First Aid

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First aid is emergency care given immediately to an injured person to help minimize injury and future disability. Workers should know how to respond during an injury or illness situation. Employers must visibly post, or inform workers on how to contact the workplace first aider(s), and where first aid supplies are located. Workplace first aid supplies and services must be readily available and accessible during working hours.

This information does not apply to hospitals or nursing homes.

Employer duties

Employers must:

Workplace First Aid Assessment

A workplace first aid risk assessment is a process used to determine the risk level which will determine what first aid services, first aid kits, and supplies are required. The assessment must be conducted by a competent person in consultation with the occupational health and safety committee, safety representative, or workers. [OHS General Regs., S. 9.3 (3)]

The risk assessment [OHS General Regs., S. 9.3 (3)-(4)] must include:

  • Identification of any hazards that may result in a work-related injury or illness.
  • An assessment of the type of injury and illness, as well as the potential severity and likelihood that may occur. The assessment must include:
    • Workplace characteristics;
    • Number of workers per shift;
    • Industry sector trends;
    • Past workplace first aid incidents;
    • Trained workplace first aider locations and proximity in the workplace;
    • Availability and accessibility of emergency medical services;
    • Work patterns, shift work and other organizational considerations (including unplanned leave of workplace first aiders);
    • Transportation methods for injured or ill persons; and
    • Any special needs of workers (such as workers with disabilities or known medical conditions)
  • Identification of first aid supplies and services to respond to the types of injury or illness that may occur in the workplace.

If an officer determines that the workplace first aid risk assessment is not adequate based on the specific workplace risks, the officer may specify additional first aid supplies or services to be provided by the employer. [OHS General Regs., S. 9.3 (6)]

Workplace First Aider Training Requirements

All workplace first aiders must receive training from an approved organization or person and hold a current first aid certificate that matches the type or level required. [OHS General Regs., S. 9.6] An approved organization or person includes: [OHS General Regs., S. 9.1(2)]

  • St. John’s Ambulance;
  • The Canadian Red Cross Society;
  • An organization approved to provide first aid courses in other jurisdictions in Canada; or
  • One approved by the Director.

The type of first aid certificate required depends on the hazards present in workplace. A first aid certificate includes: [OHS General Regs., S. 9.1(1)(a), (c) and (k)]

  • Emergency First Aid Certificate: A certificate issued by an approved organization or person after the successful completion of a first aid course with at least 6.5 hours of instruction.
  • Standard First Aid Certificate: A certificate issued by an approved organization or person after the successful completion of a first aid course with at least 13 hours of instruction.
  • Advanced First Aid Certificate: A certificate issued by an approved organization or person after the successful completion of a first aid course with at least 35 hours of instruction.

If the tasks at the workplace are considered low-risk work, the employer must make sure that at least one workplace first aider holds a valid Emergency First Aid Certificate and is available in the workplace. [OHS General Regs., S. 9.7 (1)]

If the work conducted at the workplace is not considered low-risk work, or it is a combination of low –risk work and work that is not considered low-risk work, the employer must ensure that the workplace first aider holds a valid first aid certificate as required by the number of workers in the workplace and are available on shift. [OHS General Regs., S. 9.7 (2)]

Number of Workers
First Aid Certificate Requirement
Between 1-19 workers regularly employed workers on one shift  At least one workplace first aider must be available with a valid Emergency First Aid Certificate.
Between 20-99 workers regularly employed on one shift  At least one workplace first aider must be available with a valid Standard First Aid Certificate.  
100 or more workers regularly employed on one shift At least one workplace first aider must be available with a valid Advanced First Aid Certificate.

