As of November 1, 2024, amendments to the OHS Regulation relating to occupational first aid will come into effect.

These changes aim to update and strengthen first aid requirements to ensure that employers provide adequate and appropriate first aid coverage in their workplaces.

What these regulatory changes will include:

A requirement for employers to consult with the joint occupational health and safety committee or worker health and safety representatives; while ensuring they have the necessary first aid supplies, facilities, attendants, and services to provide lifesaving first aid if a worker is injured on the job.

Developing first aid procedures; employers are responsible for keeping up-to-date written first aid procedures and ensuring all workers know where first aid is located, how to call for first aid and how to report incidents and injuries.

Conducting a first aid assessment; employers must conduct a first aid assessment and determine the minimum level of first aid coverage required in the workplace. As an OHS committee member it’s important to ensure your employer conducts the assessment and involves the committee in the process. The assessment must consider factors such as:

1) the number of workplaces and locations;

2) workplace hazards and risks;

3) the location and surface travel time to a hospital;

4) the number of workers on any given shift period;

5) determining the required first aid services for the workplace;

6) reviewing and assessing steps one to five within one year of completing the assessment or when any significant change in operations occurs.

The changes also include an alignment of first aid training programs to standards set by the Canadian Standards Association (CSA). Training providers are now offering the new CSA aligned curriculum. This will help to standardize first aid training curriculum across the country. These changes include renaming the current Occupational First Aid (OFA) Level 1, 2, and 3 training to basic, intermediate, and advanced.

Training providers in B.C. are now offering training to meet the new standards. If you have a valid OFA Level 1, 2, or 3 certificate, you do not need to do anything until it’s time to renew your certificate.

What this means for you as an Occupational Health and Safety Representative:

• As part of the upcoming amendments to the regulation it is important to ensure your employer has completed a written first aid assessment and developed appropriate written procedures in consultation with your OHS committee.
• You will need to ensure that your workplace has adequate first aid coverage that meets the minimum requirements for your workplace, as first aid requirements may change for some workplaces. You can find the requirements here: OHS Regulation Schedule 3-A: Minimum Levels of First Aid.
• You should discuss these changes as an agenda item at your next OHS meeting or consider scheduling a separate meeting with your employer to discuss the assessment and procedures.
• Make plans to review and assess the first aid assessment and procedures at least once a year.

As an OHS committee member, you play an important role ensuring a safe working environment.

If you have any questions, please contact your local elected BCGEU leadership, steward, staff representative or email [email protected].