Workplace first aid kit requirements in the United States are less specific than most people expect. OSHA requires employers to provide adequate first aid supplies, but it does not publish a fixed item list for general industry, and it does not approve or certify kits. Most employers build a defensible kit around ANSI/ISEA Z308.1, the consensus standard that OSHA points to as a benchmark.

That gap between a broad legal duty and a detailed industry standard is where confusion starts. A kit is adequate when it fits your hazards, your headcount, and your layout, and when someone on site knows how to use it. The sections below separate what the rules actually mandate from what the standard recommends, then cover contents, hazard matching, upkeep, and the training that makes supplies useful.

Which Rules Govern Workplace First Aid Kits

The core general industry rule is OSHA 29 CFR 1910.151(b). It says that in the absence of an infirmary, clinic, or hospital in near proximity to the workplace, adequate first aid supplies must be readily available. The same paragraph requires that a person or persons adequately trained to render first aid be available. The text does not list what goes in the kit. For a fuller walkthrough of the training side, see these OSHA first aid training requirements.

For content guidance, OSHA and its related standards point toward ANSI/ISEA Z308.1. The first aid provisions for construction in 29 CFR 1926.50 and the non-mandatory appendix tied to it reference ANSI-type kits as a model. OSHA has also published guidance, including its first aid best practices material, that treats the ANSI standard as a reasonable yardstick for what "adequate" means.

Construction sites

Construction employers follow 29 CFR 1926.50 instead. It requires first aid supplies to be easily accessible when needed, and it calls for jobsite kits to be checked by the employer before being sent out and at least weekly on each job to confirm that expended items are replaced. Kits there should be in weatherproof containers with individually sealed contents. Crews on these sites also benefit from first aid certification for construction workers.

State and industry rules

Many states run their own OSHA-approved plans, and some add detail. California's Cal/OSHA, for example, has its own first aid provisions, and certain industries face additional requirements. As of 2026, you should read your state plan's current text rather than assume federal rules are the ceiling. Regulations are revised, and wording cited in an article can lag behind the official version.

What "OSHA approved" really means

OSHA does not certify, approve, or endorse first aid kits. A box labeled "OSHA compliant" is a marketing claim, not a regulatory status. Your kit is compliant when it is adequate for the hazards in your workplace, and a kit built to the ANSI/ISEA standard is the easiest way to show you made a reasonable effort.

ANSI/ISEA Z308.1 Classes and Minimum Contents

The standard sorts kits into Class A and Class B. Class A kits are meant for common workplace injuries such as minor cuts, scrapes, and burns. Class B kits carry a larger quantity and wider variety of supplies for more complex or higher-risk environments such as manufacturing, warehouses, and construction. The standard also distinguishes types by placement: Type I for fixed installations, Type II for portable use, Type III for portable kits that are not subject to mobile-use conditions, and Type IV for mobile settings such as vehicles, where kits need sturdier containers and secure mounting. Confirm the type definitions against the edition you buy.

The most recent revision I can point to is the 2021 edition. Check ANSI and ISEA's current listing to see whether a newer edition has replaced it as of 2026, and verify exact minimum quantities before you audit, since counts differ between Class A and Class B.

Representative contents

Adhesive bandages in assorted sizes
Sterile gauze pads and larger trauma pads
Adhesive tape
Antiseptic wipes or towelettes
Burn dressings and burn treatment
Eye covering and eyewash
Exam gloves, usually nitrile
Triangular bandage
Scissors
Instant cold pack
A splint, which appears in Class B

The 2021 changes

The 2021 revision strengthened the bleeding control side of the standard. As I understand it, Class B now calls for items such as a tourniquet and related hemorrhage supplies, reflecting wider emphasis on stopping severe bleeding before EMS arrives. Check the published standard to confirm which items are required in which class before you rely on this summary.

Medications are not required

Pain relievers, antacids, and other oral medications are not required items. Many safety professionals leave them out on purpose. Employees can have allergies or interactions, dosing questions create liability, and an unsupervised supply of drugs invites misuse. If you do stock any, limit them to single-dose packets, record expiration dates, and set a clear policy on who may offer them.

Matching Your Kit to Your Workplace Hazards

A baseline kit is a starting point. OSHA's duty is tied to the hazards you actually have, so supplies should follow the injuries your operations can realistically produce.

