Workplace First Aid Guidelines for Worksafe BC policies in British Columbia

Worksafe BC First Aid Guidelines & Resources

Worksafe First Aid — *WorkSafe Guidelines*

Worksafe BC has jurisdiction over most workplaces, job sites and worker injuries in British Columbia. Many of Worksafe's policies and guidelines pertain to the provision and maintenance of First Aid training, certification, attendants and equipment in the workplace.

In order to ascertain that you or your employer are providing the Occupational First Aid training and equipment that Worksafe requires, you will most likely need to conduct a "First Aid Assessment" at your work site. This will help ensure you are in compliance with WorkSafe BC policies, and providing good care of your co-workers / employees in the event of a workplace injury.

WorkSafe BC First Aid Assessment

Step 1.
Number of Workplaces

First Aid Site Assessment — *Number of Workplaces*

As an employer you will need to determine the number of worksites you are responsible for, and meet the First Aid Attendant and Occupational First Aid kit requirements for each job site or office that you operate.

For example...if you have a construction site at the top of Dilworth Mountain, and another active construction site in Kettle Valley, you will need to ensure that both sites have enough First Aid Attendants and First Aid kits to satisfy WorkSafe BC's requirements.

Depending on the number of workers, distance from hospital, and the type of work being performed at each work site, the specific requirements for each worksite may vary.

Step 2.
Hazard Rating

Worksafe First Aid Hazard Ratings — *Hazard Rating*

WorkSafe BC has a list of Hazard Ratings assigned to different types of workplace activities. Depending on the type of work being done at any given workplace, WorkSafe BC assigns one of three potential Hazard Ratings.

L (Low Hazard)

M (Medium Hazard)

H (High Hazard)

You will need to determine the specific hazard rating for each worksite that you operate, based on the specific types of work being conducted at each one.

Click to view WorkSafe BC's Workplace Hazard Rating List

The Hazard Rating for the type of work being performed is indexed with the number of workers and distance from hospital, to determine the specific First Aid requirements for each work site.

Step 3.
Surface Travel Time to Hospital

Worksafe Travel Times — *WorkSafe Guidelines*

The next step is to figure out how long it will take to travel from the worksite to the nearest hospital. This must be calculated based on driving time by road, not by plane or helicopter.

Essentially, there are two "distance categories" for the purposes of a First Aid Assessment:

Worksite is less than 20 minutes drive time to the nearest hospital
or
Worksite is more than 20 minutes drive time to the nearest hospital

The surface Travel Time to the nearest hospital is cross-referenced with the Hazard Rating and number of workers to determine the specific First Aid Attendant and Equipment requirements at each worksite.

WorkSafe BC defines a "Hospital" as a "diagnostic and treatment center with an emergency department or resuscitation area, and a physician on duty or immediately available on call".

Step 4.
Number of Workers On-Site

Worksafe First Aid requirements — *Workers on Site*

The final piece of information you need to consider during your Workplace First Aid Assessment is the number of workers at the site during any given time period. If the number of workers on site fluctuates, the First Aid Requirements for that worksite may change as well.

The safest approach is to base your First Aid Requirements on the highest number of workers that will be on the worksite at any time. However, if your worksite or office staffing levels significantly change on a regular basis, you may want to keep track of specific shift patterns with specific First Aid Requirements.

Once you have determined how many workers will be on the work site, you can cross-reference that information with the established Hazard Level Ratings, and Travel Time to Hospital for each worksite.

Step 5.
First Aid Attendant and Equipment Requirements

Worksite First Aid — *WorkSafe Requirements*

After you have figured out your Workplace Hazard Rating, Distance to Hospital, and Number of Workers, you can cross-reference that information with WorkSafe BC's Schedule3A - Minimum Levels of First Aid, and find the Table that applies to each of your worksites.

Determine which Table in Schedule 3A is appropriate, based on a specific combination of Hazard Rating and Distance to Hospital.

The individual Tables will indicate how many First Aid attendants are required and to what level they must be certified, as well as the First Aid equipment and Facility requirements.

Click to view WorkSafe BC's Schedule3A - Minimum Levels of First Aid

TABLE 1
Low Risk & more than 20 minutes to Hospital
TABLE 2
Low Risk & less than 20 minutes to Hospital
TABLE 3
Moderate Risk & more than 20 minutes to Hospital
TABLE 4
Moderate Risk & less than 20 minutes to Hospital
TABLE 5
High Risk & more than 20 minutes to Hospital
TABLE 6
High Risk & less than 20 minutes to Hospital

Each Table is assigned by a combination of Hazard Rating and Distance to Hospital. The appropriate Table will specify how many First Aid Attendants are required, what level of First Aid Training they require, and what First Aid Equipment needs to be available on site.

