First Aid

As an employer (or a contractor) you must:

• Provide and maintain first aid kits, first aid rooms and trained first aid providers. The requirements for first aid kits depend on the number of employees present during a shift. See Schedule A.
• Assess the potential risks, and adjust the first aid supplies, equipment, services, and facilities to match those risks.
• Establish a communication plan so that employees can call for help. This plan must be in writing, describe how to contact help, provide directions and instructions on how to access the workplace, and be posted in a highly visible place. If posting is not possible, you must inform employees of the procedure.
• Prepare a transportation procedure that outlines how an injured or ill employee will be taken to the nearest health care facility. You must include suitable transportation methods given the potential distance and seriousness of injuries/illnesses, including:
  • Protection from weather
  • Providing two-way voice communication with an emergency medical service while the person is being transported
  • Appropriate size and suitability to carry a stretcher and other persons
• Also, provide these measures for an isolated worksite.
• Ensure the injured employee is accompanied by at least one first aid provider who is not driving the vehicle when transportation is required.
• Designate one or more employees to be a first aid provider. Keep a record of their names and post the names in a visible place. If posting the names is not practical, each employee must be informed of the providers’ names.
• Ensure the first aid provider’s work does not interfere with their availability to provide first aid, and that the first aid provider has access to the protective equipment and accessories to safely carry out this function.
• Ensure each first aid provider is trained in Workplace Standard First Aid by St. John Ambulance, Canadian Red Cross Society or any agency approved by WorkSafeNB.
• First aid providers must have a minimum of six hours of practice per year.
• Ensure first aid kits are equipped as outlined in CSA standard CSA Z1220-17, "First aid kits for the workplace".
• Ensure first aid kits are located at or near the area they are to service, are accessible during all work hours, and are maintained, clean, dry and serviceable. Signs must be posted to indicate the kits’ locations.

Additional requirements include:

• Employees must report injuries or illnesses to their employer as soon as possible.
• First aid providers must keep written records of the name of who was injured/ill, the treatment and care provided, a description of the incident, date, name of the person providing emergency care, and date the record was made. The employer must keep this record for five years. If your place of employment has 100 or more employees per shift, the employer must provide a first aid room and ensure it meets the following requirements:
  • Is at least 10 m²
  • Allows easy access to a person on a stretcher
  • Is located as close as possible to the workforce, and is clearly identified with a sign
  • Has a sink with hot and cold running water and easy access to a toilet
  • Has the following supplies:
    • first aid kit appropriate to the workplace and risks present
    • telephone or other means of communication
    • an up-to-date list of emergency contacts
    • separate cubicle or divider, with a cot or bed equipped with a moisture-protected mattress, two pillows and two blankets
    • storage space, cupboard, counter, table, and two or more chairs
  • Is under a first aid provider`s supervision
  • Is kept in an orderly and sanitary condition
  • The temperature is between 20°C and 24°C
  • Is used only for providing first aid or health care and instruction to employees
  • No smoking is allowed

The First Aid Regulation requirements do not apply if the workplace is a ferry, train, or a vehicle (used or likely to be used by an employee).

First Aid Regulation - Occupational Health and Safety Act
N.B. Reg. 2004-130

Section 3 Application

3. This Regulation does not apply to a place of employment that is a ferry, a train or a vehicle used or likely to be used by an employee.

Section 4 Employer responsibilities

4. (1) Subject to subsections (2) and (3), an employer shall provide and maintain the first aid kits, first aid providers and first aid rooms at a place of employment in accordance with Schedule A for the maximum number of employees present during a shift.

(2) Subject to subsection (3), where the place of employment is a project site, the contractor shall provide and maintain the first aid kits, first aid providers and first aid rooms as set out in Schedule A for all persons having access to the project site, and the provisions of this Regulation that apply to an employer apply to a contractor at every project site for which the contractor is responsible for the health and safety of persons having access to the project site.

(3) The requirements set out in this Regulation are minimum requirements, and each employer shall assess the risks that employees are likely to encounter at a place of employment and shall ensure that there are adequate first aid supplies, equipment, services and facilities in place for the provision of first aid, having regard to those risks.

Section 5 Emergency communication procedure

5. (1) An employer shall ensure that an emergency communication procedure is established in order for employees to summon assistance in the event of an illness or accident of an employee.

(2) The communication procedure shall

(a) be in writing,

(b) describe how to contact assistance,

(c) provide directions to the place of employment and instructions as to how to access the place of employment, and

(d) be posted in a conspicuous place at the place of employment.

(3) Where the posting of the emergency communication procedure is not practicable, an employer shall ensure that each employee is informed of the contents of the emergency communication procedure.

Section 6 Emergency transportation

6. (1) An employer shall prepare, in writing, a transportation procedure that describes arrangements for the transportation of injured or ill employees from the place of employment to the nearest health care facility.

(2) Where it is necessary to move an injured or ill employee from an isolated site to another place in order to transfer to an ambulance, an employer shall ensure that the transportation is by a means that

(a) is suitable, considering the distance to be travelled and the types of serious injuries or illnesses that may occur,

(b) affords protection against the weather,

(c) is equipped with a means of two-way voice communication with the emergency medical services to which the injured or ill employee is being transported, and

(d) is of sufficient size and suitability to accommodate a stretcher and accompanying persons where required.

