Ontario Health and Safety – Bylaw 1101

By law, all employers in the province of Ontario who are covered by the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act must have accessible first aid equipment available to workers at all times, adequate safety training for their employees, as well as provide a safe working environment.

The different requirements that are necessary for a workplace, in regards to the First Aid Kits, training and facilities will always vary depending on how many employees are employed at the company, and on a shift during one time.

According to WSIB, a workplace that has 5 or less workers on the floor at one time required at least one of those workers to have a valid Emergency First Aid certificate. This training course consists of 6.5 hours of training, with an assessment at the end.

A company that has 6 or more workers on the floor during a shift is required to have a worker with a valid Standard First Aid certificate. This training course consists of 13 hours of training, along with an assessment at the end of the course.

Having multiple employees trained in first aid is recommended for all companies. This is to ensure compliance when any worker who is trained in first aid is away from work due to illness or vacation.

In regards to companies who provided workers with vehicles to be used on the job, they should ensure that every vehicle is equipped with a regulated First Aid Kit. Employees should be educated about the supplies that can be found in the kit, as well as what to do in case of an emergency.

Every workplace must come with an equipped first aid station that includes:

  • A First Aid Kit that contains all items that are required by regulation for that specific workplace 
  • Up-to-date First Aid Certificates for all trained employees 
  • The WSIB “In Case of Injury” Poster
  • An Inspection Sheet used to record all First Aid Kit Inspections
  • A dedicated First Aid room (only if workplace exceeds 200 employees)