If an employer requires a worker to work alone, the employer must make sure that the worker holds a valid Emergency First Aid Certificate. [OHS General Regs., S. 9.7 (3)]

Treatment of Injury or Illness

A worker who is injured at the workplace must use the first aid supplies and services provided as needed and without delay. [OHS General Regs., S. 9.4] They must also report the injury to the employer or supervisor as soon as possible after the injury. [OHS General Regs., S. 9.9]

If a workplace first aider administers first aid to a worker, the workplace first aider must: [OHS General Regs., S. 9.10 (1)]

  • Prepare a written record that includes:
    • the name of the injured worker,
    • the date, time, and description of the injury,
    • the date, time, and description of first aid treatment administered,
    • a description of the incident that caused the injury,
    • the name of the workplace first aider, and
    • the name of the person that the worker reporter the injury to.
  • Provide the written record to the employer of the injured worker.

All written records of first aid reports must be kept for three (3) years after the date of injury.

First Aid Kits

A first aid kit is a container containing the supplies required by this part. [OHS General Regs., S. 9.1(1)(e)] The classification of the first aid kit and any additional supplies required will be determined by the employer after the workplace first aid risk assessment. [OHS General Regs., S. 9.11 (1)] After the assessment, the higher risk level must be used when determining the appropriate workplace first aid kit.

All first aid kits must meet the requirements in the regulations by March 6, 2022.

The minimum requirements of the workplace first aid kits and the type, number, and size of workplace first aid kits must meet the requirements of CSA Standard Z1220-17 – First Aid Kits for the Workplace. [OHS General Regs., S. 9.11 (3)]

First aid kits classification:

Type Description Size
Type 1 Personal First Aid Kit One Size
Type 2 Basic First Aid Kit Small
Medium
Large
Type 3     Intermediate First Aid Kit     Small
Medium 
Large 

These first aid kits may be used in different combinations across the workplace to be readily accessible to all workers as long as it meets the workplace requirements. In workplaces with more than 100 workers, the first aid kits must be proportionally distributed in the workplace. [OHS General Regs., S. 9.11 (5) and (6)]

The minimum contents of the first aid kits can be increased to account for any specific workplace hazards, risks, or conditions. [OHS General Regs., S. 9.11 (7)]

First Aid Rooms

A first aid room is a room at a workplace that is used exclusively for the purpose of administering first aid. [OHS General Regs., S. 9.1(1)(g)] If there are more than 100 workers regularly employed on any shift at the workplace, and if the work conducted at the workplace is work other than low risk work, a first aid room must be provided. [OHS General Regs., S. 9.14]

The first aid room must: [OHS General Regs., S. 9.14]

  • Have adequate lighting, ventilation, and heating;
  • Be kept clean and in a sanitary condition;
  • Be big enough to accommodate a stretcher;
  • Have emergency telephone numbers posted;
  • Only be used to administer first aid;
  • Be accessible by workers during their shift; and
  • Be equipped with: [OHS General Regs., S. 9.14 (2)(g)]
    • A telephone or other means of communication;
    • Instructions on how and where to access a first aider;
    • A permanently installed sink with hot and cold running water;
    • A bed or cot with a moisture protected mattress and two pillows;
    • A treatment chair with armrests;
    • A flashlight;
    • A wash basin;
    • A nail brush;
    • Paper towels;
    • Hand soap;
    • Disposable paper cups;
    • A kidney basin; and
    • A large Type 3 Intermediate First Aid Kit.
"workplace first aider" means a worker with a first aid certificate that is current and recognized as defined by the legal requirements
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Once you are logged in, click on the text below the "OHS Standards / View Access" graphic.

Click on the jurisdiction of your choice to see the CSA Standards as referenced in that legislation.

