In an exclusive conversation with CanadianSME Small Business Magazine, Blake Steinson, Founder and President of Fundamental First Aid Ltd., shares his journey of championing workplace safety and first aid training. With over 17 years of experience in managing WorkSafeBC and Canadian Red Cross training agencies, Blake has played a pivotal role in training over 60,000 individuals and assisting businesses in meeting safety compliance standards.
Blake delves into the importance of equipping employees with life-saving first aid skills, the evolving safety regulations businesses must navigate, and how engaging training programs can build confidence and preparedness in emergency situations. As a passionate advocate for workplace safety, his insights provide a clear framework for small businesses to create safer, more resilient work environments while meeting compliance requirements.
Blake, a native of Prince Rupert, B.C., relocated to Vancouver as a teenager to pursue higher education. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the Sauder School of Business and a Juris Doctor from UBC Law. After completing his studies, Blake founded BC Safety Consulting and has since been the driving force behind workplace safety and first aid training initiatives.
As the founder and president of Fundamental First Aid, Blake brings over 17 years of expertise in managing WorkSafeBC and Canadian Red Cross training agencies. His leadership has resulted in the training of more than 60,000 students in first aid, while assisting thousands of businesses in meeting WorkSafeBC compliance and improving workplace safety.
Blake is deeply committed to equipping individuals with essential, life-saving first aid skills. His mission is to deliver the most engaging and effective first aid courses in Vancouver, ensuring that participants leave feeling confident and fully prepared for emergencies.
With the upcoming changes to WorkSafeBC’s Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, can you walk us through the key updates that will affect B.C. businesses starting November 1, 2024?
WorkSafeBC has revised Part Three of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation with respect to first aid requirements in the workplace. Effective November 1st, employers must adhere to updated standards concerning the number of first aid attendants on shift, their certification levels, and the specifications and contents of first aid kits on site.
Due to these new requirements, WorkSafeBC has made it mandatory that employers complete a new written first aid assessment by October 31st, 2024 to ensure first aid compliance with the new regulations.
Additionally, employers are required to conduct annual first aid drills to familiarize employees with emergency response procedures, including how to request first aid, access equipment, and when and how to call an ambulance if required.
How can Fundamental First Aid support businesses in adapting to these new first aid requirements, and what should employers keep in mind as they prepare?
Fundamental First Aid is a vital support to employers who are adjusting their workplace first aid practices to adhere to the new WorkSafeBC Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Regulation changes as they come into effect. We have several resources for employers, including a summary of the changes, a guide to completing the mandatory written first aid assessment, and a list of the new first aid kit requirements. We’ve also created a Minimum First Aid Requirement Calculator that can tell employees exactly what new regulations they need to implement based on the size of the company, distance to the closest ambulance base, and job site accessibility.
Fundamental First Aid offers all levels of WorkSafeBC first aid courses, with instructional methods specifically designed to engage and enhance participants’ ability to learn and retain essential life-saving techniques for critical situations.
Which types of industries or workplaces will be most impacted by these regulatory updates, and what specific steps should they consider?
The urban construction industry will be significantly impacted, as the new regulations increase the first aid requirements for ‘less accessible’ worksites. For example, areas accessible only by scaffolding, for instance, now necessitate higher-level training for first aid attendants. We highly encourage employers in these industries to utilize the Minimum First Aid Requirement Calculator as a first step in assessing what next steps need to be taken to ensure compliance needs. Following this, we recommend booking in first aid training as needed. Fundamental First Aid offers engaging instruction, equipping participants with crucial life-saving skills in an interactive setting.
For employers just learning about these changes, what resources or actions would you recommend to help them get up to speed?
Employers in Metro Vancouver who are just learning about the new WorkSafeBC Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Regulation changes can familiarize themselves with the most important changes and how they apply to first aid requirements by visiting fundamentalfirstaid.ca.
At Fundamental First Aid, we provide several resources for employers to quickly review the changes and learn how to meet the new requirements, ensuring employers have everything they need to navigate these changes effectively.
Looking to the future, what advice do you have for B.C. employers in creating a safer, compliant workplace under the updated regulations?
The regulation changes impact the minimum required levels of first aid on any given jobsite. However, many of our clients exceed these standards by training as many employees as possible in first aid. It’s important to remember that when a serious injury or illness takes place, a quick response can mean the difference between life or death. Having a series of employees trained in first aid will ensure that someone is close by to perform a critical intervention if required.
At Fundamental First Aid, we believe that first aid training enhances both confidence and skills. Our engaging instructors ensure a memorable and effective learning experience, preparing participants for any workplace emergency.
