Toolbox Talk: Getting First Aid and Reporting Injuries

A 5-minute toolbox talk for BC supervisors and crew leads. Fill in the blanks for your own site before you start. Free to print and use.

Why this matters

In an emergency, the first few minutes matter most. If people have to ask around to find out who the first aid attendant is or where the kit is kept, those minutes are lost. Small injuries matter too: a cut or strain that is never reported can turn into an infection or a claim with no record behind it.

Key points to cover

• Who is our first aid attendant? Name them, and the backup for each shift: ____________
• How do you call for first aid? Radio channel, phone number or procedure: ____________
• Where is the first aid kit or room? And the AED, if you have one: ____________
• When to call 911: for anything serious, such as unconsciousness, trouble breathing, chest pain, heavy bleeding or a suspected head, neck or back injury. Call first aid at the same time.
• Report every injury: however small. The attendant records it in the first aid record, which protects you if it gets worse later.
• Report near misses: the close calls are how we stop the next real injury.
• Do not move a seriously injured person unless they are in immediate danger. Make the area safe and wait for the attendant.

Quick demo

Walk the crew to the first aid kit and the AED. Ask one person to show how they would call for first aid from where they normally work. If anyone cannot, that is your gap to fix.

Questions to ask your crew

• Who is the first aid attendant on night shift or weekends?
• What would you do if you could not reach the attendant?
• Has anyone had an injury they did not report? What stopped them?

Record it

Write down the date, the topic and who attended. WorkSafeBC also expects first aid procedures to be posted and practised, including a first aid drill at least once a year.

Where Clear Work fits

Your attendants need current certificates. We deliver WorkSafeBC Basic and Intermediate first aid training at your workplace for groups of 5 or more, across the Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island, the Interior and northern BC.

Not sure how many attendants or what level you need? Try the free first aid requirements checker, or read how to work out your BC first aid requirements. More talks in our free toolbox talk library.

This toolbox talk is general safety information. Follow your own first aid procedures and the current WorkSafeBC OHS Regulation.