First-Aid in the Workplace

Last updated on June 16, 2020: changes made in yellow.

These measures apply when sustained community transmission has been confirmed by public health authorities. Based on current knowledge, it is known that the disease can be transmitted by asymptomatic people who are carriers of the disease. Therefore, preventive measures are recommended at all times.

Any resumption of non-essential services must be carried out in such a way as to control the transmission of COVID-19. In order to avoid a resumption of transmission, several conditions must be met.

The preventive measures recommended by the government for the general population and the basic recommendations for all workplaces [in French only] apply, unless more restrictive measures are specified.

Special attention must be given to pregnant workers and to workers with certain health conditions. Please refer to the following recommendations:

Pregnant or nursing workers

Workers with severe chronic diseases [in French only]

Immunosuppressed workers [in French only]

This document may apply to the following types of work

The measures recommended in this document apply to workers who serve as first-aiders in the workplace in accordance with the First-aid Minimum Standards Regulation1 and who may be called on to intervene in various situations requiring close contact with an individual in order to help them (e.g., altered state of consciousness, cardiopulmonary arrest, obstructed airway) (Read CNESST’s Secourisme en milieu de travail for additional information) [in French only]. Clinical guidelines for first responders are also available from the Direction générale des services préhospitaliers d’urgence [in French only].

1 First-aid Minimum Standards Regulation

COVID-19 Preventive Measures in the Workplace – Interim recommendations

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These recommendations are not intended for healthcare professionals trained in pre-hospital care (such as paramedic ambulance technicians), nor for first responders as defined in the Act respecting pre-hospital emergency services. These professionals should refer to the measures set out by the Direction générale des services préhospitaliers d’urgence [in French only]. These recommendations are also not intended for any other healthcare workers. These workers should refer to the infection prevention and control measures: https://www.inspq.qc.ca/en/covid-19/infection-prevention-and-control with more articles available [in French only] here: https://www.inspq.qc.ca/covid-19/prevention-et-controle-des-infections.

Organizational measures

While respecting the First-aid Minimum Standards Regulation, the way first aid is organized must be reviewed in each workplace to account for the risks of SARS-CoV-2 transmission. For workplace first-aiders to be adequately equipped, the employer must ensure:

That the contents of the kit are adequate, in good condition, and that the kit includes a sufficient quantity of supplies (especially gloves). Quality medical procedural masks2, eye protection, and a hydroalcoholic solution should be accessible near the kit.

That training is given to first-aiders on adapting procedures to limit the risk of transmission (e.g., the prevention measures contained in this document). This training should cover using and removing personal protective equipment, interventions with risk of generating aerosols, etc.

Preventive measures for first-aiders when providing first aid to an individual

In the approach used for intervention (p. 50 of the Manuel de Secourisme en milieu de travail [in French only]), a situation assessment allows the first-aider to evaluate the environment, the safety of the premises and the circumstances of the event.

The first-aider must ensure their own safety at all times. They must also ensure the safety of the individual requiring assistance, if possible, and that of the other workers or witnesses present at the scene. They must therefore wear personal protective equipment or respect safety regulations to ensure their safety and that of others.

When possible, keep a minimum distance of two metres from the individual.

If an intervention within two metres is required:

General interventions

Limit the number of people in the room to only those required for the intervention.

Wash hands with soap and water or a hydroalcoholic solution before and after the intervention (if the first-aider must wear gloves, they must wash their hands before putting the gloves on and as soon as they have removed the gloves).

Avoid touching objects and work surfaces that may have been contaminated.

2 Ideally, masks with compliance testing (ASTM) should be preferred. For details on quality standards and for criteria to help the

employer choose the right masks in situations of real or apprehended shortages, refer to the following documents: Mesures exceptionnelles pour les équipements de protection individuelle lors de pandémie and Masques chirurgicaux ou de procédures : choix de l'équipement sur le choix des masques de procédure [in French only].

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Before entering the room or coming within two metres of the individual requiring assistance, considering the unpredictability and urgency of the situation:

The first-aider puts on gloves, a quality3 medical procedural mask and eye protection (safety glasses or face shield);

If possible, the person requiring first aid puts on a mask if they have symptoms of COVID-19;

If the victim is unconscious, abstain from putting a mask on;

Quickly alert pre-hospital emergency services. Advise them of whether the situation involves any danger and if the individual is presenting respiratory symptoms. The emergency services dispatcher must be apprised of this information so that the first responders deployed to the scene are aware of the disease transmission risk.

