AED Inspections and Installs

Total Group supports organisations with AED installation, inspection and operational-readiness verification. The work is planned around the device manufacturer’s instructions, the physical site and the requirements that apply to the employer and facility.

Plan the AED location before installation

An AED needs to be easy to find and reach during an emergency. A site review can consider the proposed location, travel path, visibility, signage, access controls, lighting and the conditions that may affect the device or its accessories. The installation discussion should also identify who will check the AED, how a concern will be escalated and where inspection records will be kept.

Storage and access depend on the device, cabinet or enclosure, building and work environment. Health Canada advises that AEDs and their accessories be stored properly and that the user manual be followed. Its guidance also says to check the device status, pads and accessories, batteries and cleanliness, and to address service prompts or failed self-tests. Health Canada’s AED guidance is national guidance, not a universal workplace installation mandate.

Inspection and operational-readiness verification

An inspection can review the AED’s visible condition, status indicator or self-test information, battery and pad dates, required accessories, cabinet or storage condition, identification and access. It can also compare the device against the applicable manufacturer instructions and the client’s inspection process. Where a concern is found, the result should identify the issue and the action needed, such as replacement, manufacturer service or follow-up by the site owner.

Readiness is a continuing responsibility. A completed inspection does not replace the manufacturer’s maintenance schedule, the owner’s checks or the emergency response plan. Health Canada notes that AED manuals generally recommend device-specific training. Training, replacement parts, registration and ongoing maintenance can be included only where they are separately confirmed in the service scope.

Work with the site’s first-aid and emergency plan

An AED should be part of the site’s first-aid arrangements rather than treated as a stand-alone cabinet. The responsible site team should know who can access it, how emergency services will be contacted, how responders will be directed to the device and how the AED will be returned to service after use. Total Group can discuss these interfaces during planning and identify information the client needs to maintain its own programme.

In Alberta, the Occupational Health and Safety Code requires covered employers or prime contractors to provide first-aid services, equipment and kits in accordance with the Code, keep required first-aid equipment clean, dry and serviceable, make it accessible, post location or contact information where required and maintain an emergency communication system. The Code incorporates CSA Z1210-17 for first-aid training and CSA Z1220-17 for workplace first-aid kits. These are binding Alberta requirements for the situations covered by the Code; Part 11 does not state a general AED installation requirement. Read Alberta OHS Code Part 11.

Alberta Occupational Health and Safety supports AED use where the employer integrates it into the site first-aid programme and emergency response plan and ensures it can be used safely in the intended work environment. That statement appears in an Alberta OHS information publication and is guidance, not a blanket requirement for every workplace. Read the Alberta AED workplace publication.

Requirements depend on jurisdiction and site type

Canadian AED obligations are not identical from one workplace to another. The applicable framework may depend on the province or territory, the type of project, whether the site is public or private, the employer and prime-contractor arrangements, and any client or insurer requirement. For example, Ontario requires an AED on certain construction projects expected to last at least three months and regularly employing 20 or more workers. Ontario’s construction guidance also describes manufacturer-based maintenance and testing, inspections at least every three months by a competent worker, inspection records kept with the AED and an on-site worker trained in CPR and AED operation while work is in progress. Read Ontario’s construction-project requirements. This Ontario rule should not be treated as a Canada-wide requirement.

Where an Ontario public or designated premise falls within the Defibrillator Registration and Public Access Act, 2019, the Act includes requirements related to access, signs, maintenance and testing, training and registration. Applicability depends on the premise and regulations. Read the Ontario Act.

What to confirm before the work

Before a quotation or site visit, confirm the work location and employment jurisdiction, the site type and governing programme, the AED make and model, the manufacturer’s current manual, the proposed installation point, environmental conditions, access and signage needs, the intended inspection frequency, the person responsible for routine checks, training arrangements and the records the client must retain. These details determine whether the work is an installation, an inspection, a readiness review or a combination of services.

Contact Total Group to discuss your AED location, inspection needs and site requirements. The service scope, responsibilities and any jurisdiction-specific actions can be confirmed before work begins.