Workplace First Aid and CPR - Part 1: Requirements of Workplace First Aid in Alberta

Kam Chauhan
Aug 17
6 min read

Section 1.1: Navigating Alberta Workplace First Aid Requirements

The Alberta workplace first aid requirements are governed by a framework designed to ensure a standardized, high level of care for ill or injured workers. Understanding this framework is the foundational step for any employer, prime contractor, or safety professional aiming for full compliance. The primary legal instruments are the provincial Alberta Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act and its subordinate OHS Code, which work in concert with national standards developed by the Canadian Standards Association (CSA).

The OHS Act serves as the umbrella legislation for all occupational health and safety matters in the province. It establishes the fundamental duties and responsibilities of all workplace parties, including employers, contractors, and workers, to ensure a healthy and safe work environment. The Act grants the authority to create more detailed regulations and codes of practice, the most pertinent of which for first aid is the OHS Code.

Part 11 of the OHS Code is the central pillar of first aid regulation in Alberta. It explicitly outlines the core Alberta workplace first aid requirements, mandating that employers and prime contractors must provide first aid services, supplies, and equipment. The specific requirements are not arbitrary; they are determined by a mandatory workplace risk assessment that considers:

the hazard level of the work,
the number of workers per shift, and
the travel time to the nearest health care facility.

An evolution in Alberta's OHS legislation occurred on March 31, 2023, when the OHS Code was updated to legally adopt and enforce two key national standards from the CSA Group. This change harmonized Alberta's requirements with a growing number of Canadian jurisdictions. The two standards are:

CSA Z1210-17 (R2021), First aid training for the workplace — Curriculum and quality management for training agencies: This standard defines the curriculum and competency requirements for different levels of first aid training. It ensures that a first aider trained in Alberta receives instruction consistent with national best practices.
CSA Z1220-17 (R2021), First aid kits for the workplace: This standard specifies the classification system and minimum contents for workplace first aid kits. It replaces Alberta's previous system of provincially numbered kits (e.g., No. 1, No. 2, No. 3) with a more detailed, risk-based classification (Type 1, 2, and 3).

The provincial OHS Code mandates the provision of first aid and legally requires that the training of personnel and the contents of kits conform to these specific national CSA standards. This move toward standardization offers significant operational advantages. Companies that operate in multiple provinces that have also adopted the CSA standards, such as New Brunswick, Ontario, and Saskatchewan, can now implement a single, unified first aid program. This simplifies procurement of supplies, streamlines training protocols, and reduces administrative overhead. Furthermore, it enhances labour mobility, as a worker's CSA-compliant first aid certificate is more readily portable across these jurisdictions, often eliminating the need for province-specific retraining.

It is also important to note that while the 2017 editions of the CSA standards are the ones legally referenced in the Alberta OHS Code, the CSA Group periodically publishes newer editions (e.g., 2024 editions). While the differences may be minimal, employers must ensure their programs adhere to the specific version mandated by the legislation, which is currently CSA Z1210-17 and CSA Z1220-17.

Section 1.2: Roles and Responsibilities Under Alberta's First Aid Requirements

Compliance with Alberta workplace first aid requirements involves understanding the distinct roles, legal duties, and protections applicable to each party at the work site.. These responsibilities are not just suggestions but are enforceable legal obligations under the Alberta OHS Act and Code.

Employer and Prime Contractor Responsibilities

The ultimate responsibility for establishing and maintaining a compliant first aid program rests with the employer or, at a multi-employer site, the prime contractor. These duties are comprehensive and include:

Conducting a Risk Assessment: Performing and documenting a workplace first aid risk assessment to determine the required level of services, supplies, and equipment based on the hazard level, the number of workers, and the site's remoteness.
Providing Personnel and Supplies: Ensuring the correct number of designated first aiders, with the appropriate level of CSA-compliant training from an approved agency, are available on every shift. They must also provide the correct type and size of CSA-standard first aid kits, along with any other required equipment (e.g., stretchers, splints) and facilities (e.g., a first aid room).
Ensuring Accessibility: Placing first aid kits and equipment in locations that are clearly identified with signage and are "readily accessible to all workers".
Developing an Emergency Transportation Plan: Creating and implementing a formal plan to ensure the safe and timely transport of an ill or injured worker to the nearest health care facility.
Maintaining Records: Establishing a system for recording every workplace injury and illness and maintaining these records confidentially for a minimum of three years.

Designated First Aider Responsibilities

A designated workplace first aider is an individual appointed by the employer to fulfill a required role. Their responsibilities include:

Responding to Incidents: Providing prompt and effective first aid care to ill or injured workers.
Acting Within Scope of Training: A first aider must only perform the skills and procedures for which they have been trained and certified. Acting outside this scope can introduce significant legal risk.
Reporting to the Employer: After providing care, the first aider is responsible for documenting the incident and providing the information required for the employer's official record.
Maintaining Confidentiality: All information about a worker's injury or illness is confidential. The first aider has a strict ethical and legal duty to not disclose this information to anyone other than those legally permitted to receive it (e.g., the employer for the official record, responding EMS personnel).

Worker Responsibilities

Every worker has a critical role in the first aid system. Under Section 182 of the OHS Code, workers have a legal duty to report any work-related injury or the sudden onset of illness they experience at the work site to the employer or prime contractor as soon as possible. Prompt reporting is essential not only for receiving timely care but also for ensuring the incident is properly documented and investigated to prevent future occurrences.

Legal Protections and Ethical Considerations

The legal environment for providing first aid can be complex, and it is crucial to understand the principles that govern a first aider's actions.

Consent: Before providing any care, a first aider should obtain consent from a conscious and responsive adult worker. This consent can be verbal or a gesture, such as nodding or extending an arm. This is known as expressed consent. If a worker is unresponsive, confused, or seriously injured to the point they cannot grant consent, the law operates on the principle of implied consent, assuming a reasonable person would want help in that situation.
Duty to Continue Care: Once a first aider begins to provide care, they have a legal and ethical duty to continue that care until one of the following occurs: they are relieved by someone with an equal or higher level of training (e.g., another first aider, paramedics), the scene becomes unsafe for the first aider, or they are physically exhausted and unable to continue. Abandoning a patient after starting care can be considered negligence.
The "Good Samaritan" Act and the Workplace:
Alberta's Emergency Medical Aid Act is the province's "Good Samaritan" legislation. It protects a volunteer who provides emergency aid from liability for damages, unless it can be proven that they were "grossly negligent". However, there is a critical distinction that applies to the workplace. A first aider who is designated by their employer as part of a formal OHS program is not considered a volunteer bystander. They are fulfilling a required component of their job duties.

Consequently, their legal protection does not primarily stem from the Good Samaritan law but from operating under a professional "duty of care." Their legal defense in the event of an adverse outcome is demonstrating that they acted reasonably, prudently, and within the precise scope of their employer-provided, CSA-compliant training. This distinction means that employers must ensure their corporate liability insurance adequately covers the actions of their designated first aiders, as they are acting as agents of the company in this capacity.

In a busy workshop, a colleague receives immediate and proper first aid for a workplace injury. Another team member diligently records the incident, ensuring all safety protocols are followed. This proactive approach to workplace safety is crucial for maintaining a secure and supportive environment for all employees.