Alberta OHS First Aid Requirements 2026: What Employers Need to Know
- Lianne Sinclair
- 17 hours ago
- 4 min read
June 2026
If you are an employer, prime contractor, or site supervisor in Alberta, maintaining workplace safety is not just a best practice—it is a strict legal requirement. The rules governing workplace first aid in Alberta are established in Part 11 of the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Code.
In recent years, the Alberta government has modernized these regulations to align with national standards, fundamentally changing how employers must approach first aid kits, training, and emergency planning. If you are still relying on an “Alberta No. 2” kit or assuming a single basic first aider covers your entire construction site, you may be out of compliance in 2026.
This guide breaks down the current Alberta OHS first aid requirements so you can confidently protect your workers and pass your next site audit.
The Three-Variable Formula for Compliance
Unlike some jurisdictions that base first aid requirements solely on headcount, Alberta uses a specific three-variable formula to determine your legal minimums [1]. You must assess all three factors before workers arrive on site:
1. Hazard Level of the Work
Schedule 2 of the OHS Code categorizes work into three hazard levels:
Low Hazard: Offices, retail stores, professional services, and light assembly. Injuries here are unlikely to be severe.
Medium Hazard: Warehousing, food processing, light manufacturing, and agriculture.
High Hazard: Construction, oil and gas, pipeline facilities, heavy manufacturing, and mining [2].
Note: If your site has mixed hazards (e.g., a construction site with an office trailer), the requirements for the highest hazard level apply to the entire site.
2. Distance to Medical Care (Travel Time)
The OHS Code classifies your site based on how long it takes to travel to the nearest health care facility under normal conditions [2]:
Close Work Site: Up to 20 minutes.
Distant Work Site: 20 to 40 minutes.
Isolated Work Site: More than 40 minutes.
3. Number of Workers Per Shift
First aid requirements are calculated based on the maximum number of workers present on a single shift, not the total daily workforce [1].
By cross-referencing these three variables in the Schedule 2 tables, you determine exactly how many first aiders you need, their required level of training, and the type of first aid kits required [3].
2026 Kit Standards: The Shift to CSA Z1220
One of the most significant changes for Alberta employers was the retirement of the old kit numbering system (Alberta Type P, No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3). All workplace first aid kits must now meet the CSA Z1220-17 standard [1].
If your kits have not been updated or verified against this standard, you must upgrade them. The new CSA kits are categorized as follows:
Type 1 (Personal Kit): Designed for a single worker in isolation (e.g., delivery drivers, lone service technicians).
Type 2 (Basic Kit): Required for low and medium-hazard environments. Available in small, medium, and large sizes depending on headcount.
Type 3 (Intermediate Kit): Required for high-hazard environments (like construction) or distant/isolated medium-hazard sites. These kits contain expanded trauma supplies, including advanced wound packing and splinting materials [1].
First Aid Training Levels in Alberta
To align with the rest of Canada, Alberta adopted the CSA Z1210-17 standard for first aid training. The curriculum remains robust, but the naming conventions have changed [1]:
Basic First Aid (formerly Emergency First Aid)
Intermediate First Aid (formerly Standard First Aid)
Advanced First Aid
At high-hazard sites, the OHS Code frequently requires one or more Intermediate First Aiders on every shift [2]. For isolated, high-hazard operations with large crews, you may be legally required to have an Advanced First Aider, an Advanced Care Paramedic, or a Registered Nurse on site [2].
AHASTI provides Alberta OHS-approved Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced training, ensuring your team meets the exact CSA standards required for your site.
The Emergency Transportation Plan
A commonly overlooked requirement in Part 11 is the mandatory Emergency Transportation Plan. Section 180 of the OHS Code dictates that the prime contractor (or employer) must develop and implement a plan to transport ill or injured workers to the nearest health care facility [3].
This plan must be established before work begins. The transportation method must:
Be suitable for the distance and likely injuries.
Protect the patient from the weather.
Accommodate a stretcher and at least one accompanying person (who must be a designated first aider, and cannot be the driver) [1].
For isolated sites,. thi. s may require pre-arranging air ambulance access or helicopter landing zones.
First Aid Rooms
For large-scale operations, a kit on a shelf is not enough. If you have 200 or more workers per shift at a medium or high-hazard worksite that is distant or isolated, you are legally required to provide a dedicated First Aid Room [2].
This room must be a functional treatment space equipped with a sink (hot and cold running water), an examination bed, specific linens, adequate lighting, and a Type 3 First Aid Kit [3].
Common Alberta OHS Compliance Mistakes to Avoid
When OHS officers audit Alberta worksites, they frequently find the same errors [2]:
Counting first aiders across the whole day: Requirements apply per shift. If you need two first aiders, you need two on the day shift and two on the night shift.
Underestimating travel time: Do not estimate travel time based on your personal best driving time. OHS officers consider realistic conditions, including winter roads and ambulance dispatch delays.
Lapsed certificates: An expired certificate equals zero compliance. Track expiry dates carefully.
Skipping the written assessment: You must document your hazard level, distance, and headcount assessment.
Keep Your Workplace Compliant with AHASTI
Navigating the Alberta OHS Code can be complex, but ensuring your team is properly trained doesn’t have to be.
At AHASTI, we offer comprehensive, OHS-approved first aid and CPR training across Calgary, Red Deer, and surrounding areas. Whether you need a Basic First Aid course for a small office or on-site Intermediate and Advanced First Aid training for a large construction crew, we have you covered.
View Our Upcoming Courses or Contact Us for Onsite or Group Training to ensure your workplace is fully compliant for 2026.
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