Workplace first aid requirements
First Aid & CPR New Brunswick
If you run or manage a workplace in New Brunswick — an office, shop, construction site or factory — the law requires you to have enough trained first-aiders on your staff, ready to help a colleague in an emergency.
An employer duty — to rescue a colleague
Workplace first aid is not a job qualification: it is the employer's duty to appoint and train enough first-aiders, scaled to headcount and risk level, so someone can act immediately if a colleague is injured. The exact number and rules depend on the regulations that apply in New Brunswick.
What the law requires in New Brunswick
How many designated first-aiders?
The requirement depends on workers per shift and whether the work is 'high hazard' (defined in Schedule A of the regulation). E.g. 2-25 workers per shift: non-high-hazard = 1 Basic-level first aider; high-hazard = 1 Intermediate-level first aider. Employers must also assess risks and provide additional supplies, services and facilities (s. 4(3)).
As a Canadian province, New Brunswick has its own occupational health and safety framework with jurisdiction over all workplaces.
Online training is recognized in New Brunswick; the practical portion of CSA levels is normally in person.
Region specifics
- 'High hazard work' is defined by reference to Schedule A of Regulation 2004-130, which raises the required first-aider level for the same headcount.
- Physicians, nurses and paramedics may act as first aiders without separate training.
- 2024 CSA harmonization: the former annual 6-hour refresher was removed in favour of triennial validity.
Why it matters
A workplace emergency can happen at any time. When it does, the difference between a positive outcome and a tragedy often comes down to whether someone nearby is trained to respond. Having certified first aiders on staff isn't just a legal requirement — it's an investment in your team's safety.
Is this really what you're looking for?
Our first-aid and CPR courses are 100% online, lead to a recognized certification, and exceed the required standards; a hybrid option is also available and fits most needs. Choose the course that fits your situation:
The course
Our course, built to the CSA Z1210-17 standard, 100% online and leading to a certification, meets and exceeds this requirement.
CSA Z1210-17First Aid – Healthcare Professional (16h) - Compliant with CSA Z1210-17
This 16-hour first aid training, compliant with the CSA Z1210-17 standard, is specifically designed for healthcare professionals. Upon completion, the candidate will receive a certification valid for two years, meeting the requirements of 'Intermediate First Aid Training' as defined in the CSA Z1210-17 standard. Skills will be updated annually, and the training must be renewed every two years to maintain active certification. Tailored for nurses, it strengthens the safety of residents in long-term care facilities and other healthcare settings.
CSA Z1210-17First Aid – Intermediate Level (16h) – CSA Z1210-17 Compliant
Upon successful completion of this 16-hour IN-PERSON intermediate-level first aid training, the candidate will receive a valid certification that meets the requirements of 'Intermediate First Aid Training' as defined in the CSA Z1210-17 standard.
Specifically need the "Workplace first aid" certificate?
That specific regulatory certificate must be completed in full with the legislating body: WorkSafeNB.
WorkSafeNB maintains a list of approved training providers and any new applicant must obtain WorkSafeNB approval (implementing CSA standards). A non-approved provider cannot issue the recognized certificate; non-approved online training only complements.