PEO Canada

First Aid Requirements and Best Practices for the Workplace

November 8, 2025
, 11:04 am
, Health and Wellness

First Aid Defined:

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First aid is acute care provided to an individual who is either injured or has suddenly become unwell. The goal of first aid is to minimise the extent of the injury or illness as well as potential lasting side effects. This can look like alleviating discomfort for mild incidences, or this can look like preservation of life in extreme circumstances.

Workplace Requirements:

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Different jurisdictions across Canada will vary when it comes it specific requirements, but there are common rules and recommendations to keep in mind:

All jurisdictions have an obligation to provide a basic level of first aid, determine the need for a designated on-site first aider, and implement first aid record keeping procedures.
All employers need to ensure first aid instructions are available to aid in the timely administration of care.
The employer must provide transportation for an employee that requires further medical attention at a health care facility (i.e. a hospital or urgent care centre).
Employees are required to report any workplace injuries or sudden occurrences of illness to their employer.
Typically, first aid kits must be:
- Adequately stocked
- Kept in a clean, dry, easily accessible location
- Checked regularly, maintained, and replaced when expired
Typically, first aid records must include:
- The individual’s full name
- The date and time of the incident
- The nature of the injury/illness
- The location
- A description of how the incident occurred
- A description of the what first aid was provided, by which aider, and at what time
- Signatures of both the injured/ill worker and the first aider
- Date and time the report was filled
- The name of the person receiving the report

It is important to familiarise yourself with the specific requirements of the jurisdiction in which your employees perform their work duties. Ensure you understand the first aid requirements in your area:

Each province will have a slightly different interpretation of the Occupational Health & Safety (OHS) Act
Factors such as the hazard level of the workplace, the number of active employees, the availability of first aid attendants during operating hours, and the proximity to a health care facility can all impact what an employer’s first aid requirements entail.
Ensure your workplace complies with the minimum requires number of certified first aiders, the level of training obtained, and amount of first aid supplies.
While reporting workplace incidences is mandatory across Canada, the procedures for reporting can vary.

First Aid Kits:

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The type and number of first aid kits present in any given workspace will depend on many factors, such as the number of employees, the risk level of potential hazards, distance to a health care facility, and local legislation.

The three types of first aid kits, determined by the Canadian Standard Association, are:

Basic
- This is the most common type.
- This kind of kit is designed workplaces with lower risk/fewer serious hazards.
Intermediate
- This kind of kit is designed for higher risk workplaces with more severe/prevalent hazards.
- These kits will have more supplies than a basic kit. They will also have equipment not present in most standard kits (such as an arterial tourniquet).
Personal
- This kind of kit is designed for individuals working alone, or for environments that lack a basic/intermediate first aid kit.

Medications:

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Medications (including prescription and over the counter) are not on the list of required items in first aid kits. In fact, some jurisdictions prohibit having medications in first aid kits due to the risk of allergic reactions, drug toxicity, or masking serious symptoms.

First aiders are permitted to assist another person with taking their own medication. However, the aider has a responsibility to:

Ensure the individual is alert and oriented
Only assist if the individual has asked for the aider’s help
Check the prescription for:
- The individual’s name
- Dosage
- Warnings
- That it is in fact the medication the individual is meant to be taking
If the medication being administered is Naloxone, the aider should have sufficient additional training
Limit the extent of their involvement to locating the medication, preparing the dosage/mechanism, and guiding the individual to take it themselves
Document the date, time, and how much was taken

Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs):

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AEDs are devices designed to administer an electric shock to help an individual in cardiac arrest. This machine can analyse heart rhythms to determine if a shock may help the heart beat effectively again.

At the time of publishing this article, Canada currently does not have OHS legislation requiring workplaces to have AEDs on site. That being said, many jurisdictions encourage AED installation and are working to increase the number of AEDs available in public places, so workplaces that are considered public may want to take this into consideration.

Workplaces with AEDs should also ensure they have a designated aider trained to use these devices. Employers that choose to have an AED on site are responsible for the inspection, maintenance, and replacement (when needed) of the device, its batteries, pads, and accessories.

Best Practices:

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Only trained attendants should provide first aid, and only within the scope of their training.
All designated aiders should be familiar with their workplace first aid kits.
Having more than the required number of aiders on shift helps prevent care delays due to vacation, illness, or breaks.
The Canada Labour Code protects workers who intervene in an emergency. Section 126(3) of the code states, “No employee is personally liable for anything done or omitted to be done in good faith by the employee when the employee is assisting the employer, as requested by the employer, in providing first-aid or in carrying out any other emergency measures.”
In the event of an incident, aiders should assess the scene for hazards and take measure to protect themselves/other individuals from harm before providing care.
The use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) can help minimise health risks for both the aider and the injured/ill individual.
Aiders should conduct a primary assessment to determine the extent of care required. Then, if necessary, aiders should conduct a secondary assessment where they gather information about the incident before providing care.
Dispose of and/or disinfect first aid supplies properly.
Call 911 for loss of consciousness, breathing emergencies, or circulatory emergencies (cardiac arrest, stroke, excessive blood loss, etc.)