[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 29, Volume 8]
[Revised as of July 1, 2001]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 29CFR1926.50]

[Page 26-27]
 
                             TITLE 29--LABOR
 
CHAPTER XVII--OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT 
                                OF LABOR
 
PART 1926--SAFETY AND HEALTH REGULATIONS FOR CONSTRUCTION--Table of Contents
 
        Subpart D--Occupational Health and Environmental Controls
 
Sec. 1926.50  Medical services and first aid.

    Authority: Sec. 107, Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act 
(40 U.S.C. 333); secs. 4, 6, and 8, Occupational Safety and Health Act 
of 1970 (29 U.S.C. 653, 655, 657); Secretary of Labor's Order No. 12-71 
(36 FR 8754), 8-76 (41 FR 25059), 9-83 (48 FR 35736), or 6-96 (62 FR 
111), as applicable; and 29 CFR part 1911.


    (a) The employer shall insure the availability of medical personnel 
for advice and consultation on matters of occupational health.
    (b) Provisions shall be made prior to commencement of the project 
for prompt medical attention in case of serious injury.
    (c) In the absence of an infirmary, clinic, hospital, or physician, 
that is reasonably accessible in terms of time and distance to the 
worksite, which is available for the treatment of injured employees, a 
person who has a valid certificate in first-aid training from the U.S. 
Bureau of Mines, the American Red Cross, or equivalent training that can 
be verified by documentary evidence, shall be available at the worksite 
to render first aid.
    (d)(1) First aid supplies shall be easily accessible when required.
    (2) The contents of the first aid kit shall be placed in a 
weatherproof container with individual sealed packages for each type of 
item, and shall be checked by the employer before being sent out on each 
job and at least weekly on each job to ensure that the expended items 
are replaced.
    (e) Proper equipment for prompt transportation of the injured person 
to a physician or hospital, or a communication system for contacting 
necessary ambulance service, shall be provided.
    (f) In areas where 911 is not available, the telephone numbers of 
the physicians, hospitals, or ambulances shall be conspicuously posted.
    (g) Where the eyes or body of any person may be exposed to injurious 
corrosive materials, suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing 
of the eyes and body shall be provided within the work area for 
immediate emergency use.

       Appendix A to Sec. 1926.50--First aid Kits (Non-Mandatory)

    First aid supplies are required to be easily accessible under 
paragraph Sec. 1926.50(d)(1). An example of the minimal contents of a 
generic first aid kit is described in American National Standard (ANSI) 
Z308.1-1978 ``Minimum Requirements for Industrial Unit-Type First-aid 
Kits''. The contents of the kit listed in the ANSI standard should be 
adequate for small work sites. When larger operations or multiple 
operations are being conducted at the same location, employers should 
determine the need for additional first aid kits at the worksite, 
additional types of first aid equipment and supplies and additional 
quantities and types of supplies and equipment in the first aid kits.
    In a similar fashion, employers who have unique or changing first-
aid needs in their workplace, may need to enhance their first-aid kits. 
The employer can use the OSHA 200 log, OSHA 101's or other reports to 
identify these unique problems. Consultation from

[[Page 27]]

the local Fire/Rescue Department, appropriate medical professional, or 
local emergency room may be helpful to employers in these circumstances. 
By assessing the specific needs of their workplace, employers can ensure 
that reasonably anticipated supplies are available. Employers should 
assess the specific needs of their worksite periodically and augment the 
first aid kit appropriately.
    If it is reasonably anticipated employees will be exposed to blood 
or other potentially infectious materials while using first-aid 
supplies, employers should provide personal protective equipment (PPE). 
Appropriate PPE includes gloves, gowns, face shields, masks and eye 
protection (see ``Occupational Exposure to Blood borne Pathogens'', 29 
CFR 1910.1030(d)(3)) (56 FR 64175).

[44 FR 8577, Feb. 9, 1979; 44 FR 20940, Apr. 6, 1979, as amended at 49 
FR 18295, Apr. 30, 1984; 58 FR 35084, June 30, 1993; 61 FR 5510, Feb. 
13, 1996; 63 FR 33469, June 18, 1998]