Click to view WorkSafe BC's Schedule3A - Minimum Levels of First Aid

Workplace First Aid Courses

Worksafe First Aid Courses — *Level 1 First Aid*

There are three levels of Occupational First Aid qualifications certification and training in British Columbia, as required by WorkSafe BC.

Depending on the Hazard Rating, Number of Workers and Driving Time to Hospital, Worksafe BC's Schedule3A may stipulate that you have one or more First Aid Attendants on site. These First Aid Attendants will need to be certified at one of three possible levels of Workplace Occupational First Aid.

Most workplaces within 20 minutes of the hospital, will require one or more First Aid Attendants with Level 1 First Aid certification.

Level 1 Certification Courses:

Emergency First Aid

8 hour Canadian Red Cross Certification includes CPR & AED
Meets WorkSafe BC's Level 1 First Aid requirements

Standard First Aid

14 hour Canadian Red Cross Certification includes CPR & AED
Meets WorkSafe BC's Level 1 First Aid requirements
Meets Alberta's WCB Workplace First Aid requirements.

If you ever have any questions or doubts about the specific First Aid Requirements for your workplace, you should contact WorkSafe BC directly, and get written confirmation from them.

EMALB Equivalence for OFA 2 and OFA 3

In more remote worksites and/or larger scale workplace operations, WorkSafe BC may require more advanced Occupational First Aid certification at the OFA 2 or OFA 3 level. If you hold a valid BC EMALB License, you can obtain Occupational First Aid certification through a Jurisprudence equivalency process without attending further training. This was formerly referred to as the recently discontinued "Paramedic in Industry" (PII) program.

First Responder - OFA 2 Certification

If you have a BC EMALB First Responder License, you can follow a self-study "Jurisprudence" equivalency process, and receive a WorkSafe BC OFA level 2 Certificate.

Emergency Medical Responder - OFA 3 Certification

If you have a BC EMALB Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) License or higher, you can follow a self-study "Jurisprudence" equivalency process, and receive a WorkSafe BC OFA level 3 Certificate.

Equivalency Process

The process and jurisprudence information is the same for both OFA 2 and OFA 3. The level of EMALB Licence you hold will correspond with the WorkSafe BC OFA Certification you receive.

Contact and make arrangements for OFA 2 or OFA 3 jurisprudence Certification with a WorkSafe BC OFA training provider.
Download and complete the OFA Out-of-Jurisdiction Jurisprudence package
Download WorkSafe BC's OFA Statement of Fitness form, and take it to a physician to be completed.
Download, complete and sign an OFA Out-of-Jurisdiction Certification Application form
Bring all completed documents to the OFA training provider.
Also bring WorkSafe approved Photo ID and proof of EMALB Licensure
The OFA training provider will issue an OFA 2 or OFA 3 Certificate, and submit the documentation to WorkSafe BC.

Click here for more information about obtaining your EMR License for OFA 3 Certifiation, or First Responder License for OFA 2 Certification.

WorkSafe BC Level 1 First Aid Kit

Worksafe First Aid Kits — *First Aid Kits*

WorkSafe BC has a list of first aid supplies, to meet the minimum requirements for a Level 1 Workplace First Aid Kit.

Keep in mind that WorkSafe BC stipulates the minimum requirements for Level 1 First Aid Kit contents, but you can always include more.

Level 1 First Aid Kit Contents:

3 Blankets

24 Individually packaged wound cleaning towelettes (14cm x 19cm)

60 Individually packaged hand cleansing towelettes

100 Individually packaged Sterile adhesive dressings ("Band-Aids" of assorted sizes)

12 Individually packaged Sterile gauze dressings (10cm x 10cm)

4 Sterile pressure dressings with crepe ties (10cm x 16.5cm)

2 Crepe roller bandages (7.5cm x 4.5cm)

1 Roll of adhesive tape (2.5cm x 4.5cm)

4 Individually packaged sterile abdominal dressings (20cm x 25cm)

6 Cotton triangular bandages (minimum 1.25m base length)

4 Safety pins

1 Pair of stainless steel bandage scissors, or universal scissors (14cm)

1 Stainless steel sliver forceps (11.5cm)

12 Cotton tip applicators

1 Pocket Mask with one-way valve and oxygen inlet

First Aid Records and a pen

Periodic Reassessments

Worksafe First Aid Reassessments — *First Aid Safety Reviews*

Make sure the First Aid Attendants and Equipment you have on site always meet WorkSafe BC's First Aid Requirements by performing periodic work site reviews.

At least once per year, you should determine whether the type of work being performed and it's associated Hazard Rating, the number of workers on site, or the distance of the worksite to the nearest Hospital have changed. Cross reference this information with Schedule3A to determine if your needs have changed, and if you need to provide more training or equipment.

If you ever have any questions or doubts about the specific First Aid Requirements for your workplace, you should contact WorkSafe BC directly, and get written confirmation from them.