Continue the intervention protocol according to the situation, while minimizing the duration of the intervention.

Depending on the circumstances, if the person receiving first aid must be taken to the hospital, leave the surgical mask with them. Otherwise, if they have respiratory symptoms, they can continue to wear the mask until they return home.

Before leaving the area where the person receiving first aid is located:

Make sure to clean and disinfect objects and work surfaces that may have been contaminated, using the usual products;

Remove gloves and dispose of them after use in a hermetically-sealed bag. Wash hands with a hydroalcoholic solution;

Remove eye protection, wash hands with a hydroalcoholic solution;

Remove the mask handling it by the elastics without touching the paper, and dispose of it after use in a hermetically-sealed bag, and finish by washing hands with a hydroalcoholic solution;

Disinfect reusable personal protective equipment (e.g., eye protection or face shield), as well as the area where it had been placed pending disinfection, with a product suitable for this equipment;

Discard the bag containing the gloves and mask;

Ensure that hands are washed with soap and water (lather at least 20 seconds before rinsing) or use a hydroalcoholic solution after the intervention.

Remember to log this event in a register of accidents, incidents and first aid.

If the first-aider believes they had contact putting them at risk during the intervention (despite having respected safety regulations and having worn personal protective equipment), they must inform the company Occupational Health & Safety representative and call 1-877-644-4545 for instructions.

A first-aider may normally react well to emergency situations in which intervention is needed and be in full control of stress. It is also possible that at some point, a given situation will affect one more than

3 Ideally, masks with compliance testing (ASTM) should be preferred. For details on quality standards and for criteria to help the

employer choose the right masks in situations of real or apprehended shortages, refer to the following documents: Mesures exceptionnelles pour les équipements de protection individuelle lors de pandémie and Masques chirurgicaux ou de procédures : choix de l’équipement sur le choix des masques de procédure [in French only].

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another. In this case, it is important for the first-aider to be on the lookout for symptoms of post-traumatic stress and consult a healthcare professional if it seems necessary.

For cardiopulmonary resuscitation

During a period of community transmission of COVID-19 confirmed by public health authorities, first-aiders must follow the guidelines set forth by the Direction médicale nationale des services préhospitaliers d’urgence. New measures were issued on May 27 2020 [in French only].

COVID-19 symptoms

If you have the following symptoms, call 1 877 644 4545:

1 of these symptoms OR 2 of these symptoms

Onset or worsening of a cough A general symptom (muscle pain, headache, extreme fatigue or significant loss of appetite)

Fever (temperature of 38°C or higher, taken by mouth)

Sore throat

Difficulty breathing Diarrhea

Sudden loss of sense of smell without nasal congestion, with or without loss of sense of taste

Information – Promotion – Training

Follow the available online training courses on preventive and protective measures to be taken in relation to COVID-19: COVID-19 et santé au travail (in French only).

NOTE: The preceding recommendations are based on the latest information available at the time of writing. Given that the situation and knowledge about the SARS-CoV-2 virus (COVID-19) are evolving rapidly, the recommendations in this document are subject to change.

First-Aid in the Workplace

AUTHORS SAT-COVID-19 Working Group Direction des risques biologiques et de la santé au travail de l’INSPQ Réseau de santé publique en santé au travail

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We wish to thank the IRSST and the CNESST for their comments provided during the revision of the French version of this information sheet.

LAYOUT Marie-Cécile Gladel Direction des risques biologiques et de la santé au travail

GRAPHIC DESIGN Valérie Beaulieu

TRANSLATION & REVIEW Claire Maryniak Nina Alexakis Gilbert Nektaria Nikolokakis, specialist scientific advisor Karl Forest-Bérard, scientific advisor Mylène Trottier, medical advisor Direction des risques biologiques et de la santé au travail, INSPQ

The French version is entitled Premiers secours et premiers soins en milieu de travail is also available on the website of the Institut national de santé publique du Québec at: www.inspq.qc.ca/publications/2996-premiers-soins-travail-covid19

© Gouvernement du Québec (2020)

Publication No.: 2996 - English version