Province’s new workplace first aid standards taking effect in August

Changes to Nova Scotia’s workplace first aid standards are set to take effect at the start of next month.

In April, the provincial government made changes to two Canadian Standards Association (CSA) publications:

• CSA Z1210 or the “First aid training for the workplace – Curriculum and quality management for training agencies”, which establishes minimum standards for first aid training;
• CSA Z1220 or the “First aid kits for the workplace”, which establishes minimum requirements for the contents of first aid kits.

Under the revised CSA Z1210 training standard, training providers may now offer refresher training to someone with a valid first aid certificate, instead of requiring them to complete the training or to recertify.

“Recertification requires the first aider to demonstrate competency in both knowledge and skills components, as per their original certification training. If you are interested in refresher training, speak to your first aid provider to see if that offer is an option,” according to the Nova Scotia government.

All employers must provide first aid supplies, trained first aiders, and other first aid services, such as emergency transportation, at each of their workplaces at their own expense.

Meanwhile, the revised CSA Z1220 made changes to the required contents of different types of first aid kits:

• Personal first aid kits – which are for workers who work alone, in isolation, or who do not otherwise have readily available access to a workplace first aid kit – now require an emergency blanket.
• Basic first aid kits – which are more common and are suitable for most workplaces with a low-moderate risk work environment – now require a tourniquet for arterial bleeds.
• And intermediate first aid kits – suitable for workplaces with a higher risk work environment – now require more units of abdominal pads.

All changes are available here.

Nova Scotia joined other provinces in complying with new CSA standards in 2022.

Other first aid reminders to employers

Meanwhile, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) is also reminding Nova Scotia employers to do the following:

• Post signage in a visible place in the workplace indicating: 
  • the location of first aid kits in the workplace.
  • the name and phone number of the workplace first aider(s) in the workplace 
  • provide safe and timely emergency transportation for the ill or injured. 
• Employers must keep detailed records of every injury in the workplace and keep these records confidential. A record must include the following: 
  • the name of the injured person 
  • the date and time of the injury 
  • the location and nature of the injuries on the person’s body  
  • the time when first aid was administered 
  • the first aid treatment provided 
  • the name of the person who provided the first aid and the workplace first aid certificate they hold 
  • the name of the person the injury was reported to  

Records must be maintained for five years, said CFIB.

Recently, Nova Scotia announced it will offer free tuition fees to paramedics and emergency response workers, benefiting more than 460 individuals.