For any Canadian employer, ensuring workers receive prompt and appropriate first aid is not just an ethical responsibility—it’s a strict legal mandate. However, because Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) is governed provincially and territorially, finding the exact requirements for first aid kits, attendants, and facilities can feel like navigating a maze.
At Code Three Emergency Vehicles, we equip mobile workplaces (like ambulances, MTCs, and emergency response vehicles) that must comply with the strictest interpretations of these laws. Here is a definitive guide on where to find your mandatory OHS First Aid requirements across Canada.
The Three Pillars of Canadian First Aid Compliance
Before diving into the provincial lists, it’s essential to understand the three core factors that determine your specific requirements:
- The First Aid Assessment: Every employer is required to conduct a documented written assessment. This is the starting point and dictates everything else. Key factors considered are:
- Number of Workers: The maximum number of workers present per shift.
- Workplace Hazard Level: (e.g., Low Risk for offices vs. High Risk for construction/industrial sites).
- Accessibility: The time it takes for emergency services (public ambulance) to reach the workplace (especially critical for remote sites and mobile work).
- The Governing Legislation: The requirements are found in a specific Part or Schedule of the province’s OHS Act or Code.
- The CSA Standard: Most jurisdictions are aligning their kit and training requirements with the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) Standard Z1220 for kits and Z1210 for training. This brings national consistency to kit contents (e.g., Type 1, 2, or 3 kits).
Where to Find the OHS First Aid Legislation
The following table provides the direct reference point for workplace first aid requirements in every Canadian jurisdiction. Always consult the most current version of the specific Part or Schedule listed.
| Jurisdiction | Governing Body | Primary Legislative Reference (Look for “First Aid” or the listed Part) |
| Federal (Federally Regulated Businesses) | ESDC / Labour Program | Canada Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, Part 16 |
| Alberta (AB) | Alberta Labour & Immigration | Occupational Health and Safety Code, Part 11: First Aid and Schedule 2 |
| British Columbia (BC) | WorkSafeBC | OHS Regulation, Part 3: Occupational First Aid |
| Manitoba (MB) | Workplace Safety and Health | Workplace Safety and Health Regulation, Part 5: First Aid |
| New Brunswick (NB) | WorkSafeNB | First Aid Regulation (under the OHS Act) |
| Newfoundland & Labrador (NL) | WorkplaceNL | OHS First Aid Regulations |
| Nova Scotia (NS) | WCB Nova Scotia | OHS First Aid Regulations |
| Ontario (ON) | WSIB | Regulation 1101 (First Aid Requirements) (under the Workplace Safety & Insurance Act) |
| Prince Edward Island (PE) | WHSCC | OHS Act General Regulations, Part 9 |
| Quebec (QC) | CNESST | Regulation respecting first aid in the workplace (under the OHS Act) |
| Saskatchewan (SK) | Ministry of Labour Relations | OHS Regulations, 2020, Part 5: First Aid |
| Yukon (YT) | WSCB | OHS Regulations, Part 18: Minimum First Aid Requirements |
| Northwest Territories (NT) & Nunavut (NU) | WSCC | OHS Regulations, Part 5: First Aid |
CCOHS Tip: The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (https://www.ccohs.ca/) maintains a comprehensive resource list that tracks all amendments and changes across the country.
The Role of the Emergency Vehicle Builder
At Code Three Emergency Vehicles, we recognize that our work is integral to your compliance, especially for mobile workplaces like Industrial Ambulances or Mobile Treatment Centres.
If your First Aid Assessment determines you need a Type 3 Intermediate First Aid Kit (common in high-risk environments) or a stretcher and secured space (due to a distant response time to a hospital), the vehicle must be engineered to support this.
We build in compliance by ensuring:
- Secured Storage: All cabinetry is designed and tested to securely hold the specific CSA-compliant kits and medical equipment, preventing them from becoming projectiles in a crash.
- Safe Patient Transfer: Our stretcher mounting and compartment designs comply with the structural and space requirements necessary for safe worker access and patient handling.
Choosing a builder who understands the complexity of OHS regulations, especially the requirements for remote and accessible workplaces, is essential for mitigating risk and ensuring the safety of your team.
Need a custom vehicle built with compliance at its core? Contact Code Three Emergency Vehicles to discuss a solution tailored to your jurisdictional requirements.
