In 2022, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics recorded 2.8 million nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has required employers to maintain adequate first aid supplies since 1970. And yet walk through most American workplaces — offices, warehouses, retail floors and you’ll find a first aid kit that was stocked when the building opened and hasn’t been seriously reviewed since.
The consequences are predictable. A worker reaches for gauze and finds an expired antiseptic wipe and three bandages. A minor injury that should take two minutes to treat turns into a trip to urgent care. An OSHA inspection flags inadequate supplies as a violation.
The problem isn’t that people don’t know first aid kits matter. The problem is that most people don’t know what a genuinely stocked kit actually contains and how significantly that changes depending on where you are and who’s around.
The standard most workplaces don’t know they’re behind on
OSHA standard 29 CFR 1910.151 requires that employers ensure the ready availability of medical personnel and adequate first aid supplies. For workplaces not in close proximity to an infirmary or clinic, that means maintaining a first aid kit on-site.
What most employers don’t have documented is which standard defines “adequate.” The answer is ANSI/ISEA Z308.1, published by the International Safety Equipment Association and it was updated in 2021. Many kits currently in American workplaces were stocked to the 2015 version, which has meaningfully different quantity minimums.
The 2021 standard divides kits into two classes:
Class A — Low-hazard environments (offices, retail, light commercial)
Minimum contents include:
● Adhesive bandages, assorted (16 units minimum)
● Sterile pads, 3×3 inch (1 minimum)
● Bandage compress, 4 inch (1 minimum)
● Triangular bandage, 40x40x56 inch (1 minimum)
● Wound closing strips (1 minimum)
● Elastic wrap, 2 inch (1 minimum)
● First aid guide (1)
● Medical exam gloves (2 pairs minimum)
● Scissors (1)
● Breathing barrier with one-way valve (1)
● Antiseptic, 0.5g application (10 minimum)
● Antibiotic treatment, 0.5g application (10 minimum)
● Burn treatment, 0.5g application (10 minimum)
● Eye covering with means of attachment (2 minimum)
● Cold pack (1 minimum)
● Eye/skin wash, 1 fl oz (1 minimum)
Class B — Higher-hazard environments (construction, manufacturing, warehouses)
Class B adds substantially higher quantities of everything in Class A, plus: a tourniquet, a SAM splint, a larger eye wash supply (minimum 4 fl oz), and additional trauma supplies. The higher quantities reflect both the increased likelihood of injury and the potential distance from emergency medical services on large job sites.
One practical note on kit location that OSHA citations consistently flag: “readily accessible” has been interpreted in enforcement actions to mean reachable within three to four minutes without leaving the work area. A single kit in a break room does not meet this standard for a facility with multiple separated work areas.
What a complete home first aid kit actually contains
Home kits operate outside OSHA requirements, which means most households stock them based on what looked reasonable at the pharmacy, usually less than they actually need.
A genuinely useful home kit covers four categories:
Wound care
● Adhesive bandages in at least three sizes: small, standard, and knuckle/fingertip
● Sterile gauze pads, 2×2 and 4×4 inch
● Rolled gauze bandage for larger wounds
● Medical tape — paper tape for sensitive skin, cloth tape for secure hold
● Elastic bandage (ACE wrap) for sprains
● Butterfly closure strips for lacerations that need edges held
● Antiseptic wipes
● Antibiotic ointment
● Burn gel for minor thermal burns
Tools
● Fine-tipped tweezers for splinters, blunt-tipped for general use
● Blunt scissors
● Digital thermometer
● Disposable gloves, minimum four pairs
● Instant cold packs, two to three
● CPR breathing barrier
Medications
● Ibuprofen and acetaminophen both, because they work through different mechanisms and can be used together for moderate pain
● Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) for allergic reactions
● Antacid tablets
● Hydrocortisone cream for rashes and insect bites
Household-specific items
● Epinephrine auto-injector for any household member with a known severe allergy — stored where every adult in the home knows to find it
● Glucose tablets if anyone manages diabetes
● A written card inside the lid with: poison control (1-800-222-1222), nearest urgent care address, and any household member’s critical medical information
That last item costs nothing and gets used more than most of the supplies.
Portable first aid kit: what changes when you’re traveling
A portable first aid kit is a different design problem. Weight and space are real constraints. You’re also further from care, potentially without cell service, and the range of possible scenarios is wider.
