First Aid Kit Requirements: OSHA Rules by Business Type

OSHA First Aid Kit Standards: What Every Workplace Needs

When was the last time you actually opened your workplace first aid kit? If your answer involves the word "years," you're not alone — and you might have a compliance problem. OSHA requires employers to provide adequate first aid supplies under 29 CFR 1910.151(b), scaled to the hazards present in the workplace. The regulation references ANSI Z308.1 as the minimum benchmark for kit contents, which specifies 16 types of supplies including bandages, antiseptics, gloves, and breathing barriers. Kits must be readily accessible, regularly inspected, and restocked before supplies expire or run out.

ANSI Z308.1 Minimum Contents

The current ANSI standard defines minimum quantities for a Class A (basic workplace) first aid kit. These contents cover the most common minor workplace injuries.

Supply Item	Minimum Quantity	Purpose
Adhesive bandages (1" x 3")	16	Minor cuts and abrasions
Adhesive tape (2.5 yd)	1 roll	Securing gauze and dressings
Antibiotic treatment	10 packets	Infection prevention
Antiseptic (0.5g applications)	10	Wound cleaning
Breathing barrier	1	CPR protection
Burn treatment (0.5g)	6 packets	Minor thermal burns
Cold pack (4" x 5")	1	Swelling reduction
Eye covering (2.9 sq in)	2	Eye injury protection
Eye/skin wash (1 fl oz)	1	Irrigation of minor splashes
Roller bandage (2")	1	Wound compression
Roller bandage (4")	1	Larger wound compression
Sterile pad (3" x 3")	4	Wound coverage
Triangular bandage (40")	1	Sling or tourniquet
Exam gloves (pairs)	2	Bloodborne pathogen protection
Hand sanitizer	6 packets	Hand hygiene
Scissors	1	Cutting tape, bandages, clothing

Scaling First Aid Kits to Your Workplace

ANSI Z308.1 Class A kits serve as a baseline. Your actual requirements depend on three factors:

1. Number of employees — OSHA recommends one Class A kit per 25 employees as a starting point. Larger workforces need multiple kits distributed throughout the facility, not one oversized kit at a central location
2. Types of hazards present — Class B (expanded) kits include larger quantities and additional items like splints and tourniquets. Workplaces with cutting hazards, heavy machinery, or chemical exposure need Class B or supplemented Class A kits
3. Distance to medical care — When hospitals or clinics aren't within reasonable proximity (OSHA uses a rough guideline of 3-4 minutes), employers must ensure a trained first aid provider is available on each shift and kits reflect the expanded treatment scope
4. Specific industry standards — Construction (29 CFR 1926.50) has its own first aid requirements specifying minimum contents. Logging (1910.266) requires additional trauma supplies. Maritime and agriculture have separate provisions

Industry-Specific Additions

The ANSI baseline doesn't account for industry-specific injury patterns. Smart employers augment their kits based on actual workplace hazards and their OSHA 300 Log injury data.

Chemical handling environments should include additional eye wash supplies, chemical-specific antidotes where recommended by SDS Section 4, and larger quantities of burn treatment. Manufacturing facilities benefit from splints, tourniquets for severe lacerations, and hemostatic gauze. Kitchens need burn gel, non-stick burn dressings, and finger cots.

Review your SDS library to identify chemical-specific first aid requirements. Section 4 of each safety data sheet lists recommended first aid measures for eye contact, skin contact, inhalation, and ingestion. MySDS Manager lets you pull up these first aid instructions instantly during an emergency — critical when the treatment for one chemical exposure can be exactly wrong for another.

Inspection and Maintenance

OSHA doesn't specify a fixed inspection frequency, but the requirement that supplies be "readily available" implies regular checks. I've seen first aid kits on factory floors where the bandages had expired three years prior and the cold pack had a hole in it. Nobody had checked. Best practice — and what compliance officers genuinely expect to see — is monthly documented inspections covering supply completeness, expiration dates, and container integrity.

Assign one person per shift responsibility for first aid kit inspections. Create a simple checklist matching your kit contents list. Replace used or expired items immediately, not at the next scheduled check. Keep inspection logs near the kit or in your safety documentation system alongside your training records.

Placement and Accessibility Rules

First aid kits must be placed where employees can access them without delay. This sounds obvious, but you'd be surprised. Wall-mounted locations near high-traffic areas work best. Kits locked in supervisor offices (who leaves at 5 PM), stored in overhead compartments (hope you brought a ladder), or placed behind security doors fail the accessibility test. During an OSHA inspection, the compliance officer will check whether employees actually know where kits are located and can reach them without assistance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does OSHA require specific first aid kit brands?

No. OSHA doesn't endorse or require specific brands. Any kit meeting ANSI Z308.1 minimum contents qualifies. You can build your own kit from individual components or purchase pre-assembled units. The standard focuses on what's inside, not the container or manufacturer.

Are AEDs (defibrillators) required by OSHA?

OSHA does not currently mandate AEDs in general industry workplaces. However, several states have their own AED requirements for specific facility types. OSHA does recommend AEDs as a best practice, and having one available demonstrates good-faith compliance with the General Duty Clause regarding cardiac emergency preparedness.

Do I need first aid kits in company vehicles?

OSHA doesn't specifically require kits in vehicles for general industry. However, construction standards (1926.50) require first aid supplies at every job site. If employees work from vehicles at locations far from fixed facilities, providing vehicle kits is both a practical necessity and a defensible compliance measure.