Saskatchewan’s new Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, 2020 (2020 OHS Regulations) come into effect on April 1, 2021.
One of the key changes in the 2020 OHS Regulations relates to first aid requirements in workplaces for all employers in Saskatchewan. The 2020 OHS Regulations also consolidate and amend The Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, 1996, The Occupational Health and Safety (Prime Contractor) Regulations, and The Occupational Health and Safety (Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System) Regulations.
The 2020 OHS Regulations adopt the requirements for first aid kits found in the Canadian Standards Agency standard CSA Z1220-17, First aid kits for the workplace (CSA Standard). The CSA Standard establishes the minimum requirements for first aid kits in low, moderate and high risk workplaces, respectively. The CSA Standard also contains guidance on assessing the level of risk in a workplace to determine first aid requirements.
Under the 2020 OHS Regulations, employers are now required to designate a “competent person” to perform a workplace first aid risk assessment to determine risk classification for the particular workplace. A competent person is someone who has the requisite knowledge, skills and training to perform the assessment. Employers must ensure they provide first aid supplies and personnel that are appropriate to the level of risk identified in the risk assessment.
The first aid personnel requirements set out in Table 9 of the 2020 OHS Regulations have also changed. The number of first aid personnel needed for your workplace will now depend on the level of risk associated with the workplace and the number of workers present at the workplace at any one time. Based on these factors, your workplace may require a Class A attendant (minimum 14 hours first aid training and 4 hours CPR training), a Class B attendant (minimum 60 hours first aid training and 8 hours CPR training), a person with a licence to practice under The Paramedics Act, or some combination of all 3.
First aid is an important component of a compliant safety program. Employers should familiarize themselves with the new 2020 OHS Regulations before April 1, 2021 to ensure that they comply with the new first aid risk assessment requirements and the CSA Standard.
We would be pleased to assist your organization with understanding the new first aid and risk assessment requirements at your workplace. Please contact a member of our occupational health and safety team with any questions or concerns regarding compliance with the first aid requirements and the new 2020 Regulations.
Note: This article is of a general nature only. Laws and government programs may change over time and should be interpreted only in the context of particular circumstances such that these materials are not intended to be relied upon or taken as legal advice or opinion. Readers should consult a legal professional for specific advice in any particular situation.