Standards may also be purchased from CSA Group: https://store.csagroup.org/

"Emergency Medical Services" means a network of services coordinated to provide aid and medical assistance, from primary response to definitive care, involving personnel trained in the rescue, stabilization, transportation, and treatment of persons experiencing traumatic or medical emergencies
"low risk work" means work of an administrative, professional or clerical nature that does not require substantial physical exertion or exposure to work processes, substances or other conditions that are potentially hazardous
"working alone" means the worker is the only worker of the employer at that workplace and the worker is working in circumstances where assistance is not readily available to the worker in the event of injury, illness or an emergency

General Regulations
EC180/87

Part 9 FIRST AID

Section 9.1 Definitions

9.1 (1) In this Part,

(a) "Advanced First Aid Certificate" means a certificate issued by an approved organization or person for the successful completion of a first aid course consisting of at least 35 hours of instruction;

(b) "approved organization or person" means an organization or person approved to provide first aid courses under subsection (2);

(c) "Emergency First Aid Certificate" means a certificate issued by an approved organization or person for the successful completion of a first aid course consisting of at least 6.5 hours of instruction;

(c.1) "Emergency Medical Services" means a network of services coordinated to provide aid and medical assistance, from primary response to definitive care, involving personnel trained in the rescue, stabilization, transportation, and treatment of persons experiencing traumatic or medical emergencies;

(d) "first aid certificate" means an Advanced First Aid Certificate, an Emergency First Aid Certificate and a Standard First Aid Certificate;

(e) "first aid kit" means a container containing the supplies required by this Part;

(f) "first aid provider" Repealed. [EC2021-129]

(g) "first aid room" means a room at a workplace that is used exclusively for the purpose of administering first aid;

(h) "hospital" means a hospital as defined in the Hospitals Act R.S.P.E.I. 1988, Cap. H-10.1;

(i) "low risk work" means work of an administrative, professional or clerical nature that does not require substantial physical exertion or exposure to work processes, substances or other conditions that are potentially hazardous;

(j) "nursing home" means a nursing home as defined in the Community Care Facilities and Nursing Homes Act R.S.P.E.I. 1988, Cap. C-13;

(j.1) "risk" means a combination of the likelihood of the occurrence of harm and the severity of that harm;

(k) "Standard First Aid Certificate" means a certificate issued by an approved organization or person for the successful completion of a first aid course consisting of at least 13 hours of instruction;

(l) "working alone" means the worker is the only worker of the employer at that workplace and the worker is working in circumstances where assistance is not readily available to the worker in the event of injury, illness or an emergency;

(m) "workplace first aider" means a worker with a first aid certificate that is current and recognized as defined by the legal requirements;

(n) "workplace first aid risk assessment" means a process used to determine the risk level in a workplace as it relates to the provision of workplace first aid services, first aid kits and supplies.

(2) For the purposes of this Part, an organization or person is approved to provide first aid courses if the organization or person is

(a) St. John Ambulance;

(b) the Canadian Red Cross Society; or

(c) an organization or person approved to provide first aid courses by another jurisdiction in Canada; or

(d) any other organization or person that provides first aid courses that are approved by the Director.

[EC2012-49, s. 1; EC2021-126, s. 10]

Section 9.3 Employer responsibilities

9.3 (1) An employer shall, at the employer's own expense, provide and maintain at each of the employer's workplaces the first aid supplies and services that are required to be so provided and maintained by this Part.

(1.1) Workplace first aid supplies and services shall be readily available and accessible during working hours.

(2) An employer shall assess the risks that workers are likely to encounter at the workplace and ensure that there are adequate first aid supplies and services at the workplace.

(3) The workplace first aid risk assessment shall be conducted by a competent person at the workplace in consultation with the occupational health and safety committee, safety representative, or workers, as applicable.

(4) The workplace first aid risk assessment shall include

(a) the identification of hazards that could result in work-related injury or illness;

(b) an assessment of the type, potential severity, likelihood, and resulting risk of injuries and illnesses which could occur in the workplace taking into consideration

(i) the characteristics of the workplace,

(ii) the number of workers at the workplace per shift,

(iii) industry sector trends,

(iv) the organization’s history of workplace first aid incidents,

(v) the proximity of trained workplace first aiders to provide first aid,

(vi) accessibility to emergency medical services,

(vii) work patterns, such as shift work, workers on shared sites, multi-occupied sites, and planned and unplanned leave of workplace first aiders,

(viii) modes of transportation for transporting injured or ill persons to a medical facility, and

(ix) any special needs including, but not limited to, workers with disabilities or known medical conditions; and

(c) the identification of the appropriate first aid supplies and services to respond to the types of injury or illness that could occur in the workplace.

