Most American employers have a first aid kit somewhere on site. Far fewer know whether what they have meets current OSHA requirements or whether the supplies expired two years ago and nobody noticed. This matters during inspections, and it matters more when someone actually gets hurt.
This guide covers what OSHA requires by workplace type, what ANSI/ISEA Z308.1-2021 specifies for kit contents, how many kits different facility sizes need, and what construction sites and schools require beyond the general industry baseline.
What OSHA actually requires
The governing regulation is 29 CFR 1910.151(b):
“Adequate first aid supplies shall be readily available.”
That phrasing is deliberately broad. OSHA doesn’t publish a single supply list because a 10-person accounting office and a 200-person manufacturing plant have fundamentally different injury risks. ANSI/ISEA Z308.1-2021 fills the gap — it’s the standard OSHA inspectors use to determine whether a workplace kit is adequate.
Three separate OSHA standards cover different industries:
– 29 CFR 1910.151 — general industry (offices, retail, manufacturing, warehousing)
– 29 CFR 1926.50 — construction (additional specific requirements)
– 29 CFR 1915 / 1917 — maritime (separate standards, not covered here)
ANSI/ISEA Z308.1-2021: Class A vs Class B first aid kits
The 2021 revision defines two kit classes. Choosing the wrong one is one of the most common OSHA violations.
Class A covers common low-severity injuries. Designed for offices, retail, and low-risk settings.
Class B covers higher-risk environments where more serious injuries are foreseeable — manufacturing, warehousing, construction, healthcare. Includes everything in Class A plus larger quantities and additional trauma supplies.
Key 2021 update: tourniquets are now required in Class B kits. This change from the 2015 standard catches many facilities still using older inventory.
Class A vs Class B minimum contents
|
Item |
Class A |
Class B |
|
Adhesive bandages (1″ x 3″) |
16 |
50 |
|
Antiseptic packets |
10 |
50 |
|
Burn dressing (4″ x 4″) |
1 |
2 |
|
Burn treatment packets |
6 |
25 |
|
Cold pack |
1 |
2 |
|
Eye/skin wash |
1 |
1 |
|
Hand sanitizer packets |
6 |
10 |
|
Medical exam gloves (pairs) |
2 |
4 |
|
Sterile pads (3″ x 3″) |
2 |
4 |
|
Tourniquet |
Not required |
1 |
|
Triangular bandage |
1 |
2 |
When sourcing kits, confirm ANSI/ISEA Z308.1-2021 on the product documentation specifically not just general “OSHA compliant” language, which may reference the outdated 2015 standard.
First aid kit requirements by workplace type
Offices and low-risk retail
Kit class: Class A How many: one per floor, positioned where all employees can reach it without assistance
Class A satisfies OSHA 1910.151 for most low-risk office and retail environments. The most common compliance failure here isn’t the kit contents — it’s location. A kit locked in a manager’s office or stored behind a counter employees can’t access independently fails the “readily accessible” standard.
Practical guidance by headcount:
– Under 25 employees: 1 kit per floor
– 25–75 employees: 2 kits per floor minimum
– 75+ employees: 1 kit per 50 employees, positioned throughout the workspace
Manufacturing, warehousing, and industrial
Kit class: Class B How many: multiple kits throughout the facility — no employee more than 3 to 5 minutes from supplies
One kit on a 40,000-square-foot floor with 80 employees doesn’t meet the adequacy standard. Bleeding control kits belong here separately from the standard first aid kit supplies. Under OSHA’s general duty clause, employers must address foreseeable hazards — in manufacturing, severe lacerations are foreseeable, which means tourniquets and hemostatic dressings are expected.
Construction sites (29 CFR 1926.50)
Construction has requirements that go beyond general industry:
– Weatherproof containers – standard cardboard or soft-sided kits don’t qualify
– First aid supplies on every vehicle for mobile crews
– Eye wash stations wherever employees handle caustic chemicals or airborne particulates
– Trained first aider on site or emergency medical facilities within 3 to 4 minutes travel time
A first aid kit stocked for an office does not meet 29 CFR 1926.50. Class B coverage with bleeding control is the appropriate baseline for any construction site.
