Virginia First Aid: What you need to know

Virginia has its own occupational safety and health plan. The state occupational safety and health law has adopted in full all requirements, including the first-aid requirements, of the federal Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act). The state Department of Labor and Industry administers and enforces safety and health rules in private (private businesses and nonprofit organizations) and public (government offices and operations) sector workplaces, except there are no penalties levied against public sector employers for rule violations.

There is a detailed discussion of workplace first-aid requirements. Please see the national First Aid section.

Any person who, in good faith and in the absence of gross negligence, provides emergency care or assistance without compensation to any ill or injured person at the scene of any life-threatening emergency, or en route to any medical facility, is immune from civil liability for acts he or she may have performed (or omitted) in providing such care or assistance.

The same immunity applies to any person who provides assistance upon request of any government agency in the event of an accident or other emergency involving the use, handling, transportation, transmission, or storage of liquefied petroleum gas, liquefied natural gas, hazardous material, or hazardous waste.

It also applies to any emergency medical care attendant or technician possessing a valid certificate issued by authority of the state Board of Health, and includes violations of state health regulations or any other state regulations in providing emergency care or assistance.

Any person serving without compensation as a dispatcher for any licensed ...