First Aid Requirements

8. (1) Every employer employing not more than five workers in any one shift at a place of employment shall provide and maintain at the place of employment a first aid station with a first aid box containing as a minimum,

(a) a current edition of a standard St. John Ambulance First Aid Manual;

(b) 1 card of safety pins; and

(c) dressings consisting of,

(i) 12 adhesive dressings individually wrapped,

(ii) 4 sterile gauze pads, 3 inches square,

(iii) 2 rolls of gauze bandage, 2 inches wide,

(iv) 2 field dressings, 4 inches square or 2 four-inch sterile bandage compresses, and

(v) 1 triangular bandage. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 1101, s. 8 (1).

(2) The employer shall ensure that the first aid station is at all times in the charge of a worker who,

(a) is the holder of a valid St. John Ambulance Emergency First Aid Certificate or its equivalent; and

(b) works in the immediate vicinity of the station. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 1101, s. 8 (2).

9. (1) Every employer employing more than five workers and not more than fifteen workers in any one shift at a place of employment shall provide and maintain a first aid station with a first aid box containing as a minimum,

(a) a current edition of a standard St. John Ambulance First Aid Manual;

(b) 1 card of safety pins; and

(c) dressings consisting of,

(i) 24 adhesive dressings individually wrapped,

(ii) 12 sterile gauze pads, 3 inches square,

(iii) 4 rolls of 2-inch gauze bandage,

(iv) 4 rolls of 4-inch gauze bandage,

(v) 4 sterile surgical pads suitable for pressure dressings, individually wrapped,

(vi) 6 triangular bandages,

(vii) 2 rolls of splint padding, and

(viii) 1 roll-up splint. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 1101, s. 9 (1).

(2) The employer shall ensure that the first aid station is at all times in the charge of a worker who,

(a) is the holder of a valid St. John Ambulance Standard First Aid Certificate or its equivalent; and

(b) works in the immediate vicinity of the box. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 1101, s. 9 (2).

10. (1) Every employer employing more than fifteen and fewer than 200 workers in any one shift at a place of employment shall provide and maintain at the place of employment one stretcher, two blankets and a first aid station with a first aid box containing as a minimum,

(a) a current edition of a standard St. John Ambulance First Aid Manual;

(b) 24 safety pins;

(c) 1 basin, preferably stainless steel; and

(d) dressings consisting of,

(i) 48 adhesive dressings, individually wrapped,

(ii) 2 rolls of adhesive tape, 1 inch wide,

(iii) 12 rolls of 1-inch gauze bandage,

(iv) 48 sterile gauze pads, 3 inches square,

(v) 8 rolls of 2-inch gauze bandage,

(vi) 8 rolls of 4-inch gauze bandage,

(vii) 6 sterile surgical pads suitable for pressure dressings, individually wrapped,

(viii) 12 triangular bandages,

(ix) splints of assorted sizes, and

(x) 2 rolls of splint padding. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 1101, s. 10 (1).

(2) The employer shall ensure that the first aid station is at all times in the charge of a worker who,

(a) is the holder of a valid St. John Ambulance Standard First Aid Certificate or its equivalent; and

(b) works in the immediate vicinity of the box. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 1101, s. 10 (2).

First Aid Room

11. (1) Every employer employing 200 or more workers in any one shift at a place of employment shall provide and maintain a first aid room equipped with,

(a) a current edition of a standard St. John Ambulance First Aid Manual;

(b) instruments consisting of,

(i) dressing scissors,

(ii) dressing forceps,

(iii) safety pins,

(iv) graduated medicine glass,

(v) tongue depressors, and

(vi) applicators, cotton tipped;

(c) denatured ethyl alcohol;

(d) dressings consisting of,

(i) adhesive dressings, individually wrapped,

(ii) sterile gauze pads of assorted sizes, individually wrapped,

(iii) gauze bandages of assorted sizes,

(iv) adhesive plaster,

(v) absorbent cotton,

(vi) triangular bandages,

(vii) splints of assorted sizes, and

(viii) splint padding; and

(e) furnishings consisting of,

(i) hot and cold running water,

(ii) 3 washbasins, preferably stainless steel,

(iii) 1 instrument sterilizer,

(iv) 1 cabinet for surgical dressings,

(v) 1 enamel foot bath,

(vi) 1 sanitary disposal receptacle with lid,

(vii) 1 first aid box containing as a minimum the items required by subsection 9 (1), for use by the attendant at the scene of an accident before the patient is moved to the first aid room or general hospital,

(viii) 1 couch curtained off or in a separate cubicle,

(ix) 1 stretcher, and

(x) 2 blankets. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 1101, s. 11 (1).

(2) The employer shall ensure that the first aid room is in the charge of,

(a) a registered nurse; or

(b) a worker who,

(i) is the holder of a valid St. John Ambulance Standard First Aid Certificate or its equivalent,

(ii) works in the immediate vicinity of the first aid room, and

(iii) does not perform other work of a nature that is likely to affect adversely his or her ability to administer first aid. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 1101, s. 11 (2).

(3) The certificate referred to in subclause (2) (b) (i) shall be prominently displayed in the first aid room. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 1101, s. 11 (3).

12. Where the first aid station referred to in section 9 or 10 or the first aid room referred to in section 11 is not easily accessible in order to provide prompt treatment of any worker, an additional first aid station or stations shall be established to comply with subsection 1 (3). R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 1101, s. 12.

It's currently not law to have an AED as part of your first aid program on your worksite. However, it's recommended to have one, for every minute that passed after a worker has had a sudden cardiac arrest, their chances of surviving deminishes by approximate 10% per minute. An AED can provide therapy quickly and when it's need immediately for their best chance of survival.

The WSIB first aid kits fulfill the minimum requirements to stay compliant with the Ontario OH&S standard. However, despite meeting the minimum standard, you might still require additional first aid items. This is one reason why many of our construction clients opt for the deluxe large size first aid cabinet. It includes several additional items necessary to provide first aid in an emergency. The vertical cabinet design also enables convenient restocking.