ANSI/ISEA Z308.1: Class A vs B Kits, Contents, and Placement

The ANSI/ISEA Z308.1 standard for workplace first aid kits sets the minimum contents, quantities, container specifications, and performance requirements that a compliant kit must meet. It divides kits into two classes (A for lower-risk workplaces, B for higher-hazard environments) and four container types based on where the kit will live. OSHA has not adopted the standard as binding law, but its own regulation at 29 CFR 1910.151(b) requires “adequate first aid supplies,” and OSHA’s non-mandatory appendix points employers straight to Z308.1 as the reference framework.¹ Meeting Z308.1 is the cleanest way to show an inspector your supplies are reasonable.

Why a Voluntary Standard Still Matters for OSHA Compliance

ANSI standards become mandatory OSHA rules only if OSHA formally adopts them, and that has not happened with Z308.1.² What OSHA actually requires under 29 CFR 1910.151(b) is that when no infirmary, clinic, or hospital is close enough to treat injured workers, someone on-site must be trained in first aid and adequate supplies must be readily available.³

Appendix A to that regulation calls Z308.1 “an example of the minimal contents of a generic first aid kit,” while labeling the appendix “Non-Mandatory.”¹ Two consequences follow. An employer who stocks a Z308.1-compliant kit has strong documentation that supplies are reasonable. An employer who deviates from Z308.1 is not automatically in violation, as long as the supplies genuinely match the hazards on-site. And a kit that technically meets the standard but ignores obvious workplace-specific risks can still draw a citation under OSHA’s General Duty Clause.

Serious violations carry a maximum penalty of $16,550 as of the January 2025 inflation adjustment, and willful or repeated violations can reach $165,514 per violation.⁴ Actual assessments depend on hazard severity, employer size, and history.

Choosing Between Class A and Class B

Z308.1-2021, the current edition, splits kits into two classes based on three factors: how many workers the kit is expected to serve, the complexity of the work environment, and the level of hazards present.⁵

Class A kits handle the most common workplace injuries: small cuts, scrapes, minor burns, and similar low-severity events. They suit offices, small retail spaces, and light commercial settings with modest headcount and low trauma risk.

Class B kits carry significantly more of each supply and add items for severe bleeding, fractures, and multi-casualty situations. Manufacturing floors, construction sites, warehouses, and any workplace with heavy machinery or fall exposure generally call for Class B. Picking the right class starts with an honest hazard assessment rather than an assumption about what your industry usually stocks.

Class A Minimum Contents

A Class A kit covers the basics. The standard specifies minimum quantities and sizes for each item:⁵

Adhesive bandages: 16 (at least 1 x 3 inches)
Adhesive tape: 1 roll
Antibiotic ointment: 10 applications
Antiseptic: 10 applications
Breathing barrier: 1 (for rescue breathing)
Burn treatment: 1 application
Eye/skin wash: 1 bottle (minimum 4 fluid ounces)
Medical exam gloves: 2 pairs
Trauma pad: 1
Triangular bandage: 1

The full published standard includes additional line items such as hand sanitizer, a first aid guide, sterile pads, and roller bandages with specific size requirements. Buying a pre-assembled kit marked “Class A compliant” from a reputable vendor gets you the complete list. Anyone building or verifying a kit from scratch should reference the full Z308.1-2021 document for exact specifications.

Class B Minimum Contents

Class B scales up almost every Class A item and adds several categories that Class A leaves out. Higher quantities are the point: more people, more severe injuries, or both.

Adhesive bandages: 50
Adhesive tape: 2 rolls
Antibiotic ointment: 25 applications
Antiseptic: 50 applications
Breathing barrier: 1
Burn dressing (gel-soaked): 2 (at least 4 x 4 inches)
Burn treatment: 25 applications
Cold packs: 2
Eye coverings: 2 (with means of attachment)
Eye/skin wash: 1 bottle (minimum 4 fluid ounces)
Foil blanket: 1
Hand sanitizer: 20 applications
Medical exam gloves: 4 pairs
Roller bandages: 2 at 2 inches wide and 1 at 4 inches wide
Scissors: 1 pair
Splint: 1 (padded, at least 4 inches wide)
Sterile pads: 4 (at least 3 x 3 inches)
Tourniquet: 1 (at least 1.5 inches wide)
Trauma pads: 4 (at least 5 x 9 inches)
Triangular bandages: 2
First aid guide: 1

The tourniquet is worth a closer look. The 2021 revision added it to the standard, reflecting updated emergency medicine guidance on stopping life-threatening limb bleeding. If your Class B kit predates the 2021 edition, check for this item specifically and add one if it’s missing.