Kitchens: burn gel, burn dressings, and extra bandages and finger cots for cuts.
Warehouses and manufacturing: tourniquets, trauma dressings, and eyewash for debris and splashes, plus a Class B kit.
Labs and chemical areas: where corrosive materials are used, 29 CFR 1910.151(c) requires suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes and body. ANSI Z358.1 governs plumbed and self-contained eyewash equipment. A small bottle in a first aid kit does not satisfy that requirement.
Outdoor work: heat illness supplies such as cooling towels and electrolyte options, insect sting treatment, and sun protection.
Offices: a Class A kit covers most needs, and an AED is a sensible addition.

How many kits you need

OSHA sets no fixed ratio of kits to employees. A practical approach looks at headcount, floor area, number of floors, separate buildings, and travel time. A common rule of thumb is that anyone should be able to reach a kit within a short walk from any work area, with at least one kit per floor and per building. One kit for a whole building is rarely enough, and larger or spread-out sites need more.

Remote, mobile, and off-shift workers

Drivers, field technicians, and lone workers need a kit in the vehicle, ideally a Type IV mobile unit, and a way to call for help. Night and weekend shifts need the same access to supplies and a trained person as the day shift.

Document the reasoning

Write down a hazard assessment that lists injuries you could plausibly see and the supplies that address them. Revisit it after any incident, new equipment, or process change. A dated assessment is also strong evidence that you made an informed decision about adequacy, and it pairs well with a broader emergency response training program for your workplace.

Placement, Inspection, and Restocking

A well-stocked kit that no one can find or open fails when it matters. Place kits where they are visible, unlocked, and clearly signed, close to high-risk areas and near exits. Avoid locations that require a key, a supervisor's permission, or a trip across the building.

Build an inspection routine

Assign a named person and a backup. Use a dated checklist that lists every item and its minimum quantity. Inspect at least monthly in most workplaces, and weekly on construction jobsites, where 1926.50 expects regular checks. Replace anything used immediately, and ask staff to report use instead of quietly taking supplies.

Watch expiration and storage conditions

Sterile dressings, antiseptic wipes, eyewash solution, cold packs, and gloves all have shelf lives, and printed dates are easy to miss. Mark the soonest expiration on the outside of the kit so a glance tells you when it needs attention. Heat and humidity degrade supplies quickly. Vehicle trunks, loading docks, and unconditioned storage areas can ruin adhesives and cause gloves to crack, so check those kits more often.

Keep records

Log each inspection with the date, inspector, and items replaced. Record restocks tied to incidents as well. Together, these logs show that the kit is part of a working program instead of a box that was bought once and forgotten.

Why a Stocked Kit Is Not Enough Without Trained Responders

Section 1910.151(b) pairs supplies with people. Where no infirmary, clinic, or hospital is in near proximity, a person or persons adequately trained to render first aid must be available. OSHA's letters of interpretation have addressed what "near proximity" means, and they commonly describe emergency medical help being reachable within roughly 3 to 4 minutes for life-threatening injuries such as serious bleeding or cardiac arrest. Read the current letters yourself, since the wording and context matter. For most workplaces, ambulance response alone does not meet that mark, so trained responders on site are necessary. A good starting point is workplace first aid training.

How the training fits together

First aid training teaches wound care, burns, choking, shock, and bleeding control. CPR training covers the response to cardiac arrest. AED training covers using the device with confidence. If you are unsure how the pieces differ, this explanation of the difference between CPR and first aid helps. Kit contents depend on this knowledge: gloves and barrier devices protect the responder only if they are used correctly, and a tourniquet or trauma dressing is worth little to someone who has never applied one.

Where AEDs fit

An AED is not part of the ANSI/ISEA Z308.1 kit standard, but many workplaces keep one beside the kit. State laws on AED placement, maintenance, medical oversight, and training vary, so confirm what applies where you operate, and review automated external defibrillator placement requirements when deciding where to mount one.

Meeting the trained-responder need

Best Choice CPR offers First Aid, CPR, BLS, AED, and workplace safety training that can help you build a group of trained responders across shifts and locations. Certifications expire and staff turn over, so plan on renewals and enough responders that coverage holds when someone is out.

Auditing Your Kit and Training Your Team

Compliance comes down to three things working together: a kit that is adequate for your real hazards, people trained to use it, and a routine that keeps both current. A kit with correct contents but no trained responders falls short of 1910.151(b), and so does a trained team working from an empty or expired kit.

Start by auditing each kit against the current ANSI/ISEA Z308.1 edition and your written hazard assessment, then check your state plan for additions. Fix gaps, assign an inspector, and start the log. Then look at who on each shift can respond. Don't wait until an emergency happens. Equip yourself with life-saving CPR skills that could make all the difference when seconds count. Register for a certification class today and gain the confidence to respond when someone needs help most.