CAN/CSA Z1220-17 Standard: How to choose the right first aid kit for your workplace

As you know, workplace accidents can happen quickly, and the first few minutes of intervention are often the most crucial. This is why, as an employer, you must provide a safe working environment for your employees and be well-equipped. In this regard, since the first aid kit is your primary tool in an emergency, it is essential to choose it carefully and ensure it meets your needs. Moreover, since 2021, employers must have kits with contents compliant with the new CAN/CSA Z1220-17 standard.

But how do you choose the most appropriate first aid kit for your needs? Don't worry, Cardio Choc is here to guide you through the many criteria to consider when selecting your kit.

To each their kit: two essential criteria for making the right choice

The choice of your kit will depend on two essential criteria: the risk level and the number of workers.

The risk level

To choose your kit well, you must first determine the level of risk your workers face. Thus, the type of kit that must be accessible to employees will be influenced by your work environment and the level of risk it entails.

Three types of kits are therefore possible depending on the probability and severity of the risk present in your company:

• Type 1 (personal kit): The personal kit is intended for employees who work alone and therefore do not have access to a first aid kit. It can also be used in vehicles transporting fewer than 5 workers. For example, municipal workers who use a city vehicle to perform work in a park where no kit is available. This is also the type of kit to use in a vehicle transporting more than 5 workers, but who are within 30 minutes of a medical service.
• Type 2 (basic kit): The basic kit is appropriate for work environments where the risk level is considered low to moderate. The basic first aid kit contains the necessary items for your workers to manage a wide range of situations.
• Type 3 (intermediate kit): The intermediate kit is recommended in situations where your work environment is considered high-risk. Comprehensive and specialized equipment is provided in case of a particular situation.

A risk assessment of your environment will ensure you have the necessary equipment and supplies. Note that your different workplaces must be taken into account. Your office employees will not have the same needs as those on a construction site, for example. To achieve this, several tools are available to you, such as Appendix to CSA Z1220-17 standard or the tool offered by the CNESST, which can measure, step by step, your activity sectors to determine their risk level. Finally, you can also analyze the dangers yourself.

The following diagram can also help you situate yourself.

The number of employees

Different kit sizes exist. That's why, in addition to the risk level, you'll also need to consider the number of workers who will use the kits:

• Small kit: fewer than 25 workers per shift.
• Medium kit: 26 to 50 workers per shift.
• Large kit: 51 to 100 workers per shift.

Note that it is possible to use multiple kits. For example, you can use 2 small kits for 45 workers. However, the opposite is not allowed. Buying one large kit to divide it among 2 branches of 20 people each would not be compliant.

What to remember about the content of first aid kits

Once you've selected the type of kit, here's some useful information about their contents:

• Kits must be easily accessible to workers and located as close as possible to the workplaces.
• Kits must be clean, complete, and in good condition.
• Used material must be replaced after use.
• Yellowed, dirty, or expired material must be replaced.
• No supplier is recognized by the CNESST for selling first aid kits.
• No guarantee or certification of conformity is required for the contents of the first aid kit.
• It is not necessary to replace kits every 3 years.
• The first aid guide is no longer required in the kits.

A turnkey service

You can always be accompanied by experts, such as Cardio Choc, in choosing your kits. By calling on a specialized resource, you will save time and avoid additional stress by leaving the process in the hands of experts. Furthermore, an expert eye in first aid equipment always notices the small details that will make all the difference. That's why, at Cardio Choc, our evaluators have extensive knowledge of products and know when it's time to change them.

In any case, remember that your employees will always be happier in an environment they know is safe and equipped, and that setting up kits for your workers is not something to be taken lightly.

To discover the kits for sale at Cardio Choc, click here.