OSHA first aid kit requirements 2026: Class A vs Class B
OSHA requires adequate first aid supplies to be readily available (29 CFR 1910.151(b)) but lists no items. Its appendix points to ANSI/ISEA Z308.1: Class A for common injuries, Class B with more supplies plus a splint and tourniquet, and a foil blanket since 2022. Construction kits must be weatherproof and checked weekly. Class A kits cost $88.62 to $231.43 (29 Oct 2026).
ANSI A kit, $88.62 Class A vs B list
01What does OSHA require for a first aid kit?
OSHA's general industry rule is one sentence: "Adequate first aid supplies shall be readily available"[1][3]. It does not list items. Its non-mandatory Appendix A points to the ANSI Z308.1 standard as an example of minimum kit contents for small worksites, and says larger or higher-risk sites may need more[1].
| Rule | What it says | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| 29 CFR 1910.151(b) | Adequate first aid supplies readily available; a trained person if no clinic is near | Most workplaces |
| 1910.151 Appendix A | ANSI Z308.1 as the example of minimum contents (non-mandatory) | Guidance for all |
| 29 CFR 1926.50(d)(2) | Weatherproof container, sealed packages, checked before each job and at least weekly | Construction |
| ANSI/ISEA Z308.1-2021 | Class A and Class B minimum fill; effective 15 Oct 2022 | The kit itself |
So the working rule is: buy a kit labeled ANSI/ISEA Z308.1 Class A or Class B, keep it where people can reach it quickly, and restock it. Construction sites add the weekly check[2].
02Class A vs Class B first aid kit: what goes in each
ANSI sets two minimum fills. Class A covers common injuries; Class B carries more of most items plus a splint, a second roller bandage and a tourniquet[5]. The 2021 edition kept both classes and made a foil blanket mandatory[4].
| Item (ANSI/ISEA Z308.1 minimum) | Class A | Class B |
|---|---|---|
| Adhesive bandages, 1 x 3 in. | 16 | 50 |
| Adhesive tape, 2.5 yd total | 1 | 2 |
| Antibiotic application | 10 | 25 |
| Antiseptic | 10 | 50 |
| Breathing barrier | 1 | 1 |
| Burn dressing, 4 x 4 in. | 1 | 2 |
| Burn treatment | 10 | 25 |
| Cold pack, 4 x 5 in. | 1 | 2 |
| Eye covering | 2 | 2 |
| Eye/skin wash | 1 fl oz | 4 fl oz |
| First aid guide | 1 | 1 |
| Hand sanitizer | 6 | 10 |
| Medical exam gloves | 2 pair | 4 pair |
| Roller bandage, 2 in. x 4 yd | 1 | 2 |
| Roller bandage, 4 in. x 4 yd | 0 | 1 |
| Scissors | 1 | 1 |
| Splint, 4 x 24 in. | 0 | 1 |
| Sterile pad, 3 x 3 in. | 2 | 4 |
| Tourniquet | 0 | 1 |
| Trauma pad, 5 x 9 in. | 2 | 4 |
| Triangular bandage | 1 | 2 |
The quantities above are the 2015 minimum fill published by the University of Texas EHS office[5]; add the foil blanket required since the 2021 edition took effect on 15 October 2022[4].
03Which class does your workplace need?
ANSI ties the choice to a workplace hazard assessment[4]. In practice the split looks like this (research-based recommendation, check your own injury logs):
Lower risk, small sites
- Offices, retail, clinics, schools
- Cuts, minor burns, eye irritation
- Help nearby
Higher risk or remote
- Manufacturing, warehouses, construction
- Machinery, heavy bleeding risk
- EMS farther away
OSHA's appendix says the same thing in its own words: use injury records (OSHA 300 and 301 logs) and local fire, rescue or medical advice to decide what to add, and reassess periodically[1].
04How much does an OSHA compliant first aid kit cost?
At AED Leader and Response Ready, ANSI Class A kits run $88.62 to $231.43, checked 29 October 2026[6]. Neither store lists a kit labeled Class B on that date.
| Kit | Price (29 Oct 2026) | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Waterproof 16 Unit ANSI A Recommended | $88.62 | Offices and small sites, vehicles |
| 36 Unit ANSI A+ (metal, wall mount) | $231.43 | Larger sites; adds bloodborne pathogens and spill packs |
| MobileAid 50-Person Trauma | $294.95 | Groups up to 50, 255 pieces |
| Bleeding Control Kit, Standard | $56.95 | Adds a SWAT-T tourniquet and survival blanket |
| Bleeding Control Kit, Premium | $91.80 | Adds QuikClot dressing and chest seals |
$88.62 ANSI A kit + $56.95 bleeding control kit = $145.57[6]
That adds the tourniquet (a Class B item) and a survival blanket, but Class B also needs higher counts of most items, so a high-risk site should buy a kit labeled Class B[4][5].
