First Aid Requirements

Every workplace in Ontario must have a first aid kit and trained first aid provider at all times. WSIB lists all individual buildings, all company vehicles including personal vehicles for work purposes are considered workplaces and require a first aid kit. The location of first aid kit should coincide with a first aid station that includes the required posters. First Aid kits must be inspected at least quarterly, and be maintained to at all times to the standard set out in the regulations. Any items used from the kit must be replaced immediately.

Under WSIB regulations (1101), the first aid kit must be under the care of a person trained in first aid. The level of training required depends on the number of workers in the workplace. For fewer than five workers in the workplace, Emergency level first aid is required. For more than 5 workers, Standard level first aid is required. First Aid training must be provided by a recognized training provider (St. John Ambulance, Canadian Red Cross, Lifesaving Society are the primary providers of training). Those designated workers must work in the vicinity of the first aid kit. A record of all first aid incidents must be kept in the workplace.

Most first aid certifications are valid for three years from the date of issue. Some specific levels of training expire annually. In most cases, a certificate can be renewed prior to its expiry in a condensed recertification class. Recertification is valid for another three years, but cannot be recertified a second time.

First Aid Equipment

The equipment required for each workplace varies by the number of workers on any shift. First Aid kits must be restocked after every use and fully inspected every three months. Each workplace is assessed individually for the number of workers in the area. When in doubt, stock a kit to the next level rather than the lower level.

Of note is that vehicles are required to have first equipment on board relative to the number of workers in the vehicle. A mini-van that can hold 6 passengers and a driver requires a first aid kit for up to 15 workers.

KMC Can Help

We’re pleased to be adding first aid services to our portfolio. We can certify workers to either Emergency or Standard level first aid. Emergency First Aid is a one day course with a three year expiry and includes CPR with AED use. Standard First Aid is a two day program and includes CPR and AED use. Training is offered at our facility or on-site at your facility, provided there is adequate space to meet the program requirements. Our instructors have more than 25 years of experience in emergency response and have taught hundreds of courses at all levels.

In addition to training, we’re pleased to offer a first aid kit inspection and stocking service. We can swap your kits for sealed kits during regular site audits or on a quarterly basis to keep your site compliant with regulations. Our kits are sealed with break-away tags to readily identify when contents may be missing. The advantage of a sealed kit is that if the seals are missing, we know to look for corresponding records. We can supply either a record book that will comply with WSIB regulations or add the recordkeeping requirements to our digital safety platform used to manage the rest of your health and safety program.

Get Started Today

Contact us to book your training or to arrange for supply stocking services.

KMC Safety Solutions serves the Southern Ontario manufacturing and construction sectors. We offer training, program development, gap analysis, compliance auditing and consulting services. Training is available in person or online for many programs. Contact KMC for your personalized solutions.

The Incident

The injury occurred at an industrial facility in Guelph Ontario. The exact details are less relevant for this post, The result of the injury was that the worker’s arm was severely injured with an arterial bleed. Direct pressure was not controlling the bleeding adequately and the injured worker was quickly losing blood. A nearby police officer hearing the dispatch responded and applied a tourniquet to control the wound and prevent further blood loss.

The Lessons

Assessing tools and processes for hazards is a critical step in preventing injuries and emergencies. When emergencies do arise, having response plans in place produces the best outcome for the injured worker. Put the guards and tools in place to protect a worker from being injured. Have a plan in case the safeguards fail.

First Aid training is critical to the health and safety of workers. WSIB and OHSA sets out the minimum requirements for first aid in the workplace. These standards are minimum and based on the standard first aid program requirements of training providers. Those standards are set based on specific criteria of equipment, average types of injuries and proximity to professional responders.

WSIB sets out minimum equipment standards for workplace first aid kits. These standards are based on common injuries and are largely not in line with best practices. There is no requirement for PPE in first aid kits, as an example.

Workplaces with specific hazards need specific training. In this case, StopTheBleed training and equipment would have been ideal care while waiting for emergency responders. StopTheBleed is a plan designed to intervene with life-threatening bleeding in a pre-hospital environment.

The Training

The availability of a tourniquet, wound packing gauze, and the training to work with the equipment is critical in the event of a major injury. Strategic placement of equipment at high-risk points is the best second-line defense.

StopTheBleed training is short (under one hour typically per class) and equipment is reasonably inexpensive without expiry dates. The more remote workers are, the more important it is to have appropriate first aid equipment and training. Buy only genuine components from recognized distributors. Many counterfeit tourniquets are widely available and have a high rate of failure. Like most skills, this skill is easy to learn, but is also perishable. Incorporate regular refresher training into all health and safety plans.

 KMC Safety Solutions serves the Southern Ontario manufacturing and construction sectors. We offer training, program development, gap analysis, compliance auditing and consulting services. Training is available in person or online for many programs. Contact KMC for your personalized solutions.