What Do We Need to Stock in Our Workplace First Aid Kits?

Posted on Monday, March 11, 2019

Unless you have an on-site medical facility, chances are your business is required to keep a first aid kit at each of your work locations. The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) requires employers to be prepared for the inevitable workplace injuries, accidents and mishaps — at least at the basic, first-response level.

Required Contents

According to OSHA, your first aid kit should contain adequate quantities of each of the following items:

Bandages (adhesive),
Gauze pads, sterile (large and small),
Triangular bandages/cravats,
Elastic wraps,
Disinfectant/antibacterial spray or cleaner,
Splint,
Non-latex gloves,
Latex gloves,
Tape (adhesive, designed for bandages),
Scissors,
Gauze roll-type bandages,
Blanket, and
Police, fire and ambulance contact information.

Furthermore, OSHA regulations state, "Where the eyes or body of any person may be exposed to injurious corrosive materials, suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes and body shall be provided within the work area for immediate emergency use."

Employers should check Material Safety Data Sheets for chemicals stored on-site and perform a common sense risk assessment of their worksites' likely hazards in order to anticipate possible injuries. For example, construction sites and other industrial sites that present an elevated risk of falling or other possible causes of spinal and neck injuries may want to have a backboard on-site.

If there's risk that your employees may come into contact with bloodborne pathogens or other biohazard materials, you must also provide personal protective equipment, which includes gowns, gloves, masks, face shields and eye protection.

The number and contents of first aid kits businesses are required to maintain — and restock as needed — are functions of business size and industry. For a business or work site with three or fewer employees, there should be at least one or two of all checklist items in stock.

Businesses with 10 or more employees are required to keep careful records of workplace injuries. Some businesses may be exempt if they're in designated low-hazard industries. To document your injuries and help develop your first aid kit needs, use the OSHA 300 log, OSHA 301 log or a similar report. You can download these forms by going to OSHA.gov and typing in the form name.

Other Points to Consider

You should also regularly inspect your kits for damage, low supplies or expired items.
You may place nonprescription, over-the-counter drugs in your first aid kits, provided they're packaged as single doses in tamper-resistant or evident packaging.
If you choose to include over-the-counter drugs, check the list of side effects and ensure it doesn't include drowsiness or sleepiness.

To learn the rules for your specific business, contact an OSHA agent or representative.

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