Emergencies can and do occur anytime and anywhere without warning in a place of business. If said emergency requires a first-aid kit, having fully equipped equipment to address minor injuries or illness is essential.
When it comes to regulations, all industries must comply with OSHA 29 CFR 1910.151 no matter what kind of work employees perform. This rule states, “Adequate first aid supplies shall be readily available” in 29 CFR 1910.151(b). However, the first aid program needs to correspond to the hazards specific to the workplace. An office and a construction site are entirely different, and the first aid protocol needs to consider that.
It is important to remember that the goal of a first-aid kit is to provide basic first aid care or take care of an injured person until emergency care arrives.
All the first aid kits on this list are Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and/or American National Standards Institute (ANSI) compliant.
What Kind of First Aid Kit do You Need for Business?
There are different requirements for different industries as to which type of first aid kits your business should have. Please refer to the websites listed below for specific information.
OSHA First Aid Kit Requirements List
OSHA has different requirements for different industries, but it does require all workplaces to provide access to basic first aid supplies. The types of supplies required vary by workplace type. For a full list of required items broken down by industry, please visit OSHA’s website here.
ANSI First Aid Kit Requirements List
The ANSI, or American National Standards Institute is the main organization supporting the development of technology standards in the United States. ANSI has recently updated its standards for all class a and class b first aid kits. Effective beginning in October 2022, the following updates will be enforced in workplace first aid kits:
- A foil blanket will be mandatory
- More specificity for tourniquets
- Greater guidance on bleeding control kits
- Enhanced workplace hazard assessment
For a full list of resources about ANSI requirements, check out their website at ansi.org.
First Aid Kits for Businesses: Stay Prepared With Our Picks
Selecting the right first aid kits for a business is a critical decision, vital for ensuring workplace safety and compliance with health regulations. Here’s a guide to the key criteria for choosing the best first aid kits for business use:
- Compliance with Regulations:
- Scale of Importance: 9/10
- The kit should meet local and industry-specific health and safety regulations. In the U.S., for example, OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) guidelines are a common standard.
- Contents and Variety:
- Scale of Importance: 9/10
- The kit should contain a comprehensive range of supplies, such as bandages, antiseptics, gloves, and tools like scissors and tweezers. The specific contents might vary based on the workplace environment.
- Size and Capacity:
- Scale of Importance: 8/10
- The size of the kit should be appropriate for the number of employees and the specific risks associated with the workplace.
- Durability and Quality of Containers:
- Scale of Importance: 8/10
- The container should be durable, especially for kits stored in rugged environments. Wall-mounted cabinets or portable cases are common options.
- Ease of Access and Visibility:
- Scale of Importance: 9/10
- First aid kits should be easily accessible and stored in a known, visible location. Kits often come in bright colors (like red or green) with clear labeling.
- Specialized Contents for Specific Risks:
- Scale of Importance: 8/10
- Depending on the nature of the business, consider kits with specialized items, like burn creams, eye wash stations, or defibrillators.
- Refillability and Shelf Life:
- Scale of Importance: 7/10
- It should be easy to refill and replace items as they are used or expire. Regular checks and maintenance of the kit are important.
- Training Materials:
- Scale of Importance: 7/10
- Some kits include basic first aid manuals or instructions, which can be valuable in emergency situations.
- Price and Budget:
- Scale of Importance: 7/10
- Balance the cost with the comprehensiveness and quality of the kit. While budget is a consideration, the primary focus should be on safety and regulatory compliance.
- Customization Options:
- Scale of Importance: 6/10
- Some suppliers offer customization options to tailor the kit to specific workplace needs.
- Supplier Reputation and Service:
- Scale of Importance: 6/10
- Opt for suppliers with a reputation for quality and reliability, and who offer good customer service and support.
