First Aid

Every employer in B.C. must provide adequate resources to treat injured workers and quickly transport them to medical care. The size of the workforce, the risk associated with the work, and the workplace’s accessibility and location determine the level of first aid resources required.

Community physician practices are considered low-risk environments.

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First Aid

Employer Responsibilities

Review Responsibilities
- Provide first aid supplies and first aid attendants as required by WorkSafeBC (Refer to [First Aid Assessment] module).
- Ensure all necessary first aid equipment and supplies are available, clean, dry, and ready for use.
- If a first aid attendant is required*, ensure they are properly certified and always readily available.
- Offer services to promptly transport injured workers to medical treatment if required.
- Ensure First Aid procedures are posted in the workplace, including prearranged routes, the nearest ambulance station or hospital address, clinic directions, and transportation procedures.
- Practice First Aid drills annually to ensure the procedures are effective.
- Complete a First Aid Record form after every injury or contaminant exposure and retain the records for at least three years.
*A basic first-aid attendant might be required depending on the clinic location and the number of workers. Physicians and nurse practitioners are not recognized as certified first-aid attendants. The course needed to obtain this certification is one day long.
First Aid Record
Assess the Workplace
The employer must prepare a written assessment that evaluates the workplace and includes the following information:
- The number of workers present in the clinic.
- The nature and extent of workplace risks and hazards.
- The types of injuries likely to occur.
- Any barriers to providing first aid.
- The time required to transport injured workers to medical treatment.
- The methods of transportation available.
The workplace first aid assessment must be reviewed and updated annually, or sooner if significant changes affect the worksite. This ensures that first aid provisions remain adequate and appropriate for the current risks and hazards.
First Aid Assessment
Test your knowledge. Take the First Aid Assessment and Review!
Question 1 of 2:

How often should your clinic perform a first aid assessment?
- A First aid assessments should be performed for all new sites or sites that have never completed one, then performed annually or sooner if significant changes affect the worksite.
- B First aid assessments should be performed for all new sites or sites that have never completed one, then performed twice a year.
- C First aid assessments only need to be performed once.
Question 2 of 2:

If an incident were to occur and a first aid record form was completed, how long does the clinic have to store it for?
- A First aid record form must be kept for seven years.
- B First aid record forms must be kept for three years.
- C First aid record forms must be kept for five years.
Quiz Complete!

You got out of correct.

First Aid Program

Complete first aid checklist

This checklist can help you ensure that all first aid requirements have been met.

First Aid Checklist

First Aid Procedures

Review first aid procedure requirements

First Aid procedures have to be posted in the workplace. You can fill out and print this procedure poster to display in a staff-visible area of your clinic.

First Aid Procedures
Test your knowledge. Take the First Aid Procedures Quiz !
Question 1 of 1:

If a first aid incident occurred in your clinic, what are the steps you should follow in order?
- A Inform Supervisor > Determine if you need to call 911 > Get treated > Document injury
- B Inform Supervisor > Get treated > Determine if you need to call 911 > Document injury
- C Determine if you need to call 911 > Get treated > Inform Supervisor > Document injury
Quiz Complete!

You got out of correct.

First Aid Requirements

Determine your first aid requirements

Select your clinic’s distance to the nearest ambulance station (or nearest emergency department if it is closer) and the number of workers to determine the required first aid kit and attendants.

Distance to ambulance station from clinic

Workers present in workplace

First Aid Kit Type:

First Aid Attendant Type:

Kit Description:

Your first aid kit must include:

Item Quantity

First Aid Notices

Print Notice to Workers

This notice provides concise guidelines on injury prevention, steps to take if injured, how to file a compensation claim, and who to contact for assistance. Employers must post it in a visible location in the clinic.

WorkSafeBC - Notice to Workers

Additional Resources

Legal Requirements

OHS Regulation, Part 3, Section 3.14-3.21

WorkSafeBC

First Aid Patient Assessment Form

Move on to the next topic: Incident and Injury Reporting and Investigation

First Aid

First Aid

MODULES

Employer Responsibilities

Review Responsibilities

First Aid Record

Assess the Workplace

First Aid Assessment

Test your knowledge. Take the First Aid Assessment and Review!

Question 1 of 2:

How often should your clinic perform a first aid assessment?

Question 2 of 2:

If an incident were to occur and a first aid record form was completed, how long does the clinic have to store it for?

Quiz Complete!

First Aid Program

Complete first aid checklist

First Aid Checklist

First Aid Procedures

Review first aid procedure requirements

First Aid Procedures

Test your knowledge. Take the First Aid Procedures Quiz !

Question 1 of 1:

If a first aid incident occurred in your clinic, what are the steps you should follow in order?

Quiz Complete!

First Aid Requirements

Determine your first aid requirements

Your first aid kit must include:

First Aid Notices

Print Notice to Workers

WorkSafeBC - Notice to Workers

Additional Resources

Legal Requirements

WorkSafeBC

The Community Physicians Health and Safety Program was developed in collaboration with SWITCH BC, Doctors of BC, and the Ministry of Health