(5) An employer shall, at least annually and more frequently if required by a change in work conditions, review the workplace first aid risk assessment in consultation with the occupational health and safety committee, safety representative or workers, as applicable.

(6) Where an officer determines that the workplace first aid risk assessment conducted under this Part is not adequate given the particular risks associated within a workplace, the officer may specify additional first aid supplies or services to be provided by the employer.

[EC2012-49, s. 1; EC2021-126, s. 11]

Section 9.4 Worker responsibilities

9.4 A worker at a workplace shall use the first aid supplies and services provided at the workplace as needed by the worker and without undue delay.

[EC2012-49, s. 1]

Section 9.5 First aid providers

9.5 (1) An employer shall

(a) designate one or more workers to act as first aiders at each workplace of the employer; and

(b) maintain a record of the name of each worker who is designated as a first aider.

(2) An employer shall post, at a conspicuous place at each workplace of the employer, a sign that states the name and phone number of first aiders at the workplace.

(3) Where the posting of a sign at a workplace of an employer is not practicable, the employer shall ensure that each worker at the workplace informed of the identity and phone number of the first aiders at the workplace.

[EC2012-49, s. 1; EC2021-126, s. 12]

Section 9.6 First aid training

9.6 An employer shall ensure, before making a designation under subsection 9.5(1), that each worker who the employer designates to act as a first aider at a workplace holds a valid first aid certificate of the type or level required by this Part.

[EC2012-49, s. 1; EC2021-126, s. 13]

Section 9.7 First aid certificates

9.7 (1) Where the only work conducted at a workplace is low-risk work, the employer shall ensure that at least one workplace first aider who holds a valid Emergency First Aid Certificate is available at the workplace while the work is conducted.

(2) Where

(a) the only work conducted at a workplace of an employer is work other than low-risk work; or

(b) both low-risk work and work other than low-risk work are conducted at a workplace of an employer,

the employer shall ensure,

(c) if there are more than one and less than 20 workers regularly employed on any one shift at the workplace, that at least one workplace first aider is available on that shift who holds a valid Emergency First Aid Certificate;

(d) if there are 20 or more and less than 100 workers regularly employed on any one shift at the workplace, that at least one workplace first aider is available on that shift who holds a valid Standard First Aid Certificate; and

(e) if there are 100 or more workers regularly employed on any one shift at the workplace, that at least one workplace first aider is available on that shift who holds a valid Advanced First Aid Certificate.

(3) Where a worker is working alone at a workplace as required by the employer, the employer shall, if it is reasonable to do so or if required to do so by an officer, ensure that the worker holds a valid Emergency First Aid Certificate.

[EC2012-49, s. 1; EC2021-126, s. 14]

Section 9.8 Vehicles and boats

9.8 A vehicle or boat used by or under the control of the employer for transporting workers to and from a workplace shall be equipped with an Intermediate First Aid Kit, the size of which shall be determined based on the legal seating capacity of the vehicle or vessel in question, pursuant to the requirements set out in CSA Standard Z1220-17, First Aid Kits for the Workplace .

[EC2012-49, s. 1; EC2021-126, s. 15]

Section 9.9 Report of injury

9.9 A worker who sustains an injury at a workplace shall report the injury to the employer or supervisor of the worker as soon as practicable after the injury.

[EC2012-49, s. 1]

Section 9.10 Record of treatment

9.10 (1) Where a first aider administers first aid to a worker who has sustained an injury at a workplace, the first aid provider shall, as soon as practicable afterwards,

(a) prepare a written record that sets out

(i) the name of the injured worker,

(ii) the date and time of the injury,

(iii) a description of the injury,

(iv) the first aid treatment administered,

(v) a description of the incident causing the injury,

(vi) the date and time when first aid was administered,

(vii) the name of the workplace first aider, and

(viii) the name of the person to whom the worker reported the injury under section 9.9;

(b) provide the written record to the employer of the injured worker.

