Read Length: 7 min

A Requirement Most Employers Do Not Know About

Since November 1, 2024, every workplace in British Columbia must conduct and document a written first aid assessment. This is not optional, and it is not limited to large or high-risk operations. A three-person office in New Westminster has the same obligation as a construction site.

The assessment determines the minimum level of first aid your workplace requires — which certification level your attendants need, what equipment you must keep on site, and what your emergency transportation arrangements should look like. For some employers the assessment confirms what they already had in place. For others it reveals that their current coverage is no longer sufficient.

• Required for every workplace, regardless of size
• Must be written and kept on file
• Determines your minimum first aid level and equipment
• Must be reviewed when circumstances change

The Two Parts of the Assessment

The assessment has two components. The first looks at your workplace itself: how many workers are on shift, what hazards they are exposed to, and what the realistic risk of injury looks like. The second looks at access — specifically, how long it would take to get an injured worker to medical treatment, and whether anything about your site makes that access difficult.

Those two answers combine to produce your minimum first aid requirement. A low-hazard office fifteen minutes from a hospital lands in a very different place than a moderate-hazard facility forty minutes from the nearest ambulance station.

• Number of workers present per shift
• Hazard level and realistic injury risk for the work performed
• Travel time to the nearest appropriate medical treatment
• Any barriers to access, such as remote sites or restricted entry

Two Worked Examples

A twelve-person accounting office in New Westminster. Low hazard, small staff, close to Royal Columbian Hospital, standard business hours, ground floor access. This workplace lands at the low end of the scale. The employer documents the assessment, confirms a Basic-level attendant and a matching kit are appropriate, and schedules the annual drill.

A sixty-person light manufacturing facility in Surrey. Moderate hazard involving machinery, a larger workforce across two shifts, and reasonable ambulance access. The higher headcount and injury risk push the requirement upward, and the employer needs to confirm coverage on both shifts — not just during the day. The assessment also flags a gap: the evening shift had no certified attendant at all.

That second scenario is the most common finding we see. Coverage exists on paper but not across every hour people are actually working.

• Assess coverage per shift, not per company
• Account for vacation and sick leave in your attendant planning
• Re-run the assessment when you move sites, change processes, or grow

Mini FAQ

Q: Is there an official worksheet? Yes. WorkSafeBC publishes an assessment worksheet and supporting guidance on its first aid requirements pages.

Q: How often do I need to redo it? Review it whenever your workplace changes substantially, including headcount, location, processes, or hazards.

Q: What if the assessment says I need a higher level than I currently have? Arrange training for the required level. Training providers can usually accommodate a group booking within a few weeks.

Key Takeaways

• Every BC workplace must complete and document a written first aid assessment
• The assessment considers workforce size, hazard level, and access to medical treatment
• Results determine your required attendant level and equipment
• Shift coverage gaps are the most common problem the assessment uncovers