Regulation 1101: Ontario's Workplace First Aid Requirements in 2026

Regulation 1101 is Ontario's workplace first aid regulation under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act (WSIA). The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) administers it, and it applies to every employer covered by the WSIB.

If you're here in 2026, you've probably noticed new certificate names. The regulation itself didn't change, but on June 22, 2026, the WSIB updated its First Aid Program, including renaming its first aid certificates. This guide explains both the requirements and the new names.

You'll learn what Regulation 1101 requires when it comes to first aid kits, training, stations, and records. You'll also get a clear answer on where automated external defibrillators (AEDs) fit in. Note that this guide is general information, not legal advice.

Reviewed October 2026

What Regulation 1101 is and who it applies to

Regulation 1101 sets the minimum first-aid equipment, training, and recordkeeping requirements for Ontario workplaces covered by the WSIA. It applies to all employees, whether they're full-time, part-time, casual, or seasonal. The rules also apply to your people off-site, including remote locations, small crews, and vehicles used to transport workers.

The WSIB can inspect your first aid stations, supplies, services, and records. Employers cover all first aid costs, including supplies and training for their designated first-aid responders. 

The regulation includes three things: stocked first aid kits, trained first aiders, and first aid stations. It also asks you to keep inspection and injury records. Regulation 1101 is older than Ontario's AED rules and separate from them.

The June 2026 change: new certificate names, same regulation

On June 22, 2026, the WSIB renamed its first aid certificates, but Regulation 1101 itself did not change. The two are separate: Regulation 1101 is the law that sets what your workplace must have, while the WSIB runs the training program that issues the certificates.

The WSIB updated that program to follow Canadian Standards Association (CSA) Z1210:24, the national standard for workplace first aid training. The new names, Basic and Intermediate, come from that standard. Using them brings Ontario’s certificates in line with the national standard.

The regulation’s text still uses the old names, Emergency First Aid and Standard First Aid, and the WSIB treats the new certificates as equivalent. A Basic First Aid certificate meets any requirement written as Emergency First Aid, and Intermediate meets any requirement written as Standard.

WSIB first aid certificate name changes under the updated First Aid Program (June 22, 2026)
Until June 21, 2026 From June 22, 2026 Meets Regulation 1101?
Emergency First Aid Basic First Aid Yes, equivalent
Standard First Aid Intermediate First Aid Yes, equivalent

Here’s what the name change means for certificates your team already holds: 

  • Every certificate issued up to June 21, 2026, remains valid until its expiry date, so early retraining is unnecessary. 
  • Standard First Aid certificates issued before June 22, 2026, are still eligible for recertification under the new program. Holders can renew with a WSIB-approved provider before their certificate expires.
  • Intermediate First Aid holders can renew once with a one-day recertification course from a WSIB-approved provider, completed before their current certificate expires. After that, they must complete the full course again. 

Only WSIB-approved providers can deliver workplace first aid training in Ontario, so check the WSIB's approved training providers first. Approved providers also display a First Aid Program badge on their websites.

What your workplace must have, by size

Regulation 1101 scales with the number of workers on a single shift, not with your total headcount. A shop with 30 employees that never has more than five people working at once falls into the smallest tier. Count your busiest shift, including part-time and seasonal staff.

Ontario Regulation 1101 first aid requirements by number of workers per shift
Workers per shift Certificate required Kit and station requirements
1 to 5 Basic First Aid (Emergency) First aid station with basic kit
6 to 15 Intermediate First Aid (Standard) Station with larger kit, including splints
16 to 199 Intermediate First Aid (Standard) Station with full kit, stretcher, and two blankets
200 or more Registered nurse or Intermediate First Aid holder Equipped first aid room

At the 200-worker tier, a first aider running the room can't do other work that would get in the way of giving first aid. Every tier also shares these rules:

  • A certified first aider on site at all times. Each station must be supervised by a certified worker who works nearby. The WSIB sets no first-aider-to-staff ratio. Its guidance is that a first aider should be able to reach an injured person within two minutes.
  • A stocked and inspected station. Each station needs a kit, the WSIB's "In Case of Injury" poster, an inspection card, and the valid certificates of the first aiders on duty. Inspect each kit at least every three months, then date and sign the card.
  • Kits that match your tier. Every kit includes a current St. John Ambulance First Aid Manual, plus dressings and bandages in the quantities your tier requires. You’ll find the full item list for each tier in the WSIB’s free guide. You can also purchase ready-made kits built to the CSA Z1220 workplace kit standard, which the WSIB accepts as an alternative. 

Do you need an AED under Regulation 1101?

AEDs aren't required under Regulation 1101.

Separate Ontario rules require AEDs at qualifying construction projects, though. Since January 1, 2026, O. Reg. 157/25 has required construction sites to keep an AED at larger projects. The rule applies to projects that regularly employ 20 or more workers and are expected to last three months or longer. 

For qualifying construction projects, the WSIB reimburses up to $2,500 toward the purchase of one AED per project.

Once another law takes effect, you’ll want to be aware of it too. The Defibrillator Registration and Public Access Act, 2020 (Bill 141) sets out registration and maintenance rules for AEDs at certain premises. The Act passed in 2020, but it only takes effect once the province sets a start date, and no date has been announced yet. 

Many workplaces decide to have an AED accessible even if they’re not required to. The WSIB describes first aid as including cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and using an AED if one is available. 

According to Heart & Stroke, doing CPR and using an AED can double a person's chance of surviving sudden cardiac arrest.

Staying compliant: a checklist

Staying compliant with Regulation 1101 includes a few routine tasks. Running through this checklist during your quarterly kit inspections keeps everything on one schedule. If you manage more than one location, check each site separately, since shift sizes and first aid needs can differ. 

  • Confirm your tier by counting the busiest shift at each location.
  • Check certificate expiry dates, since every certificate is valid for three years from issue.
  • Book renewals with a WSIB-approved provider before any certificate lapses.
  • Stock each station and inspect every kit at least once every three months.
  • Record each injury and first aid treatment.
  • Review whether any site is a qualifying construction project with its own AED mandate.
  • Elect to practice CPR and AED skills between courses with AED trainer units.

Need help with the AED side of compliance? With over 20 years of experience, our specialists can help you choose and maintain the right AED for each site. Contact us for a personalized recommendation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Regulation 1101 is the Ontario law that sets minimum first aid requirements for workplaces covered by the WSIB. It spells out kit contents, the certificate your first aiders need, and how to set up and inspect first aid stations. The WSIB administers it under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act.

No, the regulation's text and requirements stayed the same in 2026. On June 22, 2026, the WSIB renamed its training courses. Emergency First Aid became Basic First Aid, and Standard First Aid became Intermediate First Aid. Certificates issued under the old names remain valid until they expire.

The certificate depends on how many people work during your largest shift. With five or fewer workers per shift, you need at least one Basic First Aid holder. With six or more, you need at least one Intermediate First Aid holder. Workplaces with 200 or more per shift also need a first aid room.

AEDs are not part of Regulation 1101. A separate Ontario rule, O. Reg. 157/25, does require an AED on construction projects that regularly employ 20 or more workers and are expected to last at least three months. That rule took effect on January 1, 2026.

Workplace first aid certificates in Ontario are valid for three years from the date of issue. To stay certified, a first aider must retrain before the certificate expires. Intermediate First Aid holders can renew once through a one-day recertification course, then must complete the full course again.