Incident and Emergency Management
- Prepare a First Aid Assessment
- Know Your First Aid Requirements
- Complete First Aid Checklist
- Post First Aid Procedures and a Notice to Workers
- Practice Annual First Aid Drill
- Ensure First Aid Records Are Completed
First Aid
The size and location of your clinic, as well as the risks specific to your work, inform what first aid resources are needed. While community physician practices are considered low-risk environments, there are important steps to take to ensure everyone’s safety.
Know Your Responsibilities
As an employer, you must provide:
- First aid supplies that are clean, dry, and ready for use.
- First aid attendants who are certified, as required by WorkSafeBC. Different levels of first-aid attendants may be needed, depending on the clinic’s location and the number of staff members.
- Note that physicians and nurse practitioners are not recognized by WorkSafeBC as certified first-aid attendants by default, though Registered Nurses may be.
- Transportation for injured workers if medical treatment is needed.
- Written first aid procedures that include prearranged evacuation routes, the location of the nearest ambulance station or hospital and transportation procedures.
You are also required to:
- Practice first aid drills annually or sooner if procedures change significantly. Drills help ensure awareness and effectiveness of first aid procedures. Records of drill evaluations must be kept for documentation.
- Post First Aid Procedures in the workplace. You can fill out and print the First Aid Procedures poster to display in a staff area of your clinic.
- Display a WorkSafeBC Notice to Workers poster in a visible location to share guidelines on injury prevention, steps to take if injured, how to file a compensation claim, and who to contact for assistance.
- Ensure first aid attendants complete a First Aid Record form after every injury or contaminant exposure. These records must be retained for at least three years. To see an example of when a First Aid Record should be completed, refer to the Needlestick Injury module in Incident and Injury Reporting and Investigation.
- Prepare a written first aid assessment and review it annually, or sooner if clinic operations change significantly before then.
Prepare a First Aid Assessment
Employers must evaluate the workplace and create a First Aid Assessment that includes:
- The number of workers 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.
- Transportation available.
Review and update the workplace First Aid Assessment annually, or sooner if significant changes affect the worksite. This ensures current risks and hazards are accounted for.
Know Your First Aid Requirements
First Aid Kit Type:
First Aid Attendant Type:
Kit Description:
Your first aid kit must include:
| Item | Quantity |
|---|
Complete First Aid Checklist
Post First Aid Procedures and a Notice to Workers
First Aid procedures must be posted in the workplace. Fill out and print this procedure poster to display in a staff-visible area of your clinic. In addition, post the Notice to Workers poster in a visible area in the clinic.