Container Types I Through IV

Z308.1 sorts containers into four types based on where and how the kit will be used. Every type must pass corrosion resistance and mounting stability tests to remain functional over its service life.⁵

Type I: stationary, indoor use. Typically wall-mounted in a breakroom, hallway, or office area where it stays put and faces minimal environmental stress.
Type II: portable, indoor use. Must include a carry handle and be designed so contents do not spill when someone grabs it and moves quickly to a scene.
Type III: portable use in mobile, indoor, or outdoor settings with limited moisture exposure. Must include a water-resistant seal. Common in delivery vehicles and light-duty work trucks.
Type IV: the highest protection tier, engineered for heavy industry and full outdoor exposure. Must meet performance guidelines for corrosion, moisture, and impact resistance, standing up to harsh weather and rough handling on active job sites.

Container type is independent of kit class. A Class A kit inside a Type IV container works for a small crew doing occasional outdoor work. A Class B kit inside a Type I container fits a large indoor manufacturing floor. Match the container to the environment and the class to the workforce and hazard level.

Where to Put the Kit and How Fast Workers Can Reach It

Right supplies, wrong location, still a problem. OSHA reads “near proximity” in 29 CFR 1910.151(b) through a time-based lens: in workplaces where serious injuries like falls, amputations, or electrocution are possible, emergency care must be available within three to four minutes.⁶ For lower-risk environments like offices, OSHA considers response times of up to 15 minutes reasonable.

Those windows cover the gap between when the injury happens and when the worker receives some form of care. In a sprawling facility, that means placing multiple kits across the floor rather than relying on one central station. For crews that change location, portable Type III or Type IV containers should travel with them. Locking a kit inside a supervisor’s office or burying it in a storage closet defeats the point. Everyone on-site should know where the nearest kit sits without having to ask.

Inspection and Restocking

A kit that looked compliant six months ago may not be today. OSHA’s guidance directs employers to assess site-specific needs “periodically” and augment kits appropriately.¹ OSHA does not set a fixed inspection interval. Most safety professionals default to monthly checks because that cadence balances diligence and workload and is easy to defend during an audit.

During each inspection, verify that every item required for the kit’s class is present, sealed, and within its manufacturer’s expiration date. Ointments, eyewash solutions, and antiseptic applications tend to expire first. Any supply that has been opened, partially used, or shows packaging damage should be replaced. Keeping a log inside the container door with the inspector’s name, date, and any items replaced creates a paper trail that shows good faith if OSHA reviews your program.

Restocking works best when you keep a small surplus of the most-used items (bandages, gloves, antiseptic) on hand so a kit can be refilled right after an incident instead of sitting incomplete until the next supply order. If an inspection turns up a missing mandated item, the kit is non-compliant until it is replenished. Documenting the gap and the corrective action matters more than the gap itself.

Going Beyond the Minimum

Z308.1 sets a floor, not a ceiling. OSHA’s appendix explicitly tells employers to exceed the standard when the workplace carries risks a generic kit does not address.¹ The appendix recommends three approaches to figure out what to add:

Reviewing your OSHA 300 and 301 logs for recurring injury types
Consulting with local fire and rescue departments or emergency rooms
Getting input from a medical professional familiar with your operations

A woodworking shop might add extra trauma pads and hemostatic gauze. A chemical processing plant needs dedicated eyewash stations well beyond the small bottle in a standard kit. A workplace where opioid exposure is a concern could add naloxone. The assessment should be ongoing rather than a one-time check when the kit is first purchased.

When employees are expected to use first aid supplies in situations involving blood or other potentially infectious materials, the employer must also provide appropriate personal protective equipment under the Bloodborne Pathogens standard (29 CFR 1910.1030). The gloves already required in every Z308.1 kit are a start. Higher-exposure scenarios may call for face shields, gowns, or eye protection beyond what the standard kit contains.

1
Occupational Safety and Health Administration. 1910.151 App A – First Aid Kits (Non-Mandatory)
2
The ANSI Blog. Workplace First Aid Kit Requirements: OSHA and ANSI Z308.1
3
eCFR. 29 CFR 1910.151 – Medical Services and First Aid
4
Occupational Safety and Health Administration. OSHA Penalties
5
The ANSI Blog. Workplace First Aid Kits – ANSI/ISEA Z308.1-2021
6
Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Clarification of In Near Proximity and OSHA Discretion in Enforcing First Aid Requirements in Particular Cases