On November 1, 2024, amendments to Part 3 of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation (OHSR) relating to occupational first aid take effect, impacting employers in British Columbia (BC). Employers must ensure workers receive “prompt, easily accessible and appropriate” first aid treatment.
Workplace occupational first aid programs must align with the updated standards by November 1, 2024. As part of the amendments, employers must conduct a first aid assessment by October 31, 2024, and incorporate the other changes to the requirements, including updated first aid training, first aid kits and annual first aid drills.
What are the key changes?
- Workplace first aid assessment
- First aid certification and training levels
- Workplace first aid kits
- Annual first aid drills
- Emergency transportation (for “less-accessible” workplaces)
Workplace first aid assessment
Every employer will be required to conduct and document a new first aid assessment to determine the adequate and appropriate level of first aid coverage for the employer’s workplace. Employers can download WorkSafeBC’s new first aid assessment worksheet here.
In order to establish workplace first aid requirements, employers must:
- Provide at least the supplies, facilities and first aid attendants required by Schedule 3-A to the OHSR, which sets out minimum levels of first aid for various classes of workplaces; and
- In consultation with the joint health and safety committee or the worker health and safety representative, perform a written first aid assessment for each workplace to determine any additional equipment, supplies, facilities, first aid attendants and services necessary to ensure injured workers can be promptly provided first aid and transported to medical treatment.
The class of workplace is determined by the first aid assessment, which then informs which first aid requirements in Schedule 3-A must be established for the workplace.
It is critical that employers conduct their new first aid assessment prior to November 1, 2024; the results will determine whether staff will require new training and whether new supplies must be added to their current first aid kits.
First aid certification and training levels
BC’s first aid certification levels are being aligned with the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) Standard Z1210-17.
This will change both the name of the certification level and the course duration of the first aid program.
| Current Program Name | Duration | 2024 Program Name | Duration |
| OFA Level 1 | 1 day | Basic first aid | 1 day |
| OFA Level 2 | 5 days | Intermediate first aid | 2 days |
| OFA Level 3 | 10 days | Advanced first aid | 10 days |
A Level 1, 2 or 3 first aid certificate issued before November 1, 2024, will be considered equivalent to basic, intermediate or advanced until its expiry date.
Workplace first aid kits
First aid kits will be required to meet CSA standards, with additional BC-specific requirements. The requirements include requiring kits to include personal protective equipment, first aid records and for “advanced” kits, oxygen therapy equipment.
Schedule 3-A of the OHSR indicates which first aid kits are required for a workplace. The required contents for each type of kit are outlined in part 3 of the OHS Guidelines.
Annual first aid drills
Employers must conduct a first aid drill once a year and maintain drill records. Drills will also be required following the implementation of changes to an employer’s first aid procedures.
This drill should test workers’ awareness of how to call for first aid, how well the communication system works and the ability of first aid attendants to respond. Drills should assist in determining if an employer’s first aid services are sufficient to deal with the injuries and illnesses most likely to happen in their workplace.
Remote workplaces: Emergency transportation
Employers with remote workplaces should be aware that the amendments set out standards that emergency transportation must meet, which include:
- Being capable of safely transporting the injured worker (secured to a stretcher) and a first aid attendant;
- Having an effective means of communication between the first aid attendant and the operator of the transportation; and
- Being designed and equipped to secure injured workers, protect from natural elements and dust, maintain normal body temperature and allow suitable space for the first aid attendant to provide treatment.
Where air transportation is the primary or only method of emergency transport, employers must ensure that an appropriate aircraft is reasonably available when work is occurring and that there is at least one stretcher on the aircraft or one stretcher at the workplace that is compatible with the aircraft.
Key takeaways
- Employers should act quickly and diligently to review the upcoming changes to first aid requirements.
- Employers should conduct a new workplace first aid assessment with their joint health and safety committee or worker health and safety representative as soon as possible.
- Any changes required as a result of the first aid assessment must be implemented by November 1, 2024.
For more information on this topic, please contact the authors, Eleni Kassaris, Jeff Bastien or Victoria Merritt.