(2) Where an employer is provided with a written record under subsection (1), the employer shall retain the record for a period of three years after the date of the injury referred to in the record.

[EC2012-49, s. 1; EC2021-126, s. 16]

Section 9.11 Employer shall determine classification of first aid kits

9.11 (1) The employer shall determine the classification of the first aid kit and any additional supplies required, pursuant to the findings of the first aid risk assessment conducted under this Part.

(2) Where low risk work and work other than low risk work exist simultaneously in a single workplace, the employer shall use the higher risk level when determining the appropriate workplace first aid kit.

(3) The minimum requirements for the contents of workplace first aid kits and the type, number and size of workplace first aid kits shall meet the requirements set out in CSA Standard Z1220-17, First Aid Kits for the Workplace .

(4) Workplace first aid kits shall be classified as follows:

(a) Type 1: Personal First Aid Kit;

(b) Type 2: Basic First Aid Kit, further classified as

(i) small,

(ii) medium, and

(iii) large;

(c) Type 3: Intermediate First Aid Kit, further classified as

(i) small,

(ii) medium, and

(iii) large.

(5) To ensure first aid kits are readily accessible to all workers and that the particular configurations of workplaces can be accommodated, first aid kits of different sizes (small, medium and large) may be used in various combinations in accordance with workplace requirements, pursuant to subsection (4).

(6) For workplaces with more than 100 workers, first aid kits shall be proportionately distributed in the workplace.

(7) An employer may increase the minimum requirements in respect of the contents of workplace first aid kits in the workplace to account for any specific workplace hazards or risks or to address other site-specific conditions.

[EC2012-49, s. 1; EC2021-126, s. 17]

Section 9.12 First aid supplies, requirements

9.12 An employer shall ensure that all supplies required to be kept by the employer at the workplace under this Part are

(a) kept clean and dry; and

(b) checked regularly for expiry and replaced on or before their expiry.

[EC2012-49, s. 1]

Section 9.13 Posting of information

9.13 (1) An employer shall post, at a conspicuous place at the workplace, a sign that indicates the location of first aid kits kept at the workplace.

(2) Where the posting of a sign at a workplace is not practicable, the employer shall ensure that each worker at the workplace is informed of the location of first aid kits kept there.

[EC2012-49, s. 1]

Section 9.14 First aid room

9.14 (1) Where

(a) either

(i) the only work conducted at a workplace is work other than low risk work, or

(ii) both low risk work and work other than low risk work are conducted at a workplace; and

(b) there are more than 100 workers regularly employed on any one shift at the workplace,

the employer shall provide a first aid room at the workplace.

(2) An employer who is required under subsection (1) to provide a first aid room at a workplace shall ensure that the first aid room

(a) has adequate lighting, ventilation and heating;

(b) is kept clean and in a sanitary condition;

(c) is of adequate size to accommodate a stretcher;

(d) has posted emergency telephone numbers;

(e) is used only for the purpose of administering first aid;

(f) is accessible by the workers at all times during their shift; and

(g) is equipped with

(i) a telephone or other means of communication between the first aid room and the emergency medical services that will be transporting the worker, if applicable,

(ii) instructions on how and where to access a workplace first aider,

(iii) a permanently installed sink with hot and cold running water,

(iv) a bed or cot with a moisture-protected mattress and two pillows,

(v) a treatment chair with arm rests,

(vi) a flashlight,

(vii) a wash basin made from stainless steel or polypropylene,

(viii) a nail brush,

(ix) a package of paper towels,

(x) hand soap,

(xi) a package of disposable paper cups,

(xii) a kidney basin made of stainless steel or polypropylene, and

(xiii) a large Type 3 Intermediate First Aid Kit, that meets the requirements specified in subsection 9.11(4).

[EC2012-49, s. 1; EC2021-126, s. 18]