When assessing your first aid requirements, you need to identify the number of workers you have at each workplace. Workers include employees, staff, managers, and supervisors.

Count all workers who regularly attend a workplace, even if they are on site only briefly. Consider the types of workers and situations below to determine an accurate number of workers.

Counting shift workers

If the number of workers consistently varies between shifts, you can complete a separate assessment for each shift.

For example, if you have a factory that has 100 people working during the day and 20 people working overnight, you should do a separate assessment for these two shifts.

Counting full-time workers

Count each full-time worker as one worker if they may be at a workplace at the same time.

Counting part-time workers

Count each part-time worker as one worker if they are at a workplace at the same time. You can prorate the number of workers if they are not at the workplace at the same time.

For example, two part-time workers who work together on the same shift will count as two workers. Two half-time workers who share a job role but do not come to a workplace at the same time, each count as one-half of a worker.

Counting dispatched workers

When assessing the requirements for your central location, count each dispatched worker as one worker if they typically stay within ten minutes travel time from your central location for at least 50% of their shift. Count them as one-quarter of a worker if they typically travel more than ten minutes away from your central location for at least 50% of their shift.

For example, if your workers deliver groceries only to the neighbourhood immediately surrounding your grocery store, count each delivery person as one worker. If you are a florist who has four delivery people who spend most of their shift delivering all over the city, count all four as one worker.

Counting transient workers

Estimate the number of transient workers based on how many workers are likely to be at a workplace at any one time.

For example, if you have a warehouse with eight loading bays that are serviced by a fleet of delivery trucks, you might estimate that a maximum of eight delivery drivers may be at the workplace at any given time.

Counting work-from-home workers

If some people work from their homes and do not come to your central workplace, you do not need to count them as a worker for the purpose of a first aid assessment for that workplace. If they come to your central workplace some of the time, count the highest number that could be present at any one time.

A worker’s home is considered a workplace while they are working and should be considered as a separate workplace when conducting a first aid assessment.

After you determine the number of workers at each workplace, the next step is to find your assigned hazard rating.

Please note: The content on this page is intended to help you understand and meet the requirements of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation. More detailed information can be found in the OHS Guidelines and/or OHS Regulation.