WorkSafeBC First Aid Requirements: What BC Employers Must Know (2024 Updates)

If you received your WorkSafeBC classification notice this year and took a hard look at your current first aid setup, there is a good chance something no longer adds up. Understanding the WorkSafeBC first aid requirements is more important than ever: BC's regulations changed significantly on November 1, 2024. Many employers across Vancouver, Burnaby, and the broader Lower Mainland are still catching up with what these updates require. The biggest sources of confusion are the shift to new certification names and the multi-variable assessment formula used to determine equipment and personnel. Metro Safety has been helping Greater Vancouver businesses navigate these requirements since they took effect, ensuring local operations remain safe and compliant.

What the 2024 Regulation Changes Mean for Your Workplace

The November 2024 update replaced BC's legacy Occupational First Aid (OFA) Level 1, 2, and 3 system with three new certification tiers aligned to the CSA Z1220 standard: Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced. While the core life-saving skills remain similar, the regulatory language, certificate formats, and training durations have evolved. Any employer in Metro Vancouver still using old terminology in their safety manuals must update their documentation to reflect these changes.

The good news is that existing OFA certificates remain valid until their individual expiry dates, with a hard cutoff of November 1, 2027. However, any new certification obtained now must be issued under the new naming convention from a WorkSafeBC-approved training agency. Waiting until the last minute to recertify creates a significant compliance risk for your business.

From OFA to Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced

The three new tiers map directly to their predecessors to simplify the transition:

• Basic First Aid (formerly OFA Level 1): A one-day, 7-hour course covering emergency response and CPR.
• Intermediate First Aid (formerly OFA Level 2): A 14-hour course over two days, adding trauma assessment and patient transport.
• Advanced First Aid (formerly OFA Level 3): A 70-hour, ten-day course for high-hazard or remote sites, including advanced airway management.

Transitional Certificates and Expiry Timelines

Think of the grace period this way: if your worker holds an OFA Level 1 that expires in 2026, they must renew under the Basic tier. For a certificate to be valid during a WorkSafeBC inspection in the Lower Mainland, it must include the issuing agency, certificate level, attendant name, expiry date, and a unique certificate number.

WorkSafeBC First Aid Requirements: The Three Determinants

WorkSafeBC’s Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Regulation, specifically Section 3.16 and Schedule 3-A, ties your minimum requirements to three variables. You must assess all three; relying on headcount alone is a common compliance mistake.

1. Hazard Rating: Low, Moderate, or High

Your hazard rating is found on your WorkSafeBC Classification Unit (CU) notice. For example, a professional office in downtown Vancouver is typically "Low," while a construction site in Coquitlam is "High." If your workers perform tasks riskier than your CU suggests, you are required to apply the higher hazard rating to your assessment.

2. The 30-Minute Accessibility Rule

WorkSafeBC classifies workplaces as "Close" if a BC Emergency Health Services ambulance can reach the site within 30 minutes. Most locations in Burnaby or New Westminster qualify as "Close," but industrial sites in more isolated parts of the Lower Mainland may be classified as "Remote," triggering higher attendant and transport requirements.

3. Maximum Workers Per Shift

Compliance is based on the peak number of workers physically present during a single shift, not your total staff count. If you have 50 employees but only 15 on the night shift, your night shift requirements are based on 15 people.

Required First Aid Attendants (Schedule 3-A Summary)

The following table outlines the minimum requirements. Note that these are the absolute minimums required by law in British Columbia.

Hazard Rating	Max Workers/Shift	Close Access (≤30 min)	Remote Access (>30 min)
Low	1-5	1 Basic	1 Basic + Transport
Low	6-24	1 Basic	1 Intermediate
Moderate	1-5	1 Basic	1 Intermediate
Moderate	6-24	1 Intermediate	1 Advanced
High	6-24	1 Advanced	2 Advanced

The On-Shift Coverage Rule

A certified first aid attendant must be physically present for every shift. You cannot have a certificate "on file" if that person is currently off-site or on vacation. This is a primary focus for WorkSafeBC prevention officers during inspections in the Metro Vancouver area.

First Aid Kit Requirements and Certifications

Your kit type must match your attendant's certification level. A Basic attendant needs a Basic kit; an Advanced attendant requires an Advanced kit. Mismatching these is an automatic compliance failure.

Essential Kit Components

• Basic Kits: Include items like antiseptic wipes, CPR pocket masks, and sterile gauze.
• Intermediate/Advanced Kits: Must include a windlass tourniquet (a BC-specific requirement), pulse oximeters, and in the case of Advanced, portable oxygen therapy equipment.

How to Complete Your WorkSafeBC First Aid Assessment

Every BC employer must maintain a written first aid assessment for each worksite. This document must be updated annually or whenever your operations change significantly.

The 7-Step Assessment Process

1. Identify the peak number of workers per shift.
2. Check your Hazard Rating from your CU notice.
3. Determine if you are "Close" or "Remote" (30-minute rule).
4. Consult Schedule 3-A for minimums.
5. Identify unique site hazards (e.g., chemical risks).
6. Complete and sign the WorkSafeBC First Aid Assessment Worksheet.
7. Review the assessment annually with your Joint Health and Safety Committee.

Ensuring Compliance in Metro Vancouver

Confirming your WorkSafeBC first aid requirements protects both your employees and your business from legal liability. With the 2024 changes now in full effect, there is no better time to audit your current safety plan.

If your team in Coquitlam, Surrey, or Burnaby needs updated certification under the new Basic, Intermediate, or Advanced tiers, Metro Safety is here to help. We provide WorkSafeBC-approved training that ensures your workers are prepared for emergencies and your documentation is inspection-ready. Contact us today to schedule your next training session and stay ahead of regulatory changes.