OSHA stipulates that you must have a first aid kit on-site at your dealership, but what do you need in it? Federal OSHA Standard 1910.151(b) states that “Adequate first aid supplies shall be readily available.” In essence, this rule means that you must be prepared to treat minor injuries in the workplace.
OSHA’s short list of required first aid materials includes:
- Small gauze pads (at least 4 x 4 inches).
- Large gauze pads (at least 8 x 10 inches).
- Box adhesive bandages (Band-Aids).
- One package gauze roller bandage (at least 2 inches wide).
- Triangular bandages.
- Wound cleaning material (sealed towelettes).
- Scissors.
- Blankets (at least one).
- Tweezers.
- Adhesive tape.
- Latex gloves.
- Resuscitation equipment (resuscitation bag, airway, or pocket mask).
- Elastic wraps (at least two).
- Splint.
- Directions for requesting emergency assistance.
You can purchase a first aid kit to keep at your dealership, but there are a few things to keep in mind regarding what is required inside the kit and how it is maintained:
- If you choose to keep Over the Counter (OTC) ingestibles such as Aspirin and Antacids in your kit, they must be kept in sealed single dose packets.
- If OTC drugs are kept in your kit, they must be accompanied by a doctor’s note that indicates the allowance of the drugs in the kit.
- Employees should be made aware that the OTC drugs are available voluntarily for them; the company is not dispensing/disbursing medicines.
- Your kit must be accessible at a moment’s notice in case of emergency. It is better to have several basic kits dispersed across your dealership, rather than a single kit located in one area to allow for easy access.
- The first aid kit must be clearly marked.
- The kit is meant only for emergency use, not for daily needs. This should be made clear to employees.
- The first aid kit must be restocked immediately after each use.