These criteria are key in choosing first aid kits that meet the specific safety needs of a business, ensuring preparedness for a range of medical emergencies. In fact, we used those criteria to find our picks below:
Rapid Care First Aid 3 Shelf All-Purpose First Aid Cabinet
This large, well-stocked first aid kit is ANSI and OSHA compliant. The cabinet is made of durable steel and is wall-mounted, with a handle for easy carrying. The 1000-plus pieces can treat a variety of injuries and are boxed, labeled, and color-coded for easy identification and storage. A wall-mounted First Aid sign also comes with this kit.
Rapid Care First Aid 80098 3 Shelf All-Purpose First Aid Kit Cabinet
Rapid Care First Aid 4 Shelf All-Purpose Extra Wide First Aid Cabinet/Trauma Center
This kit’s 1,063 first aid and medical supplies can service 250 people. It comes with a tourniquet, blood stopper, reusable splints, trauma pads, scissors, bandages, and an assortment of medications. The kit meets ANSI 2015 Class B standards and OSHA guidelines.
Thrive First Aid Kit, 291 Pieces – Essential Hospital Quality Medical Supplies
This kit has all of the essential first aid supplies, including complying with OSHA and ANSI standards. Though no medicine is included, this kit has high-quality bandages, gauze pads, tapes, burn gel, gloves, scissors, wipes, an ice pack, whistle, safety pins, and blanket, all in a durable water-resistant, highly visible red bag. The bag is large enough to hold other medical supplies as well.
Thrive First Aid Kits, 291 Pieces – Essential Hospital Quality Medical Supplies
First Aid Only 195 Piece First Aid Kit
Not all OSHA or ANSI-compliant first aid kits have to be big. This kit from First Aid Only is 10.75 x 3 x 11 inches and a little under a pound. But it is still OSHA compliant. It includes 195 essential first aid supplies to treat minor injuries for 50 people.
First Aid Only 195 Piece First Aid Kit, OSHA Compliant
Workplace OSHA Approved First Aid Kit 5 Shelf Deluxe by MFASCO
The deluxe first aid kit by MFASCO provides over 1400 pieces of first aid supplies, including single-dose medications. This large metal kit is 33 x 20 x 7 inches and is said to be easy to wipe down and clean. This kit meets the new OSHA and ANSI standards for the workplace.
Workplace OSHA Approved First Aid Kit 5 Shelf Deluxe by MFASCO
Be Smart Get Prepared – 351 Piece First Aid Cabinet
This comprehensive kit meets and exceeds OSHA ANSI/ ISEA 2015 guidelines for 100 people. You will find sterile eyewash, antibiotic ointment, burn cream, instant cold compress, and first aid guides in English and Spanish in the kit. The case has tilting shelves to access the items in the box easily.
Be Smart Get Prepared – 351 Piece First Aid Kit – Exceeds OSHA ANSI/ISEA Standards for 100 People
Rapid Care First Aid with 16 oz Eye Wash Station with First Aid Kit
Some industries require an eyewash station. This kit is OSHA/ANSI and FDA compliant for eyewash, and it also includes a 25-person first aid kit. The eyewash kit comes with a 16 oz bottle of a sterile isotonic buffered solution.
You can use it to flush or rinse eyes to clear dust, chemicals, and other foreign material and relieve itching and burning of eyes and skin.
Rapid Care First Aid, 16 oz Eye Wash Station with First Aid Kit, OSHA/ANSI & FDA Compliant
M2 BASICS 350 Piece Emergency First Aid Kit
This heavy-duty plastic kit comes with over 350 pieces of first aid supplies to treat the most common workplace injuries. The two-layer case can store large and small items and features tilting shelves for easy access. This case is mountable and comes with a hardcover first aid guide.
M2 BASICS 350 Piece Emergency First Aid Kit
Rapid Care First Aid 25 person 166 Piece ANSI/OSHA Compliant First Aid Kit
Rapid Care’s 166-piece first aid kit is compliant with ANSI standards and meets or exceeds federal OSHA regulations. It has enough supplies included for up to 25 people and comes in a moisture-resistant poly case.
