Requirememt for First Aid coverage for after hours workers in Ontario

[vickyp]

#102608

Forum: Community

Our Ontario head office employs around 450 employees, of which, approx. 200 are remote workers.
The remaining 250 employees that work in the office each day have some flexibility with respect to working hours. The majority of employees work a standard 9-5 type of shift however some employees have the ability to stay late, work weekends etc with no approval or scheduling process. In other words, I have no way of knowing how many employees will be working late on a given evening or will be in the office on a Saturday or Sunday. We are compliant with First Aid Regulation 1101 during the regular work day but what is the requirement to provide first aid coverage for those workers that choose to stay late or work the weekend’
 

[vickyp]

#102983

First Aid Reg. 1101 first aid requirements are based on the number of workers employed at a place of employment “IN ANY ONE SHIFT.” So, to the extent there are over 200 workers employed at the head office during A SHIFT, the Section 11 First Aid Room requirements that you currently comply with during the week would also apply over the weekend, including the Section 11(2) requirement that the first aid room be in the charge of:
(a) a registered nurse; or
(b) a worker who,
(i) is the holder of a valid St. John Ambulance Standard First Aid Certificate or its equivalent,
(ii) works in the immediate vicinity of the first aid room, and
(iii) does not perform other work of a nature that is likely to affect adversely his or her ability to administer first aid.
MOL guidelines say the resources required by 1101 must be available “during working hours” https://www.labour.gov.on.ca/english/hs/pubs/filmguide/gl_1.php   Although the guidelines address production companies, the same principles would presumably apply to other types of sites. Thus, if weekends are “working hours”, the RN/attendant worker needs to be on duty. At least that’s my read. WSIB guidelines don’t address the issue but do list a help resource, towit, For more information call 416-344-1016 (toll-free 1-800-663-6639) or email First_Aid@wsib.on.ca
Hope that helps. Glenn

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