Workplace First Aid Kit Requirements: BC, Alberta & Federal Guide

The difficult part is rarely finding a box marked “first aid.” It is working out which rules apply to the worksite, what risks the kit must support and what has to happen after the kit arrives.

By 72hours.ca Editorial Team · Reviewed 27 August 2026 · Scope: British Columbia, Alberta and federally regulated workplaces

Why a national label is not the buying decision

Canadian workplaces have first aid duties, but the selection process is not identical across the country. The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) identifies factors such as worker count, hazards and access to medical assistance. The applicable authority may also set requirements for attendants, facilities, emergency transport, records, placement and maintenance.

A kit can follow a recognized standard and still be the wrong type, size or configuration for a particular site. Start with the worksite assessment, then use the assessment to screen products and documentation.

Step 1: identify the authority that governs the worksite

Most workplaces are provincially or territorially regulated. A smaller group falls under federal jurisdiction, including areas such as banking, air transportation, interprovincial transportation, telecommunications and certain federal Crown corporations. The business name alone does not settle the question; the nature of its operations matters. The Government of Canada maintains a current list of federally regulated industries and workplaces.

For companies with sites in several provinces, do not assume the selection made for the head office carries over to every location. Treat each jurisdiction and worksite as a separate line in the first aid assessment.

British Columbia: assess before selecting the kit

WorkSafeBC’s current assessment process starts with the workplace, not the catalogue. Employers identify each workplace location, determine the maximum number of workers, review the assigned hazard rating, consider ambulance access and other barriers, then document the assessment. WorkSafeBC says the assessment should be reviewed every 12 months or when workplace conditions change.

Kit selection is only one result of that process. The assessment may also identify requirements for attendants, facilities, procedures and transportation. A warehouse near an urban hospital and a remote crew with the same head count should not be treated as identical simply because both need a first aid kit.

WorkSafeBC’s kit guidance says kits must be clean, dry, ready for use and easy to access. Its published contents identify Personal, Basic and Intermediate categories based on the CSA system, with additional selection details determined through the BC assessment.

Alberta: read Part 11 and Schedule 2 together

Alberta’s OHS Code requires the employer—or prime contractor where applicable—to provide first aiders, supplies, equipment, kits and, when required, a first aid room according to Schedule 2, Tables 4 to 7. Those tables distinguish low-, medium- and high-hazard work and account for factors such as worker numbers and travel time.

The current online text of section 178(3) specifies CSA Z1220-17 for required kits. This detail matters because a supplier may advertise a newer edition of a standard. Newer does not automatically mean that every legal reference has changed. Ask for the exact product contents and the edition the supplier is claiming, then compare those documents with the current Alberta OHS Code, Part 11.

Section 179 also addresses where first aid must be located and how supplies are maintained. Kits need to be readily available during working hours, protected from the environment, clearly identified and kept clean, dry and serviceable.

Federal workplaces: do not translate CSA types by guesswork

The Canada Occupational Health and Safety Regulations use a different classification. Schedule I connects workplace circumstances with federal kit Types A, B, C or D, while Schedule II lists their contents. Remote work can trigger additional requirements.

Federal rules also cover more than the container. First aid stations must be accessible and clearly identified. Under section 16.5, they must be inspected regularly and at least monthly, with contents kept clean, dry and serviceable. Section 16.6 covers information such as attendant contacts, emergency numbers and transport procedures. Check the federal regulation and schedules against the current version before procurement.

A practical five-step buying process

1. List every worksite. Include jurisdiction, address, operating hours and whether teams work away from the main location.
2. Complete the applicable assessment. Record workers per shift, hazards, worksite layout, medical access, communication and transport barriers.
3. Determine the required framework. Identify the governing regulation, kit classification, size and any specialized or sector-specific supplies.
4. Match a documented SKU. Obtain the exact contents list, standard edition, intended worker range, container format and replacement-item information.
5. Assign ownership. Name the person responsible for placement, inspections, expiry checks, restocking and retaining the assessment record.

What to request from a first aid kit supplier

Once the governing framework is clear, use the 72hours.ca First Aid Kits collection as a starting point for available options. For multiple locations, recurring replenishment or a jurisdiction-specific review, use the request-pricing path and include the number of sites, jurisdiction, use case and timeline. Product availability and documentation still need to be checked against the assessment.

The kit is not the whole first aid program

A well-chosen kit can still fail in practice. It may be locked in an office after hours, placed where workers do not know to look, missing supplies after a previous incident or too far from a detached crew. First aid training, attendants, communication, transport, records and drills may be just as important as the purchase.

Build the inspection into an existing workplace routine. For example, the person responsible for the monthly safety walk can check the seal, contents, expiry dates, accessibility and sign-off record at the same time. Restock used items immediately rather than waiting for the next scheduled inspection.

Before you request a quote

Have the jurisdiction, worksite count, maximum workers per shift, hazard profile, medical-access conditions, required kit framework and restocking plan ready. That information lets a supplier recommend an option for the actual site instead of treating “workplace first aid kit” as a sufficient specification.