By: @Lilia Hernandez
The California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board (Cal/OSHA) is in the midst of a rulemaking to establish updated rules of compliance for first aid kits in the workplace. The proposed regulations seek to reduce injury for employees by establishing a requirement for readily accessible first aid kits for any job within three-to-four-minutes.
In addition to on-site requirements, this proposed requirement on employers may have implications off-site, including the use of rental cars and other off-site work. Cal/OSHA also established a certified list of required supplies that qualify as a Class A first aid kit under the American National Standard Institute and International Safety Equipment Association setting a standard of minimum requirements for employers to adhere by, as well as a list of various required first aid kit materials on instruction topics.
Under the proposed regulation, employers would be mandated to assess unique hazards and provide specialized supplies or quantities of kits. Lastly, employers that do not provide the new standard first aid kit in the workplace must consult a physician or licensed health care professional regarding their supply of first aid materials.
Following a public hearing in January, there is currently no set hearing date for board approval of the regulations that could potentially take effect this year. However, at least one set of revisions and a 15-day comment period are anticipated.
More details on these proposed regulations can be found on the First Aid Kits Rulemaking Page on the State of California Department of Industrial Relations website. Upon the issuance of the 15-day amendments, special districts wishing to comment on those revisions will find deadlines and other information, including instructions for comments, on the Cal/OSHA website.
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