CHAPTER 4 FIRST AID

4 FIRST AID Facilities

According to St. John Ambulance, "First aid is In a workplace with few employees, the first aid
emergency help given to an injured or suddenly ill station may be as simple as a first aid kit placed
person using readily available materials." It may be in an accessible area. Large companies (over 200
as simple as cleaning and bandaging a minor cut on employees) are required to have a first aid room.
a worker’s finger, or it can be complicated, such as On construction projects, it’s the responsibility of the
providing care for a worker who has been struck by a general contractor to provide the first aid station. It
moving vehicle or piece of equipment. should be located in the site office. On a large project,
set up additional first aid stations to ensure timely
The objectives are:
access to treatment.
• preserve life
In all cases, the regulation requires you to post the
• prevent the injury or illness from becoming worse WSIB Form 82 ("In Case of Injury at Work" poster),
• promote recovery. a first aid kit inspection card, valid certificates of the
first aid providers in the workplace, and Regulation
Every employer covered by the Workplace Safety 1101: First Aid Requirements (Figure 4-2).
and Insurance Act (WSIA) is required to have a
first aid station and trained first aid personnel at
the workplace. The specific requirements are found
in Regulation 1101: First Aid Requirements under
the WSIA. The regulation details the obligations of
employers regarding first aid equipment, facilities,
trained personnel, and first aid procedures in
all workplaces. The Act authorizes the WSIB to
penalize employers who do not comply with these
requirements. Here is a brief outline.

Equipment
Employers must provide and maintain a first aid
station in the workplace (Figure 4-1). Pick a location
for the kit that it is accessible at all times. Companies
who use service vehicles should ensure that first aid Figure 4-2: The First Aid Requirements Regulation
kits are provided for each vehicle. As well, provide
a first aid kit when workers are operating heavy
construction and maintenance equipment at a
Trained Personnel
distance from the first aid station. Employers must ensure that first aid is provided by
trained and knowledgeable workers. Regulation 1101
The contents will vary according to the number of specifies training either to the St. John Ambulance
employees regularly employed in that workplace. Emergency or Standard First Aid levels (or
Regulation 1101 provides the details of the contents. equivalent) depending on the number of workers in
Inspect each kit at least quarterly, then sign and date the workplace.
the inspection card.
Emergency-level first aid training generally includes
the following mandatory topics

• Emergency Scene Management

• Shock, Unconsciousness, and Fainting

• Choking – Adult

• Severe Bleeding

• One Rescuer CPR – Adult

Figure 4-1: First Aid Station

Health 4-1
FIRST AID

Standard-level first aid training is a more extensive The procedure should cover:
program that generally includes the five mandatory
topics from emergency first aid, as well as elective • Mandatory reporting and recording requirements
topics. Some elective topics suitable for first aid • Provision of first aid kits
providers are
• Availability of trained first aid providers and
• Fractures training recertification
• Transportation to medical treatment
• Head and Spinal Injuries
• Document posting requirements.
• Joint Injuries
For resources and templates to help employers
• Chest Injuries develop a first aid procedure for their Health and
• Hand injuries Safety Program, visit the Policy and Program
Resources section of the ihsa.ca website.
• Eye injuries
The First Aid Requirements Regulation requires that
• Multiple injury management each first aid kit contain a current edition of the
St. John Ambulance First Aid Manual. The manual
• Pelvic, abdominal, and crush injuries contains details of first aid treatment for a worker
• Burns who is injured or who suddenly becomes ill. The first
aid provider can use it as a reference guide.
• Poisoning
Learning first aid, CPR, and how to use an AED can
• Medical conditions (diabetes, epilepsy, help you save a life. Knowing how recognize the signs
convulsions, and allergies) of someone who is in distress from a heart attack,
stroke, or choking, for example, can help you get
• Environmental illnesses and injuries (exposure to them the treatment they need quickly. In those cases
heat or cold) where every second counts, prompt treatment can
• Artificial respiration – Adult mean the difference between loss of life, life-long
impairment, or a full recovery.
• Automated External Defibrillator (additional
instruction time must be added to the course to If you suspect someone is having a heart attack, look
accommodate this component and a separate for the four Ps:
certification card must be issued for AED 1. P
 ain – a continuous pain in the chest that may
certification) spread to the jaw, neck, or arms.
Since procedures may change from time to time, 2. Pale skin
it is important that training be kept up-to-date.
Recertification is usually required every three years 3. Pulse is rapid and weak
(check with your training organization for details).
4. Perspiration
In a workplace with five or fewer workers, the
employer must ensure that a worker trained in at The signs and symptoms of a stroke vary depending
least St. John Ambulance Emergency First Aid (or on what part of the brain has been affected. Usually
equivalent) is available to provide first aid. This the symptoms show up on one side of the body.
also applies when a crew of two to five workers is If you suspect a stroke, think FAST:
working away from their company facility, such as a
painting crew working in a vacant office. When six F – Facial droop. Ask the person to smile and watch
or more workers are employed in a workplace, the the corners of their mouth.
regulation requires St. John Ambulance Standard First
Aid (or equivalent) training for the first aid provider. A – Arm Drift. Have the person hold out both arms in
Additional workers should be trained in case the front of them and see if one arm drifts back down or
designated provider is absent. can’t move at all.

S – Speech. Check if the person slurs their words, says

First Aid Procedures the wrong words, or is able to speak at all.
To ensure that an injured or ill worker receives T – Time. Get medical help immediately. The earlier a
appropriate and timely first aid treatment, an stroke is treated, the better the chance of survival and
employer should have a written first aid procedure as recovery.
part of their Health and Safety Program.
For details on signs, symptoms, and treatment of
illnesses and injuries related to heat or cold exposure,
refer to Chapters 6 and 7 on Heat Stress and Cold
Stress in this manual.

4-2 Construction Health and Safety Manual