First aid training is crucial for keeping workplaces safe and ready to handle emergencies. With major updates coming in November 2024, the landscape of first aid training in Canada is about to change. In this article, we’ll break down the differences between WorkSafeBC’s Occupational First Aid (OFA) and Red Cross First Aid programs and how the new Canadian Standards Association (CSA) guidelines will shake things up.
Understanding Occupational First Aid (OFA)
WorkSafeBC’s Occupational First Aid is divided into three levels, each designed to cater to different workplace risks and needs. Currently, OFA Level 1 provides basic training over 8 hours, focusing on essential life-saving skills such as CPR and wound care. OFA Level 2, extending over 36 hours, delves deeper, adding spinal injury management and secondary survey techniques. For those in high-risk environments, OFA Level 3 offers a comprehensive 70-hour program, covering advanced trauma management and medical conditions.
Current WorkSafeBC OFA Levels
- OFA Level 1:
- Duration: 8 hours
- Focus: Basic life-saving skills
- Content: CPR, wound care, initial care for critical injuries
- Certification: Valid for 3 years
- OFA Level 2:
- Duration: 36 hours
- Focus: Advanced first aid techniques
- Content: Includes all Level 1 content, plus spinal injury management, secondary survey
- Certification: Valid for 3 years
- OFA Level 3:
- Duration: 70 hours
- Focus: Comprehensive first aid training
- Content: All Level 1 and 2 content, plus medical conditions management, advanced trauma management, multiple casualty management
- Certification: Valid for 3 years
However, significant changes are coming. By November 2024, these courses will be restructured to align with the CSA standards. OFA Level 1 will become Basic First Aid, condensed into a 1-day course. OFA Level 2 will transition to Intermediate First Aid, streamlined to 2 days. OFA Level 3 will be renamed Advanced First Aid, maintaining its thorough 10-day duration. These changes aim to provide more efficient yet robust training, ensuring that workers are well-prepared without excessive time commitments.
Post-November 2024 Changes
- Basic First Aid (formerly OFA Level 1):
- Duration: 1 day
- Focus: Basic life-saving skills
- Certification: Valid for 3 years
- Intermediate First Aid (formerly OFA Level 2):
- Duration: 2 days (reduced from 5 days)
- Focus: Advanced first aid techniques
- Certification: Valid for 3 years
- Advanced First Aid (formerly OFA Level 3):
- Duration: 10 days
- Focus: Comprehensive first aid training
- Certification: Valid for 3 years
These updates aim to streamline training duration while aligning with CSA standards, ensuring that the training content remains robust and relevant. Don’t worry though, your current certificates will still be valid until expiry. Your next certificate after these changes come into effect will be the new program standards.
The Red Cross Approach
The Red Cross offers a tiered structure of first aid courses that align closely with the current OFA levels. Their Emergency First Aid (EFA) offers equivalency to OFA Level 1, with basic emergency response training in an 8-hour format. OFA Level 1 is currently the only program that the Red Cross holds an equivalency too.
Standard First Aid (SFA) is their take on a more comprehensive course like OFA Level 2. However, while the Red Cross labels this as an intermediate level first aid course, it is not equivalent to an OFA Level 2 under the current requirements. Standard First Aid is still one of the most popular programs the Red Cross offers though. It spans 16 hours and includes a more comprehensive range of skills. For workers needing an OFA Level 1 you can actually use this program as well. Standard First Aid, like EFA, also holds equivalency to an OFA Level 1.
The Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) course, similar to OFA Level 3, provides extensive training for high-risk situations, typically around 80 hours. Again, these courses are not equivalent to each other at this time. If you already have an OFA Level 3 certificate, there is a bridge course available to convert your certificate to an EMR. That bridge course is only 40 hours. This way you don’t have to take two 80 hour courses to get both certificates, if desired.
What sets Red Cross training apart is its emphasis on practical, scenario-based learning, which helps participants apply their knowledge in real-life situations. This hands-on approach is designed to build confidence and competence, making it an excellent choice for workplaces that require high levels of preparedness.
The Impact of CSA Guideline Updates
The upcoming CSA changes are pivotal, aimed at harmonizing first aid training across Canada. The CSA Z1210-17 and CSA Z1220-17 standards are central to these changes. CSA Z1210-17 focuses on curriculum and quality management for training agencies, ensuring that first aid courses are consistent and up-to-date with the latest practices. This will mean a shift in course durations and content for WorkSafeBC’s OFA programs, as they align more closely with these national standards.
At this time, organizations such as the Red Cross do not have updates available that include the new CSA Standards. We wait and hope to see further equivalency across all three tiers of first aid in BC. If the rumours are true, we’re likely to see EFA maintain equivalency with OFA Level 1 (or Basic First Aid in the future). From what we’ve heard, we’ll also see Standard First Aid become equivalent to the new Intermediate First Aid that is replacing OFA Level 2. We’ll be sure to post more about these as updates come.
On the other hand, CSA Z1220-17 sets the requirements for first aid kits in the workplace. This includes standardized contents to ensure kits are adequately stocked to handle a variety of emergencies. For employers, this means updating their first aid supplies to meet these new standards, ensuring that their kits are compliant and ready for use.
What This Means for Employers and Workers
For employers, the alignment with CSA standards represents a move towards more standardized and efficient first aid training. The streamlined durations for OFA courses mean that workers can receive the necessary training in less time, without compromising on the quality or comprehensiveness of the education.
Workers can expect to benefit from these changes through more focused and practical training sessions. The updates ensure that all training programs are on par with national standards, providing them with the skills and confidence needed to respond to emergencies effectively.
The landscape of first aid training in Canada is evolving, with significant updates set to take effect in November 2024. By understanding the distinctions between WorkSafeBC’s Occupational First Aid and Red Cross First Aid programs, and the implications of the upcoming CSA guideline changes, employers and workers can better prepare for the future. These changes promise to enhance the quality and consistency of first aid training, ensuring that workplaces across Canada are safer and better equipped to handle emergencies.
Stay tuned as we navigate these changes, and make sure your training and first aid kits are up to date to meet the new standards. The future of workplace safety is here, and it’s more efficient, standardized, and robust than ever before.
