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If you’re an OFA Level 2 attendant, your job is more than just providing first aid—it’s about making quick, informed decisions that keep both you and the injured worker safe. And before you even start treating someone, you need to properly assess the scene.
A solid scene assessment helps you identify hazards, determine what caused the injury, and decide what needs to be done first. Getting this right is key to ensuring a smooth, safe, and effective response.
The Priority Action Approach
In an emergency, things can get chaotic fast. The priority action approach is designed to help OFA 2 attendants stay organized and ensure nothing gets overlooked in those critical first moments.
Steps for Performing a Scene Assessment
Following WorkSafeBC’s Intermediate First Aid standards, here’s how to conduct a proper scene assessment for an injured worker:
1. Ensure Scene Safety
Your safety always comes first. Before rushing in:
- Check for hazards—traffic, unstable structures, hazardous materials, or even aggressive individuals.
- Eliminate any dangers if possible—or call in specialized help if needed.
- Wear the right PPE (like medical gloves) to protect yourself.
If the scene isn’t safe, you can’t help anyone. Period.
2. Determine the Mechanism of Injury (MOI)
Understanding how the injury happened helps predict what kind of injuries the worker might have.
- Ask the worker or bystanders what happened.
- Look around—are there fallen objects? Machinery? Slippery surfaces?
- Consider the forces involved—a fall from height vs. a minor slip will result in very different injuries.
3. Identify the Number of Injured Workers
You need to know how many people are hurt so you can get the right help.
- Scan the area—sometimes, secondary injuries or additional casualties aren’t immediately obvious.
- If there’s more than one injured worker, triage may be necessary to decide who needs help first.
4. Activate Workplace Emergency Response Procedures
If advanced medical help is needed, call for it—immediately.
- Get a co-worker to call an ambulance or Emergency Transport Vehicle (ETV) while you stay with the injured worker.
- Ensure they report back to confirm the call has been made.
- Give dispatch clear details about the location, number of injured workers, and type of injuries.
5. Assess the Worker’s Responsiveness
You need to quickly determine how alert the injured worker is using the AVPU scale:
- A – Alert: Fully aware and responsive?
- V – Verbal: Do they respond to your voice?
- P – Pain: Do they react to pain stimuli?
- U – Unresponsive: No response at all?
A quick AVPU check helps you decide if immediate life-saving interventions are needed.
Special Considerations for Walk-In Workers
Not every injured worker is found at the scene of the accident—sometimes, they walk into the first aid room on their own. When that happens:
- Observe their appearance—are they struggling to breathe, bleeding heavily, or showing signs of shock?
- Ask the right questions—what happened, what hurts, and when did the injury occur?
- Modify the primary survey—since they’re conscious, you can focus on their specific injury rather than a full-body scan.
Communication During Scene Assessment
Clear communication can make or break an emergency response.
- Keep instructions simple and direct—people in pain or distress may struggle to process complex information.
- Stay calm and reassuring—panic spreads fast, so set the tone.
- Be mindful of barriers—whether it’s a language difference or a hearing impairment, adapt your communication style as needed.
Ongoing Scene Assessment
A scene assessment isn’t a one-time thing—keep reassessing for new hazards, changes in the worker’s condition, or additional injuries. If something changes, update emergency responders immediately.
Final Thoughts
A proper scene assessment sets the foundation for everything that follows. As an OFA Level 2 Vancouver first aid attendant, your goal is to keep yourself safe, assess the situation quickly, and provide life-saving care until paramedics take over.
Stay sharp, follow the steps, and trust your training—you’ve got this.