Rapid Care First Aid 166 Piece ANSI/OSHA Compliant First Aid Kit in Wall Mountable Case
NOVAMEDIC Compact First Aid 10 Person Kit
Another compact kit, this NOVAMEDIC first aid kit is perfectly sized to hold an array of essential medical supplies, yet compact enough to easily fit into a desk drawer. It also has a wall mount on the top of the case so it can be hung up anywhere. This 5″x3″x8” kit comes with 102 pieces of common first aid supplies.
NOVAMEDIC Compact 10-person first aid kits with 102 Pieces Medical Supplies & Essentials
OSHA Class B First Aid Kit Plastic Box by MFASCO
This is an ANSI and OSHA-approved class b first aid kit. Included are gloves, eye pads, hand sanitizer, burn spray, burn dressing, and more. This small plastic kit measures 9.5 x 9.5 x 3 inches deep and has a rubber gasket to keep out moisture and dust
OSHA Class B First Aid Kits Plastic Box by MFASCO
OSHA Class A 2 Shelf Metal First Aid Kit
This class A first aid kit comes with over 400 pieces of first aid supplies and equipment, including extra cold packs, cold spray and Water Jel burn gel, making this a good kit for restaurants and other businesses where burns may occur. This first aid box has a door pouch storing smaller first aid items like tweezers and nitrile gloves. The overall dimensions are 17 x 13 x 6 inches and the kit weighs 11 pounds. It is designed to be wall-mounted.
First Aid Kits 2 Shelf Metal Cabinet OSHA Class A by MFASCO
Form An Emergency Plan
Every business should have an emergency plan that is communicated and understood by all employees. This can include evacuation routes, emergency contacts, and the roles of various individuals.
Here’s a brief checklist for quick reference:
- Regular emergency drills
- First aid training for employees
- Safety committee or designated safety officer
- Regularly check supplies for expiration
- Fixed, easily accessible location for the kit
- Consideration for specialized kits for your industry
- Regular restocking of used items
- A reliable first aid information guide
- Size and contents of the kit appropriate for the business size and industry
- Additional trained individuals for first aid
- Specialized equipment based on industry requirements
- Assigned person for first aid kit maintenance
- A well-communicated emergency plan
What are the different types of First Aid kits?
There are four different types of first aid kit containers:
- Type 1 – Intended to be stationary or mounted; for general indoor use
- Type 2 – Portable and should have a carrying handle; also for general indoor use
- Type 3 – Portable with a wall mounting option; for mobile, indoor, and sheltered outdoor use
- Type 4 – Portable but must have a mounting option, be waterproof and meet certain requirements for corrosion; commonly found in construction and transportation industries
What are Class A first aid kits?
Class A first aid kits contain basic first aid supplies to treat common injuries such as cuts, scrapes, and minor burns. These kits are most common in smaller, low-risk workplaces such as offices.
What are Class B first aid kits?
Class B kits contain a wider array of supplies to treat workplace injuries. Often times this means having a larger quantity of certain items available, such as burn dressing. This website gives a great list of the types of items needed for both classes of first aid kits.
What kinds of items can be found in first aid kits?
Certain items should be stocked in all first aid kits. Here are a few:
- Different sized sterile gauze pads
- Antiseptic wipes
- A mask or breathing barrier
- Adhesive bandages in several sizes
- A splint
What is the minimum number of first aid kits that should be provided in the workplace?
Most first aid kits display the number of people that can be treated with the available supplies. However, you may want to have multiple first aid kits available, or at the very least, keep your supplies well-stocked so you never run out.
How often do first aid supplies need to be checked?
Check your supplies frequently for items that need to be restocked as well as expired items. A good practice is to set a reminder on your computer or phone so you never forget.
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This article, “First Aid Kits for Businesses: Stay Prepared With Our Picks” was first published on Small Business Trends