Start with an ANSI Class A kit
Waterproof 16 Unit ANSI A first aid kit: $88.62. Add a bleeding control kit with tourniquet for $56.95. Prices checked 29 Oct 2026.
ANSI A first aid kit, $88.62 See it at Response Ready05Where to keep it and how often to check it
- Readily available: OSHA's own word[1]. Mount it on the main route, next to the AED if you have one, so one trip brings both.
- Construction: weatherproof container, sealed packages, checked before each job and at least weekly[2].
- Everyone else: check after every use and on a fixed date each month (research-based recommendation); log it with the AED maintenance checklist.
- Train someone: 1910.151(b) also requires a trained person when no clinic is near[1]; see OSHA first aid requirements.
- Blood exposure: if responders may touch blood, gloves and other protection are required under 1910.1030[1]; see bloodborne pathogens training.
A first aid kit does not cover cardiac arrest. Survival drops about 7 to 10 percent for each minute without CPR or a shock[7]; see what goes in an AED kit.
06OSHA first aid kit questions
Does OSHA require a first aid kit?
Yes, in effect. 29 CFR 1910.151(b) requires adequate first aid supplies to be readily available. OSHA does not list the items; its non-mandatory appendix points to the ANSI Z308.1 standard.
What is the difference between a Class A and Class B first aid kit?
Class A covers common injuries; Class B holds more of most items and adds a splint, a 4-inch roller bandage and a tourniquet. Class A has 16 adhesive bandages and Class B 50, under the ANSI minimum fill.
What changed in ANSI Z308.1-2021?
The 2021 edition, effective 15 October 2022, kept Class A and Class B, made a foil blanket mandatory, clarified tourniquets and expanded the workplace hazard assessment guidance.
How often should a first aid kit be checked under OSHA?
Construction rule 1926.50(d)(2) requires a check before each job and at least weekly. General industry has no set interval; check after every use and on a fixed monthly date.
Where should a first aid kit be located in the workplace?
Where it is readily available: on the main route, clearly marked and close to the people it serves. Larger or multi-floor sites need more than one kit.
How much does an OSHA compliant first aid kit cost?
ANSI Class A kits cost $88.62 to $231.43 at AED Leader and Response Ready (29 Oct 2026). A bleeding control kit with tourniquet adds $56.95.
Related guides
OSHA first aid requirements · OSHA CPR requirements · OSHA bloodborne pathogens training · Stop the Bleed certification · AED kit · CPR, AED and First Aid class
How we check: prices and plan terms are read from the live AED Leader and Response Ready listings on the date shown; rules are quoted from the eCFR and the published standard summaries listed under Sources. See our editorial standards and methodology. AED Best Brands is independent of AED manufacturers.
Sources
- eCFR, 29 CFR 1910.151 Medical services and first aid, and its non-mandatory Appendix A (text checked 29 Oct 2026).
- eCFR, 29 CFR 1926.50(d), first aid supplies in construction (text checked 29 Oct 2026).
- OSHA, Standard interpretation, 16 January 2007: "adequate first aid supplies shall be readily available".
- International Safety Equipment Association, ANSI/ISEA Z308.1-2021 Just the Facts: effective 15 October 2022, foil blanket now mandatory, expanded hazard assessment guidance.
- University of Texas at Austin EHS, First aid kit: ANSI/ISEA Z308.1-2015 minimum fill for Class A and Class B kits.
- AED Leader listings checked 29 Oct 2026 (Response Ready lists the same prices): Waterproof 16 Unit ANSI A kit $88.62, 36 Unit ANSI A+ kit $231.43 (metal, weatherproof, wall mountable, BBP and spill packs), MobileAid 50-Person Trauma kit $294.95 (255 pieces), Bleeding Control Kit Standard $56.95 (SWAT-T tourniquet, survival blanket), Bleeding Control Kit Premium $91.80 (adds QuikClot dressing and chest seals).
- American Heart Association, CPR Facts and Stats.
Updated 29 October 2026.