While healthcare facilities are built around patient care, the occupational health and workplace safety of the healthcare workforce itself is equally important — and a separate regulatory obligation. OSHA's General Industry standard (29 CFR 1910.151) requires employers to ensure the ready availability of medical personnel and first aid supplies for injured or ill employees. For healthcare facilities, the proximity to clinical resources can create a false sense of compliance; employee first aid needs and patient care systems are distinct obligations.
OSHA First Aid Requirements
OSHA 29 CFR 1910.151(b) requires that "adequate first aid supplies shall be readily available" where the absence of a medical infirmary, clinic, or hospital in near proximity to the workplace means that a physician or nurse is not readily available for treatment of injured employees. For healthcare facilities, the key questions are: Are employee first aid supplies physically accessible to all work areas, including non-clinical zones (maintenance, food service, housekeeping)? Are supplies maintained and checked regularly?
OSHA references ANSI/ISEA Z308.1 as the minimum standard for workplace first aid kit contents. The 2021 revision of this standard introduces Class A and Class B kits:
- Class A kits: Designed for simple workplace injuries — cuts, abrasions, minor burns, splinters. Minimum contents include adhesive bandages, gauze, antiseptic, gloves, and CPR barrier.
- Class B kits: Designed for more complex environments with a wider range of injury risks. Include all Class A items plus tourniquets, hemostatic gauze, eye wash, and burn dressings.
First Aid Kit Placement and Quantity
Kits should be located so that any employee can reach one within three to four minutes of an injury — typically interpreted as one kit per floor per work area. In large facilities, calculate travel time by foot from the furthest work location. Areas with specific hazards (chemical storage, kitchen, loading dock, maintenance shop) should have a kit immediately adjacent to the hazard area, in addition to general coverage kits.
AED (Automated External Defibrillator) Programs
While not strictly required by OSHA's first aid standard, AEDs are required or strongly recommended in most healthcare facilities under state law, accreditation standards, and basic life safety expectations. AED placement should ensure a device is accessible within 3–5 minutes of any employee work location. AED programs require: monthly visual inspection of the device (LED indicator, pad expiration), annual maintenance checks, replacement of expired pads and batteries, and staff training in AED use and CPR.
First Aid Kit Maintenance
First aid supplies expire. Adhesive bandages dry out, antiseptics lose potency, and CPR masks degrade. A written inspection schedule — monthly visual checks, quarterly inventory review, annual full restocking — prevents compliance gaps. Designate a responsible party for each kit location and document inspections. After any use, restock immediately rather than waiting for the next scheduled inspection.
Specialized First Aid for Healthcare Hazards
Healthcare workers face specific occupational hazards that standard Class A kits don't fully address: bloodborne pathogen exposure (post-exposure supplies, including documentation forms and contact information for occupational health), chemical splash (eyewash stations, neutralizing first aid), and musculoskeletal strain (ice packs, elastic bandages). Supplement standard kits with these hazard-specific items in relevant work areas.
Healix stocks complete first aid kits, AED supplies, and first aid refill items for healthcare workplaces of all sizes. Browse our first aid catalog or call (888) 585-6510.