(3) An employer shall provide a means of communication to summon the transportation in the event of a medical emergency and shall ensure that transportation is readily available in the event of a medical emergency when work is carried out at an isolated site.

(4) Where an employee is seriously injured or needs to be accompanied during transport, an employer shall ensure that the employee is accompanied by at least one first aid provider who is not the operator of the transportation.

Section 7 First aid providers

7. (1) An employer shall designate one or more employees to act as first aid providers and maintain a record of the names of each employee who is designated as a first aid provider.

(2) An employer shall post, at a conspicuous place at the place of employment, signs that state the names of first aid providers.

(3) Where the posting of a sign is not practicable, the employer shall ensure that each employee is informed of the identity of first aid providers.

(4) An employer shall ensure that an employee who is designated as a first aid provider

(a) does not perform work of a nature likely to affect the employee's ability to administer first aid, and

(b) has readily available access to disposable latex or vinyl gloves and a face shield with a one-way valve.

Section 8 First aid training

8. (1) An employer shall ensure that each employee who is designated as a first aid provider is trained to the minimum level as set out in subsection (2) and holds a valid certificate issued by an agency referred to in subsection (3) in respect of that training.

(2) The minimum level of training consists of

(a) the 10 compulsory modules and any 2 of 5 elective modules of the Workplace Standard First Aid Course as set out in Schedule B, and

(b) a minimum of 16 hours of classroom and practical training.

(3) The first aid training described in this section may be provided by

(a) St. John Ambulance,

(b) Canadian Red Cross Society, or

(c) any other agency that provides first aid training that meets the requirements of subsection (2) and that is approved by the Chief Compliance Officer.

(4) An agency that provides first aid training that meets the requirements of subsection (2) shall issue a certificate in accordance with subsection (5) to a person who satisfactorily completes the training.

(5) The certificate shall

(a) be entitled "The First Aid Workplace Certificate",

(b) be signed and dated by an official of the agency, and

(c) state that the course in respect of which the certificate is issued is the Workplace Standard First Aid Course.

(6) A certificate issued pursuant to this section is valid for 3 years from the date of issue.

(7) An employer shall ensure that a first aid provider has a minimum of 6 hours practice on first aid skills each year during which he or she holds a valid certificate.

Section 9 Report of injury or illness

9. An employee shall report an injury or illness to the employer as soon as practicable after the injury or the first signs of the illness.

Section 10 Record of treatment

10. (1) A first aid provider shall prepare a written record that sets out the name of the injured or ill employee, a description of the injury or illness, the treatment and care provided, a description of the incident, the date of occurrence, the name of the person providing emergency care and the date the record was made.

(2) The record referred to in subsection (1) shall be prepared as soon as practicable after the injured or ill employee has received the emergency care.

(3) An employer shall ensure that a record referred to in subsection (1) is retained for a period of 5 years after the date on which it has been made.

Section 11 First aid kits

11. An employer shall ensure that each first aid kit required to be provided by the employer is equipped as set out in CSA standard CSA Z1220-17 : First aid kits for the workplace.

[N.B. Reg. 2020-36, s. 2]

Section 12 First aid room

12. (1) An employer who is required to have a first aid room shall provide and equip the first aid room in accordance with subsection (2).

(2) The requirements for a first aid room are as follows:

(a) has a minimum floor area of 10 m²;

(b) is constructed to permit ease of access to a person on a stretcher;

(c) is located as close as practicable to the work force it is to serve and clearly identified by a sign;

(d) is equipped with a sink supplied with hot and cold running water with easy access to a toilet;

(e) is equipped with the following supplies:

(i) one first aid kit as set out in Schedule A, or as needed, having regard for the particular risks at the place of employment and the number and location of employees;

(ii) a telephone or other effective means of communication along with an up-to-date list of emergency contacts;

(iii) a separate cubicle or a divider with a cot or bed equipped with a moisture-protected mattress, 2 pillows and 2 blankets;

(iv) storage space, a cupboard, a counter, a table and 2 or more chairs.

(3) An employer shall ensure that a first aid room

(a) is under the supervision of a first aid provider,

(b) is maintained in an orderly and sanitary condition,

(c) has the temperature maintained between 20 degrees Celsius and 24 degrees Celsius, and

(d) is used only for the purposes of providing first aid to employees or providing health care or instruction to employees.

(4) An employer shall ensure that no person smokes in a first aid room.

Section 13 Location of first aid kits

13. (1) An employer shall ensure that the first aid kits are

(a) conspicuously located at or near the working areas that they are intended to serve,

(b) easily accessible during all working hours, and

(c) maintained in a clean, dry and serviceable condition.

(2) An employer shall post, at a conspicuous place at the place of employment, signs that indicate the location of first aid kits.

(3) Where the posting of a sign is not practicable, an employer shall ensure that each employee is informed of the location of first aid kits.

Schedule A FIRST AID REQUIREMENTS

Table

Work carried on at a place of employment specified below or, if no place of employment is specified, the work described below, constitutes high hazard work:

(a) working at project site or mine;

(b) working underground, in confined spaces or in isolated areas where emergency medical help is not in close proximity to the work area;

(c) working on electrical transmission, generation or distribution systems;

(d) working at foundries or machine shops;

(e) working at gas, oil or chemical processing plants, steel or other base metal processing plants;

(f) working at woodland operations, sawmills or lumber processing plants;

(g) working at brewery or beverage processing plants, meat packing or processing plants;

(h) working with explosives or heavy equipment.