WSIB First Aid Requirements Explained in Plain English (2026)

Last updated: 2026 | Applies to all Ontario businesses covered by the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act (WSIA)

Every year, Ministry of Labour inspectors issue compliance orders to Ontario workplaces — and first aid deficiencies are among the most common triggers. Under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA), a corporation found in violation can face fines of up to $2 million, while individual directors and officers can be personally liable for up to $1.5 million. Beyond the financial risk, an under-equipped first aid station can be the difference between a minor incident and a life-altering one.

The good news: compliance is straightforward once you know the rules. This guide walks you through every requirement under WSIB Regulation 1101 — from kit contents by business size to first aid rooms, training requirements, and industry-specific rules — so you can audit your current setup with confidence.

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The Core Regulation: WSIB Regulation 1101

All Ontario businesses covered by the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act must comply with Ontario Regulation 1101 — First Aid Requirements. This regulation, administered by the WSIB, specifies exactly what first aid equipment, supplies, training, and documentation every workplace must have in place. Requirements apply to all employees regardless of employment status — full-time, part-time, casual, and seasonal workers all count.

Since January 1, 2020, workplaces have had a choice: meet Regulation 1101's prescriptive kit requirements, or supply an equivalent CSA Z1220-compliant first aid kit. Both satisfy the regulation, but many employers find the traditional Reg 1101 kits easier to audit. Either way, the kit must be appropriate for the number of workers on any single shift — not total headcount.

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The Golden Rules: Universal Requirements for Every Ontario Employer

Before getting into kit specifics, there are several baseline obligations that apply to every Ontario workplace, regardless of size or industry:

• First aid stations must be readily accessible. Stations should be placed so that a trained first aider can reach any injured worker within approximately two minutes. Signage must make stations easy to locate.
• Valid first aid certificates must be posted at or near each first aid station.
• The WSIB "In Case of Injury" poster (Form 82) must be displayed in a conspicuous location in the workplace. This poster outlines the responsibilities of both employers and workers when a workplace injury occurs.
• A first aid inspection log must be maintained. Under Regulation 1101, first aid boxes must be inspected at least once every three months (quarterly), and the inspection card must be kept with the kit.
• Accident records must be kept. Employers must maintain a record of all accidents, including a description of the incident, date, time, names of witnesses, and the nature and location of injuries sustained.
• At least one certified first aider must be on site at all times. There is no prescribed ratio under Regulation 1101, but at minimum one person with a valid first aid certificate must be present during every shift.

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First Aid Kit Requirements by Business Size

The single most important compliance variable is the number of workers present on any one shift — not your total workforce. Regulation 1101 sets out three distinct kit tiers, each corresponding to a section of the regulation.

1 to 5 Employees — Section 8 Kit

This is the entry-level kit for small businesses and solo operators with a small team. At a minimum, your kit must contain:

• A current edition of a standard first aid manual
• 1 card of safety pins
• 12 individually wrapped adhesive bandages
• 4 sterile 3" square gauze pads
• 2 rolls of 2" wide gauze bandage
• 2 field dressings (4" square) or 2 sterile 4" bandage compresses
• 1 triangular bandage

The station must be maintained by a worker holding a valid Emergency First Aid certificate.

6 to 15 Employees — Section 9 Kit

Mid-sized workplaces require a substantially more comprehensive kit. Required contents include:

• A current edition of a standard first aid manual
• 1 card of safety pins
• 24 individually wrapped adhesive bandages
• 12 sterile 3" square gauze pads
• 4 rolls of 2" gauze bandage
• 4 rolls of 4" gauze bandage
• 4 sterile surgical pads suitable for pressure dressings, individually wrapped
• 6 triangular bandages
• 2 rolls of splint padding
• 1 roll-up splint

The station must be maintained by a worker holding a valid Standard First Aid certificate.

16 to 199 Employees — Section 10 Kit

Larger workplaces require a fully stocked kit with supplies capable of handling multiple simultaneous injuries. Required contents include:

• A current edition of a standard first aid manual
• 1 stretcher and 2 blankets
• 24 safety pins and 1 basin (preferably stainless steel)
• 48 individually wrapped adhesive bandages
• 2 rolls of 1" adhesive tape
• 12 rolls of 1" gauze bandage
• 48 sterile 3" square gauze pads
• 8 rolls of 2" gauze bandage
• 8 rolls of 4" gauze bandage
• 6 sterile surgical pads suitable for pressure dressings, individually wrapped
• 12 triangular bandages
• Splints of assorted sizes
• 2 rolls of splint padding

In all cases, the WSIB also recommends including personal protective equipment — a CPR barrier mask and non-latex examination gloves — in every kit, as these are standard components of WSIB-approved first aid training. Note that over-the-counter medications (ibuprofen, antibiotic cream, etc.) must not be included in Regulation 1101 kits.

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When Is a First Aid Room Required?

Once your workforce reaches 200 or more workers on a single shift, a standalone first aid kit is no longer sufficient. Under Section 11 of Regulation 1101, you are legally required to provide and maintain a dedicated first aid room.

This isn't just a larger cabinet — it's a properly equipped medical space. The room must include:

• Hot and cold running water
• 3 washbasins (preferably stainless steel)
• 1 cabinet for surgical dressings
• 1 enamel foot bath (or equivalent stainless-steel bowl)
• 1 sanitary disposal receptacle with lid
• 1 couch, curtained off or in a separate cubicle
• 1 stretcher and 2 blankets
• Scissors and tweezers (single-use), safety pins, graduated medicine glass, tongue depressors, cotton-tipped applicators, single-use antiseptic wipes
• Adhesive bandages, sterile gauze pads of assorted sizes, gauze bandages of assorted sizes, absorbent cotton, triangular bandages, splints, and splint padding
• A portable first aid box (minimum Section 9 contents) for a first aider to carry to the scene of an accident

The room must be attended by a worker holding a valid Standard First Aid certificate and must remain accessible at all times during operating hours.

