29 CFR 1910.151: OSHA Medical Services and First Aid

Regulatory citation: 29 CFR 1910.151, Medical Services and First Aid (general industry); 29 CFR 1926.50 (construction)

What Is OSHA's Medical Services and First Aid Standard?

29 CFR 1910.151 requires general industry employers to make sure injured employees can get prompt first aid and medical help. It covers access to medical advice, trained first aid providers, first aid supplies and facilities for flushing the eyes and body after exposure to corrosive materials.

Why First Aid Readiness Matters

For injuries such as severe bleeding, stopped breathing or chemical splashes to the eyes, the first few minutes decide the outcome. The standard makes sure help is available quickly, wherever employees are working.

Core Requirements

1. Medical Personnel for Advice

Employers must ensure medical personnel are readily available for advice and consultation on matters of workplace health.

2. Trained First Aid Providers

Where there is no infirmary, clinic or hospital in near proximity to the workplace for treating injured employees, a person or persons must be adequately trained to render first aid. OSHA has interpreted near proximity to mean emergency care is available within 3 to 4 minutes in workplaces where serious injuries such as suffocation, electrocution or severe bleeding could occur, and within about 15 minutes in lower-hazard workplaces.

3. First Aid Supplies

Adequate first aid supplies must be readily available. OSHA's non-mandatory appendix points to ANSI/ISEA Z308.1 as a reference for basic kit contents, and employers should add items for their specific hazards.

4. Eyewash and Drench Facilities

Where the eyes or body of any person may be exposed to injurious corrosive materials, suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing must be provided within the work area for immediate emergency use.

Common Compliance Approaches

Measure Real Response Times

Check how long it would actually take emergency services to reach each work area, including remote sites and night shifts, before deciding whether on-site first aiders are needed.

Follow ANSI Z358.1 for Eyewashes

Many employers use the ANSI Z358.1 consensus standard for eyewash location, flow and weekly activation checks.

Plan for Lone and Remote Workers

Workers who are alone or far from help need a reliable way to raise the alarm and a plan for how first aid will reach them.

Example: First Aid Readiness in Practice

A rural sawmill is 25 minutes from the nearest hospital. Because serious lacerations and amputations are possible, it trains at least two workers per shift in first aid and bleeding control, stocks trauma kits near each saw line, and installs a plumbed eyewash station beside the area where corrosive wood treatment chemicals are mixed. First aiders are also covered by the mill's bloodborne pathogens program.

Related regulations: OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens, OSHA Emergency Action Plans, WHS first aid and emergency plans.

Note: This summary reflects federal OSHA requirements. States with OSHA-approved State Plans may have additional or different requirements. Always check the current regulation text and any state rules that apply to you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does OSHA require first aid trained employees?

Yes, where there is no infirmary, clinic or hospital in near proximity to the workplace. OSHA has interpreted this as 3 to 4 minutes for workplaces where life-threatening injuries are possible, and up to about 15 minutes for lower-hazard workplaces.

What should be in an OSHA first aid kit?

OSHA doesn't list required contents, but its non-mandatory appendix refers to ANSI/ISEA Z308.1 for basic kit contents. Employers should add supplies based on their specific hazards, such as trauma dressings or burn treatments.

When is an eyewash station required by OSHA?

An eyewash or drench facility is required where the eyes or body of any person may be exposed to injurious corrosive materials. It must be within the work area for immediate emergency use.