The goal of a travel kit is not to replicate a home kit in a smaller bag. It’s to handle the most likely travel injuries — blisters, cuts, sprains, GI issues, allergic reactions — and to stabilize anything more serious until you can reach professional care. Anything beyond that scope requires calling for help, not improvising.
Core portable kit (fits in a quart-size bag):
● Adhesive bandages, assorted
● Two sterile 4×4 gauze pads
● Medical tape
● Ten antiseptic wipe packets
● Antibiotic ointment packets (single-use)
● Butterfly closure strips
● Two pairs disposable gloves
● Tweezers
● Ibuprofen and acetaminophen, small quantities
● Diphenhydramine tablets
● Loperamide (Imodium) for GI issues
● Oral rehydration salts — significantly more useful internationally than most people realize
● Moleskin patches for blister prevention and treatment
For backcountry or remote travel, add:
● SAM splint for suspected fractures or sprains
● Israeli bandage or compression bandage for significant bleeding
● Water purification tablets
● Emergency mylar blanket
● Blister kit (needle, alcohol swabs, moleskin)
The CDC’s Travelers’ Health resource is the most current guidance for destination-specific health preparation, including vaccinations and prescription considerations — which fall outside the scope of a first aid kit and require a conversation with a physician before travel.
The maintenance failure that makes kits useless
A first aid kit stocked once and left alone for three years is not a safety asset. Medications expire. Antiseptics degrade. Supplies get used and not replaced.
The practical standard is a twice-yearly review — spring and fall align naturally with smoke detector battery checks, which is why safety organizations frequently pair the two recommendations.
What to check each review:
● Expiration dates on all medications and antiseptic products
● Whether gloves have dried out or degraded
● Whether supplies were used after incidents and not restocked
● Whether the household or workplace situation has changed — new employees, new medical needs, new hazards
The most effective habit is simpler than a scheduled review: whenever something comes out of the kit, write it on a restocking list immediately. Kits don’t go empty all at once. They go empty one item at a time, between checks, until the moment they’re needed and the thing you need isn’t there.
Frequently asked questions
What is the OSHA requirement for workplace first aid kits?
OSHA standard 29 CFR 1910.151 requires employers to ensure the availability of adequate first aid supplies. The ANSI/ISEA Z308.1-2021 standard defines minimum contents for Class A (low-hazard) and Class B (high-hazard) workplace kits. Kits must be readily accessible — interpreted in enforcement as reachable within minutes from any work area.
What first aid supplies are required by ANSI/ISEA Z308.1?
The 2021 standard requires, at Class A minimum: assorted bandages, sterile pads, bandage compress, triangular bandage, wound closing strips, elastic wrap, first aid guide, exam gloves, scissors, breathing barrier, antiseptic, antibiotic treatment, burn treatment, eye covering, cold pack, and eye/skin wash. Class B requires higher quantities and additional trauma supplies.
How many first aid kits does a workplace need?
OSHA does not specify a number — it requires that supplies be “readily accessible.” In practice, a single kit does not satisfy this requirement for large or multi-area facilities. The general guidance is one kit per floor or work zone, positioned so no employee has to travel more than three to four minutes to reach it.
What should I keep in a portable first aid kit for travel?
A travel kit should prioritize the most likely scenarios: cuts and blisters, sprains, GI issues, and allergic reactions. Core items include bandages, gauze, antiseptic wipes, antibiotic ointment, pain relievers, antihistamine, loperamide, oral rehydration salts, and moleskin. For backcountry travel, add a SAM splint, compression bandage, and water purification tablets.
How do I know if my workplace first aid kit is OSHA compliant?
Cross-reference current kit contents against ANSI/ISEA Z308.1-2021 for your facility’s hazard class. Verify kit location meets the “readily accessible” standard for all work areas. Document the last inspection date and restock history. During an OSHA inspection, compliance is demonstrated through both the contents and the documentation.
About the Author: The team at Rescue Supply provides emergency preparedness and first aid equipment for homes, businesses, and institutions across the United States. Rescue Supply’s product range includes ANSI/ISEA Z308.1-compliant workplace first aid kits, portable first aid kits for travel and outdoor use, and bulk first aid supplies for facilities managers and safety coordinators.