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Industry-Specific First Aid Requirements

The Regulation 1101 requirements described above apply to most Ontario workplaces, but certain high-hazard environments have additional or different obligations. Two sectors worth highlighting:

Construction Sites

Ontario construction sites operate under a distinct set of rules under Regulation 1101's provisions for transportation, construction, farm, and bush sites (Sections 12–14 of the regulation). Construction work carries elevated risks — falls from height, struck-by incidents, electrical hazards, and heavy machinery create injury scenarios that demand rapid, well-resourced response.

Key differences for construction include separate kit requirements based on the number of workers at the site, requirements for kits to be accessible throughout the site rather than at a central location, and additional obligations when workers are working in remote locations far from emergency medical services. General contractors and subcontractors should both be familiar with their specific obligations under the regulation.

Restaurants & Hospitality

Commercial kitchens are among the most injury-prone work environments in Ontario. Burns from hot surfaces and steam, lacerations from knives and broken glassware, slips on wet floors, and repetitive strain injuries are all everyday risks. A Regulation 1101-compliant kit covers the regulatory baseline, but kitchen managers are strongly encouraged to supplement with burn gel, a greater quantity of adhesive bandages, and blue detectable bandages — a food safety best practice that helps prevent contaminated bandages from entering food products undetected.

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How (and When) to Audit Your First Aid Supplies

Regulation 1101 requires that first aid boxes be inspected at least once every three months. The inspection date and the inspector's signature must be recorded on the inspection card kept with the kit. Some high-risk workplaces opt for monthly inspections as a best practice.

During every inspection, check for:

• Expired items. Adhesive bandages, sterile dressings, and antiseptic wipes all carry expiry dates. Expired items must be replaced immediately.
• Used or depleted supplies. Any item used to treat a workplace injury must be restocked before the next shift if possible — a depleted kit during an inspection is a compliance failure.
• Damaged packaging. Torn, wet, or otherwise compromised sterile packaging renders the item non-compliant and potentially unsafe.
• Missing components. Compare kit contents against the regulation's required list for your employee tier. Kits that were once compliant can fall out of compliance as product lines change.

Use the tools below to conduct a thorough, documented audit — whether you run a standard kit or a full first aid room:

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Training Requirements: Who Needs to Be Certified?

A fully stocked first aid kit is only as effective as the person trained to use it. Regulation 1101 sets out clear training obligations based on workforce size:

• 1 to 5 workers per shift: At least one worker must hold a valid Emergency First Aid (Basic First Aid) certificate from a WSIB-approved training provider.
• 6 or more workers per shift: At least one worker must hold a valid Standard First Aid (Intermediate First Aid) certificate from a WSIB-approved training provider.

There is no mandated ratio of first aiders to workers beyond the one-person minimum, but the WSIB recommends assessing your workplace layout and ensuring a trained first aider can reach any injured worker within approximately two minutes. For larger or multi-floor operations, this typically means multiple designated first aiders.

Employers are required to cover the full cost of first aid training and wages for employees designated as first aiders. Certificates must be current — first aid training has expiry dates, and an expired certificate does not satisfy the regulation.

Starting in summer 2026, the WSIB is launching an updated First Aid Program aligned with the new CSA Z1210:24 standard. Training will continue to be delivered by WSIB-approved providers. When selecting a provider, always verify their WSIB approval status — some national providers claim approval across all provinces but may not be specifically WSIB-approved for Ontario. You can confirm approval status by emailing firstaid@wsib.on.ca.

For the authoritative list of approved training providers, visit the WSIB First Aid Program page or consult the Canadian Red Cross workplace first aid guidelines.

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Your 2026 Compliance Checklist at a Glance

Use this quick-reference summary to assess your current status before your next Ministry of Labour inspection:

• ✅ First aid kit stocked to the correct Regulation 1101 tier (Section 8, 9, or 10) based on workers per shift
• ✅ CSA Z1220-compliant kit accepted as an alternative
• ✅ WSIB Form 82 "In Case of Injury" poster displayed prominently
• ✅ Valid first aid certificates posted at or near each station
• ✅ Quarterly inspection log maintained and up to date
• ✅ Accident record log maintained
• ✅ At least one certified first aider on site every shift
• ✅ First aid room established if 200+ workers are on any single shift
• ✅ All first aider certifications current and from a WSIB-approved provider
• ✅ Construction or other sector-specific rules reviewed if applicable

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Stay Compliant — Protect Your Team

Ontario's enforcement landscape has grown significantly more rigorous in recent years. The OHSA now carries corporate fines of up to $2 million, and the Ministry of Labour has introduced administrative monetary penalties that can be levied during routine inspections — not just following serious incidents. For most employers, the cost of a compliant first aid program is a fraction of a single compliance order, let alone a prosecution.

More importantly, first aid compliance is about protecting the people who show up to work every day. Bookmark this guide, run your audit using our free tools, and replenish any gaps in your supplies through First Aid Direct — so that if something goes wrong, you're ready.

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Disclaimer: This article provides general information about Ontario workplace first aid requirements and is current to early 2026. Regulations are subject to change. Always refer to the official Regulation 1101 text on e-Laws Ontario and the WSIB First Aid Program page for the most current requirements, and consult a qualified health and safety professional for workplace-specific advice.