Schools and educational facilities (K-12)
Schools operate under both OSHA standards and state-specific education regulations that vary significantly. Requirements beyond OSHA minimums frequently include:
– Epinephrine availability for anaphylaxis response required separately from first aid kit contents in many states
– AED placement and maintenance with documented inspection protocols
– State-specific kit contents or inspection frequency requirements that exceed OSHA minimums
– Dedicated first aid rooms in many state education codes for facilities above a certain enrollment
For school districts managing compliance across multiple buildings, standardizing on a single ANSI/ISEA Z308.1-2021 compliant kit specification simplifies both inspections and restocking across every site.
Healthcare facilities
OSHA applies, but healthcare facilities also operate under Joint Commission and CMS accreditation standards that add documentation requirements. Kits in patient areas need dated inspection logs satisfying surveyors not just OSHA compliance evidence. The bleeding control requirements are especially significant given the exposure and injury profile in clinical settings.
What OSHA inspectors actually cite
Expired or depleted supplies – a kit stocked three years ago and never restocked is a citation regardless of what the original contents were. Monthly inspection with dated logs is the practical standard.
Inaccessible kits – readily accessible means any employee can reach the kit after an injury without unlocking a door, finding a key, or waiting for managerial help. Location matters as much as contents.
Wrong class for the environment – a Class A kit in a manufacturing setting where Class B is required is an inadequacy citation. The comparison is between what’s present and what the facility’s injury profile demands.
No inspection log – supplies can be complete and unexpired, but without dated documentation, the employer can’t demonstrate active maintenance. Inspectors look for the paper trail.
No bleeding control in high-risk settings – under the general duty clause, the absence of tourniquets or hemostatic dressings in environments where severe lacerations are foreseeable supports a citation even when standard kit requirements are otherwise met.
Practical compliance by facility size
Small employer, low risk (under 25 employees) One Class A kit per floor, mounted visibly, inspected monthly with a dated log, restocked after use. This covers the full compliance requirement for most small businesses.
Mid-size employer, moderate to high risk (25–100 employees) Multiple Class B kits positioned throughout the facility. Separate bleeding control kits in any area with significant laceration or trauma risk. Quarterly formal inspection with documentation.
Large or multi-site employer Standardize on a single kit specification across all locations. Consistent documentation, restocking schedules, and inspection logs across every site. Rescue Supply offers volume pricing and Net 30 terms for institutional buyers stocking multiple locations. Call 800-239-1797 for volume quotes or visit rescue-supply.com/collections/first-aid-kits for current inventory.
Frequently asked questions
What first aid kit does OSHA require for a 10-person office?
A Class A kit meeting ANSI/ISEA Z308.1-2021 content requirements satisfies OSHA 29 CFR 1910.151 for a low-risk office. Mount it where all employees can access it without help, inspect monthly, and document each inspection date.
Does OSHA require a first aid kit on every floor?
Not explicitly, but “readily accessible” means employees shouldn’t travel multiple floors to reach supplies after an injury. One kit per floor is the practical standard for multi-floor facilities.
When did tourniquets become required in workplace first aid kits?
The ANSI/ISEA Z308.1-2021 revision added tourniquets as a required item in Class B kits. Facilities using pre-2021 inventory may not meet the current standard. Class A kits don’t require them, though they’re recommended wherever severe lacerations are foreseeable.
How many first aid kits does my workplace need?
It depends on headcount and risk level. For offices, one Class A kit per 50 employees per floor is a reasonable baseline. For industrial settings, position Class B kits so no employee is more than 3 to 5 minutes from supplies. Construction sites need a kit on every vehicle for mobile crews.
How often should workplace first aid kits be inspected?
Monthly, with dated documentation. Inspect immediately after any use and restock before the kit goes back into service. OSHA inspectors look for inspection logs as evidence of active maintenance.
Are bleeding control kits required by OSHA?
Not explicitly in all standards, but under the general duty clause, employers must address foreseeable hazards. For workplaces where severe lacerations are foreseeable — construction, manufacturing, food service — the absence of tourniquets and hemostatic dressings can support a citation. Treat them as a practical necessity in any high-risk environment.
Can I buy first aid kits in bulk for multiple locations?
Rescue Supply offers volume pricing and Net 30 terms for businesses and institutions stocking multiple sites. Government agencies can procure through standard channels. Call 800-239-1797 or browse first aid kits for current inventory and institutional pricing.
References: OSHA 29 CFR 1910.151 (general industry); OSHA 29 CFR 1926.50 (construction); ANSI/ISEA Z308.1-2021 minimum kit requirements; U.S. Department of Labor OSHA enforcement guidance; National Safety Council first aid preparedness standards.