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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.

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 icon

    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!

    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 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.

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

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 icon

    Question 1 of 1:

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

    Quiz Complete!

    You got out of correct.

Additional Resources

Legal Requirements

OHS Regulation, Part 3, Section 3.14-3.21

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