In April 2023, WorkSafeBC’s Board of Directors approved amendments to Part 3 of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation, relating to first aid. These amendments take effect November 1, 2024.
To assist workplaces in preparing for the proposed requirements, WorkSafeBC has added further guidance to their backgrounder on the occupational first aid regulatory changes.
A summary of the additions is available below. For detailed information, please see the following pages on the WorkSafeBC’s website:
- Backgrounder: Occupational first aid regulatory changes
- Board of Directors approves amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation
- Current first aid requirements
Guidance on “less-accessible” workplaces
“Less-accessible” workplaces include workplaces that cannot readily be reached by an ambulance travelling by land, as well as those where a BC Emergency Health Services ambulance attendant may not be able to safely access an injured worker. The backgrounder now includes guidance on identifying “less-accessible” workplaces.
Alignment with the CSA standards
Information has been added on updated first aid training program names and shortened course duration for Intermediate First Aid (currently OFA 2). Basic information on new first aid kits and equipment requirements has also been added.
Emergency transportation
The amended Occupational Health and Safety Regulation requires that written first aid procedures identify how workers will be accessed and moved if there are barriers to first aid, and the location and method of emergency transport where required. Information on the minimum requirements for emergency transportation has been added.
For more information, see Backgrounder: Occupational first aid regulatory changes.
The provincial government has made amendments to the Workers Compensation Act that affect the return to work. Starting January 1, 2024, employers and workers will be required to co-operate with each other and with WorkSafeBC to ensure the worker can return to their pre-injury job, a comparable job, or other suitable work. For more information, worksafebc.com/bill41.