Drills provide workplace parties with a chance to practice their roles and responsibilities, which helps to ensure an effective response in the event of a real emergency. Drills also provide an opportunity to identify and resolve potential challenges or deficiencies in the employer’s written first aid procedures.
A first aid drill should include mock scenarios that support the evaluation of the effectiveness of the procedures.
First aid drills should include all workplace parties that have duties outlined in the employers first aid procedures.
Drills should reasonably approximate the expected response to an incident requiring first aid, up to the point of transport by Emergency Transporation Vehicle (ETV). Drills should be designed in such a way that they do not pose an undue hazard to workers or the public and first aid attendants participating in the drill. Where necessary to ensure worker safety, dummies may be used to simulate injured workers when testing procedures for transporting an injured worker to an ETV or area accessible to BC Emergency Health Services (BCEHS). If a drill of a particular first aid procedure poses an undue hazard to workers or others, a table-top exercise may be used to supplement drill activities, if it will allow for an effective evaluation of the employers’ procedures.
Note: Reviewing a real incident requiring first aid will not generally be considered an acceptable alternative to a drill as this practice may discourage the identification of deficiencies and/or introduce privacy or other concerns for injured workers, first aid attendants, and employers.
First aid drills can be incorporated into emergency drills if this is the procedure you are evaluating. Make sure to document the details for first aid and emergency evacuation so you can provide evidence of both drills to a WorkSafeBC officer. If performing both drills together, ensure you take into consideration the potential for a real first aid emergency and have a plan in place should this occur during the drill.
