CSA Z1220-17 (R2021)

Preface

This is the first edition of CSA Z1220, First aid kits for the workplace.

This Standard is part of a series of standards on workplace first aid. It provides general requirements for workplace first aid kits, specifies a classification system for the kits, and sets minimum requirements for their contents based on their classification. It also provides requirements for the selection of kits based on various workplace environments, for their containers and the marking of the containers, and for ongoing kit maintenance. Two informative annexes provide guidance for organizations on carrying out a workplace first aid risk assessment to determine appropriate levels of first aid equipment and supplies and to assess the need to augment the requirements set out in this Standard.

CSA Group gratefully acknowledges that the development of this Standard was made possible, in part, by financial and in-kind support from the Canadian government departments responsible for occupational health and safety, the Ontario Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB), the Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB), and EMP Canada.

Introduction

0.1 Background

In October 2014, CSA Group’s Occupational Health and Safety Standards Program and the Canadian Red Cross’s Workplace Injury Reduction Collaborative Forum held a joint workshop to discuss and reach an agreement on the development of national guidance in the area of first aid competencies. Participants agreed that the development of a standard could serve as part of a national system for first aid training and assessment of training organizations. A CSA Technical Committee was formed to develop CSA Z1210, Workplace first aid.

Stakeholders also identified the need to establish national guidance regarding the contents of workplace first aid kits to provide clarification and consistency to organizations as part of a national system for workplace first aid. As such, this Standard is a companion document to CSA Z1210. The language, terminology, and requirements in this Standard are aligned with those of CSA Z1210.

0.2 Classification system

This Standard defines a new workplace first aid kit classification system. It follows a “scalability approach” that will allow organizations improved flexibility in meeting the unique needs of their specific worksites, while still ensuring minimum requirements are set forth based on the number of workers.

Three main classifications of workplace first aid kits are included: Type 1: Personal, Type 2: Basic and Type 3: Intermediate.

Note: The intermediate kit is intended to be utilized within workplaces with a higher risk environment.

To allow for organizational variability the Type 2 and Type 3 kits have been further classified into small, medium and large. The sub-classifications of small, medium and large correspond to the number of workers at the worksite per shift ensuring a larger organization has more supplies on hand to satisfy the needs of a larger population.

Scope

1.1 Purpose

This Standard establishes the minimum requirements for workplace first aid kits. It is intended to be used by occupational health and safety (OHS) regulators, manufacturers and distributors of first aid kits, employers, and other interested workplace parties.

Note: At the time of publication, workplace first aid legislation differs from jurisdiction to jurisdiction in Canada. It is the user’s responsibility to determine how applicable legislative requirements relate to this Standard.

1.2 Inclusions

This Standard provides the following requirements for workplace first aid kits:

a) general requirements (Clause 4);

b) specifications for a classification system for the kits and minimum requirements for the contents of the kits in accordance with their classification (Clause 5);

c) requirements for the selection of workplace first aid kits for a workplace environment based on the number of workers at the workplace per shift (Clause 6);

d) requirements for the workplace first aid kit container, including marking requirements (Clause 7); and

e) requirements for the ongoing maintenance of the kits (Clause 8).

Annexes A and B provide informative guidance on conducting a workplace first aid risk assessment to determine the level of workplace first aid services and equipment required in a particular workplace. Annex A also provides informative guidance on the selection of additional workplace first aid supplies and equipment to address special circumstances identified through the workplace first aid risk assessment.

1.3 Exclusions

This Standard does not include

a) requirements for first aid rooms or first aid stations;

b) requirements for workplace first aid incident reporting and recording, which can be subject to federal, provincial, or territorial legislation or organizational policies; and

c) specialized first aid supplies and equipment for particular environments (e.g., marine, mining, forestry, transportation, pools, school buses) where specific legislation could apply; and

d) specific requirements for workplace first aid supplies and equipment for particular environments (e.g., marine, mining, forestry, transportation, pools, and school buses) where the authority having jurisdiction has specific legislation that applies to those specific workplaces.

1.4 Terminology

In this Standard, “shall” is used to express a requirement, i.e., a provision that the user is obliged to satisfy in order to comply with the standard; “should” is used to express a recommendation or that which is advised but not required; and “may” is used to express an option or that which is permissible within the limits of the standard.

Notes accompanying clauses do not include requirements or alternative requirements; the purpose of a note accompanying a clause is to separate from the text explanatory or informative material.

Notes to tables and figures are considered part of the table or figure and may be written as requirements.

Annexes are designated normative (mandatory) or informative (non-mandatory) to define their application.

1.5 Units of measure

The values given in SI units are the units of record for the purposes of this Standard. The values given in parentheses are for information and comparison only.