Ottawa Construction News staff writer
The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) has announced a modernized First Aid Program it says will help ensure safer workplaces across Ontario. The updated program, in place as of June 22, will improve the quality and consistency of workplace first aid training, making effective training easier to access from anywhere in the province, the WSIB said in a press release.
“Updating the First Aid Program is a critical step forward to strengthen workplace first aid training,” said Rod Cook, vice-president, workplace health and safety services at the provincial agency. “Our goal is to make sure that people have access to the highest quality first aid training, no matter their location, so they’re prepared to respond in a medical emergency.”
The WSIB’s program covers 76 per cent of Ontario businesses under the Workplace Health and Insurance Act’s first aid regulation 1101, which provides guidelines for how many first aiders are needed on worksites, as well as other requirements for first aid kits and stations.
Key updates include:
- Bringing training in line with national standards set by Canadian Standards Association Z1210:24, First aid training for the workplace — Curriculum and quality management for training agencies.
- Expanding the network of approved training providers to 65 across Ontario.
- Instituting First Aid Program badges to verify the status of approved providers and their affiliates. Only WSIB-approved providers are authorized to deliver workplace first aid training in the province.
“By bringing our program up to national standards and expanding our network of approved providers, we’re breaking down barriers for businesses,” said Carrie Briley, director, health and safety program design at the WSIB. “We’re also making it easy for people to spot and access WSIB approved providers.”
The WSIB will continue to accept all workplace first aid certificates from anywhere in Canada, provided they meet the CSA Z1210 standard. Removing interprovincial barriers means it will be easier for first aiders to recertify their credentials in Ontario, the release said. All first aid certificates issued by previous WSIB-approved providers up until June 21, 2026, will remain valid until their expiry date.
