• Q. Am I required to have staff First Aid trained?
  A. All employers that are covered under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act (WSIA) are required to have staff trained in First Aid and must maintain certification for those staff.

• Q. What are the requirements for the workplace under WSIA regulations?
  A. All workplaces that require First Aid training must have First Aid trained staff covering the workplace during all normally scheduled hours of operation. The employer must also ensure that there is enough staff to ensure coverage even when trained staff are on vacation or cannot make it to work.

• Q. What is the certification period?
  A. First Aid certification is for 3 years. CPR, when taken as part of a First Aid course, is valid for the same period as the First Aid. All staff certified in First Aid as part of a company’s WSIB requirement are allowed to take a recertification course only once before they must take the full course again.

• Q. What if a facility does not have staff trained?
  A. Section 82 of the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act authorizes the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) to surcharge employers that do not comply with the requirements.

• Q. Is St. John Ambulance the only agency we can get training?
  A. No. Vital Link Training Services Inc. is an approved First Aid training agency by WSIB. You can also go to http://www.wsib.on.ca/wsib/wsibsite.nsf/public/FATrainers for a list of all training agencies approved by WSIB to provide First Aid training for the workplace.

• Q. What choices are there regarding getting our training completed?
  A. For courses that are 8 hours or more in length, the course may be scheduled either back-to-back days or any combination of days and/or evenings. Each session cannot be less than 4 hours and the course must be completed within 14 days.

• Q. Are Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) mandatory?
  A. No, but if a person suffers a Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA), the only way to return a heart to a normal heart rhythm is by shocking the heart with a defibrillator. CPR has a very limited chance of saving a life although it does happen occasionally. The main purpose of CPR is to keep the flow of oxygen to the brain in order to minimize the chance of brain death. The best chance of survival for a person suffering a SCA is immediate use of a defibrillator.

• Q. Can the use of an AED cause any harm to a person if used incorrectly?
  A. No. The AED is designed to determine if the person requires a shock or not. If the user is trained properly and applies the device correctly in a rapid manner, the person has the highest chance of survival. If the device is used incorrectly their will be no harm done to the person.

• Q. If I purchase a defibrillator for my company, can I or any one else in my company be sued if it is used and the person does not survive?
  A. No. If the AED is used properly and with the best of intentions, the user and the company that purchased the device will not be held legally accountable for the outcome.

• Q. What should I look for in a training company?
  A.
  • A training agency that is approved by WSIB (if your company is looking for First Aid training)
  • A training agency that maintains full records of all training and has the ability to quickly provide you with the information you need (not just in preparation for training but after the training has been completed)
  • A training agency with highly qualified and experienced instructors
  • The training agency should be able to provide you with notices of recertification as the time approaches for your staff to be recertified
    
    
• Q. I do not know if I have a suitable room for our training. What should the criteria be for a suitable training room?
  A.
  • There should be adequate room to allow each person to practice CPR on the floor without bumping into each other (the instructor needs enough room to move about the room and have all participants be able to see the instructor demonstrating different skills)
  • There should be adequate table space and chairs for each participant and the space for each participant to take notes
  • The room should be in an area of the building that allows for very little noise or distraction

For more information regarding WSIB regulations, visit www.wsib.on.ca or contact the training department at 1.888.520.5554 or email us at training@vitallinkonline.com.

For more information on any of the above questions or if you do not find the answer you are looking for contact us at 1.888.520.5554 or email us at training@vitallinkonline.com.

For FAQs relating to the technical aspects of Defibrillators, First Aid kits or supplies, refer to the FAQs found on the Vital Link Medical Supplies web site.