Workplace first aid in Ontario: Regulation 1101 explained

Most Ontario employers know they need "someone with first aid." Fewer know exactly how many trained people they need on each shift, which level of training applies, what must be posted on the wall, and how often the kit must be checked. The rules are short and specific. This article walks through them in plain language.

It is a summary for planning, not legal advice. Always check the current rules from the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) for your workplace.

Where the rules come from

Ontario's workplace first aid requirements are set out in Regulation 1101 under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act. The WSIB publishes a plain-language guide to them. The regulation still uses older certificate names. The WSIB explains that Basic First Aid is the equivalent of Emergency First Aid, and Intermediate First Aid is the equivalent of Standard First Aid.

How many trained people you need, by shift size

The requirements depend on how many workers are on a shift at a workplace.

• 5 or fewer workers per shift: a first aid box with the minimum items listed in the regulation, and a person in charge of it who holds a valid Emergency First Aid certificate or its equivalent (Basic First Aid level).
• More than 5 and up to 15 workers per shift: a larger first aid box, and a person in charge who holds a valid Standard First Aid certificate or its equivalent (Intermediate First Aid level).
• More than 15 and fewer than 200 workers per shift: a stretcher, two blankets and an even larger first aid box, with a Standard First Aid holder (Intermediate level) in charge.
• 200 or more workers per shift: a first aid room with the equipment listed in the regulation, staffed by a registered nurse or by a Standard First Aid holder who works near the room and has no duties that would get in the way of giving first aid.

Plan for every shift, not only the day shift. A warehouse with 40 people on days and 8 people overnight still needs a trained person in charge of the first aid station overnight.

What goes in the kit

The regulation lists exact minimum quantities for each size of workplace. The smallest kit includes a current first aid manual, safety pins, individually wrapped adhesive dressings, sterile gauze pads, gauze bandage rolls, field dressings or sterile compresses, and a triangular bandage. Larger workplaces add more of each item, plus items such as pressure dressings, splint padding and splints.

The WSIB guide also advises against stocking medications or ointments, or equipment your first aiders are not trained to use. It recommends non-latex gloves and a CPR barrier device.

What you must post

At the first aid station, the notice board must display:

• the WSIB first aid poster (Form 82),
• the valid first aid certificates of the trained workers on duty, and
• an inspection card for the first aid box.

The Form 82 poster must also be posted in other conspicuous places in the workplace.

Inspections and records

Two habits are easy to forget:

1. Inspect each first aid box at least every three months. Mark the inspection card with the date and the inspector's signature.
2. Record every first aid treatment. Keep a record of the circumstances of each accident, including the date and time, the names of any witnesses, where the injury happened, and the first aid given.

A simple monthly reminder in your calendar covers both.

What changed in June 2026

The WSIB launched a modernized First Aid Program on June 22, 2026. The main changes for employers are:

• A national standard. Workplace first aid training now aligns with CSA Z1210:24, the national standard for workplace first aid training curriculum and quality management.
• Approved providers only. The WSIB states that only WSIB-approved providers are authorized to deliver workplace first aid training in Ontario. It now lists 65 approved providers, and approved providers can show a First Aid Program badge.
• Certificates from other provinces. The WSIB accepts workplace first aid certificates from anywhere in Canada that meet the CSA Z1210 standard.
• Older certificates still count. Certificates issued by previously approved providers up to June 21, 2026 remain valid until their expiry date.

How to choose a first aid course for your workplace

Before you pay for any course, check three things:

1. The level. Match the course to your shift sizes: Basic First Aid for small shifts, Intermediate First Aid for larger ones.
2. The provider. Check that the provider appears on the WSIB list of approved first aid training providers. If you are not sure, the WSIB asks employers to email first_aid@wsib.on.ca before buying training.
3. The certificate. Confirm what the certificate will say, how long it is valid, and when your first aiders need to renew.

Then keep a simple tracker: each first aider's name, shift, certificate level and expiry date. Review it every quarter, when you inspect the kits.

First aid is part of a wider safety habit

Trained first aiders handle the first minutes of an emergency. They work best in a workplace where hazards are spotted early, incidents are reported, and everyone knows who to call. That is why many employers pair first aid with general health and safety awareness training for all staff.

Where Verten fits

Verten Academy offers blended first aid courses, including Basic First Aid (BFA-101) and Intermediate First Aid (IFA-201), both with CPR Level C and AED. You learn online, then a qualified instructor signs off your skills in an in-person session. Verten's first aid training is delivered with ACA Emergency Response Training Inc., a WSIB-approved first aid training provider.

To compare the options and see online and in-person hours, see Verten's first aid courses.

This article is general information, not legal advice.

Sources

• WSIB: First aid requirements guide (PDF, July 2026)
• WSIB news release: modernized first aid program launches (June 22, 2026)