
Like the current first aid regulations, all workplaces requiring first aid must complete an annual first aid drill to evaluate effectiveness. This is for all workplaces, whether indoors in buildings or outdoors doing field work.
A first aid drill must also be held if there have been substantive changes to written first aid procedures. The first aid online assessment tool provides procedures for a first aid drill.
For workplaces that will only be in place for a short duration (for example, less than a year) the first aid drill should be held quickly after the workplace is established to test first aid response time, equipment and procedures.
Changes to first aid training
To align with other provinces and national standards the first aid courses have new names and the content has been updated:
- Basic first aid training (1-day course) is equivalent to the old Level 1 training
- Intermediate first aid training (2-day course) is equivalent to the old Level 2 training
- Advanced first aid training (10-day course) is equivalent to the old Level 3 training
The new courses are available from the same providers workplaces have used in the past.
New first aid training timelines
Whether or not employees require new training depends on the results of your new first aid assessment.
For example, if the results of your new first aid assessment indicate first aid training for your workplace is the same or a lower level than your current first aid level training, first aid attendants do not require retraining until their current first aid certificate expires. For example:
Scenario 1
A ministry workplace completes their new first aid assessment. The results indicate one first aid attendant with basic training is required. The workplace’s current first aid attendant has Level 1 training and completed their training in June 2023. As Level 1 is equivalent to the new basic level training, the first aid attendant is adequately trained for the ministry workplace and does not have to renew their training until June 2026, when their current certification expires.
Scenario 2
A ministry workplace completes their new first aid assessment. The results indicate one first aid attendant with intermediate level training is required. The current first aid attendant is Occupational First Aid (OFA) certified at Level 3 and they completed their training in August 2024. Level 3 is a higher level of training than the new intermediate level (old Level 2). As a result, the workplace meets the new requirements for their workplace.
If the first aid attendant continues in their first aid role beyond their certificate expiry date (August 2027), they need to retrain closer to, and ahead of, their certificate expiry date.
Scenario 3
A ministry workplace completes their new first aid assessment. The results indicate one first aid attendant with Intermediate level training is required. The current first aid attendant has Level 1 training. Intermediate level training is a higher level of training than basic training (old Level 1). As a result, the current first aid attendant must take an intermediate level first aid training course to meet the new requirements for their workplace.
Current certificates are valid under the new regulation until their current expiration dates (three years from the date of the course).
Employees taking first aid training after September 1, 2024, will receive the new training.
Changes to first aid kits
Suppliers in B.C. are ensuring first aid kits meet the new B.C. Occupational Health and Safety Regulation (OHSR) standards. These standards align with Canadian Standards Association (CSA) standards used by other provinces across Canada.
Buying new first aid kits for the workplace
If the results from your new first aid assessment indicate your workplace’s level of first aid does not change, you may only need to update the supplies in the kit. For example, if under the current regulations a workplace requires a Level 1 first aid kit and under the new regulations requires a basic first aid kit, the workplace may buy supplies individually to update the current kit or purchase a refill kit for a basic first aid kit and add it to the current first aid kit.
If the results from your new first aid assessment indicate your workplace’s level of first aid has increased, a new kit is required to be purchased. For example, currently a workplace requires a Level 1 first aid kit, and the new assessment indicates an intermediate kit is required, a new first aid kit needs to be purchased.
WorkSafeBC states:
Employers are expected to move to these new contents as new kits are purchased or supplies are replaced. Existing kits should be supplemented with any significantly different components required in the equivalent CSA-aligned kit.
However, there is no expectation for employers to dispose of existing first aid supplies that are substantially the same, with only minor differences in sizes or descriptions.
First aid assessments for fieldwork
A first aid assessment must be completed for fieldwork. The work activity for fieldwork is different than the office workplace where staff are based or dispatched from.
If the same type of fieldwork is being completed in different workplace locations a single first aid assessment may be used for the multiple workplace locations.
Site specific first aid procedures, evacuation plans, check in and out, etc., must be completed for each fieldwork location where employees are working, even if the same type of fieldwork is being completed. For example, plans for field work must include a plan to get the injured worker to a place that is accessible to BC Ambulance for transporting the worker to a hospital.
First aid requirements for fieldwork
One of WorkSafeBC’s goals with the new first aid regulation is to focus on high-risk remote industries to ensure adequate levels of first aid, equipment and transportation are in place. In some cases, this may increase the first aid requirements for your workplace.
Remote workplaces may see an increase in their requirements for emergency transport vehicles (ETVs) or require multiple levels of first aid attendants.
Remote and less accessible workplaces
A ’remote’ workplace means it is more than 30 minutes travel time from a BC Ambulance station under normal travel conditions and speed limit rules during working hours (not with emergency lights and siren).
A ’less accessible’ workplace is a workplace where:
- BC Emergency Health Services (BCEHS) ambulances are unable to access travelling by land
- BCEHS Ambulance attendants are unable to safely access
Ambulance personnel are not permitted to enter hazardous areas and will not perform rescue activities. Workplaces that are ’less accessible’ must have first aid attendants with the appropriate level of training and equipment and a plan to safely transport workers to a place accessible to BCEHS Ambulance.
Resources
First aid attendants (FAA) roles and responsibilities
First aid attendants are responsible for:
- Providing prompt first aid within the scope of their training
- Recording all observed and reported signs and symptoms of injuries, including exposure to hazardous materials
- Referring injured employees to further medical assistance as needed, such as when the level of required care exceeds the scope of their training
- Being physically and mentally capable of providing first aid
- Assuming responsibility and authority over the injured until the responsibility for treatment is accepted at another medical facility, by someone with a higher level of first aid training, or by a paramedic
First aid kits
Most workplaces will need a first aid kit. Review the workplace first aid kit requirements (PDF 297KB).
You can get a kit from local safety supply firms. The BC provincial government Product Distribution Centre and Distribution Centre Victoria will no longer be stocking first aid kits.
Ask your designated ministry contact to see what first aid equipment has already been purchased and is available within the ministry.
If your workplace needs more first aid supplies, follow ministry procedures for purchasing.
WorkSafeBC has more information about first aid kits.
First aid certification and training
Learn more about first aid attendant certification and training and find WorkSafeBC approved first aid training providers.
First aid records
First aid records must be kept for three years for all injuries and illnesses that are reported or treated.
First aid records are confidential and restricted to individuals who need access for reasons related to the workplace safety and health program.
Individual names in records will be removed where required by law, policy or regulation.
These records must be available for inspection by WorkSafeBC upon request.
Employees are entitled to copies of their own first aid record. An employee may request or authorize access to their first aid records to others.
First aid reporting
Workers who have sought first aid treatment should be directed to report it via Safety Incident Reporting Portal (SIRP). Note that the incident must only be reported once (i.e. not entered into SIRP by both the employee and the first aid attendant)
Hepatitis B vaccination
Hepatitis B is an incurable infectious disease that can be contracted by exposure to infected blood and bodily fluids.
If you're a first aid attendant, get vaccinated.
If you need more information, read more about workplace exposures.