OSHA Compliance

Maintaining a safe and compliant workplace is not only a legal requirement—it’s essential for protecting your employees and creating a secure environment where work can continue smoothly. At Larson’s Medical Supply, we help businesses stay compliant with OSHA and ANSI standards by ensuring their first aid kits, safety equipment, and workplace programs meet current regulations. Use this quick guide to understand the basics and review your workplace for compliance.

What is OSHA?

OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) is the federal agency responsible for establishing and enforcing workplace safety laws in the United States.
OSHA requires employers to provide safe working conditions, proper safety equipment, and accessible first aid supplies. OSHA also outlines which items must be included in workplace first aid kits and mandates that supplies be readily available and properly maintained.

In short: OSHA sets the legal requirements for workplace safety.

What is ANSI?

ANSI (American National Standards Institute) is a private organization that creates widely accepted safety and product standards, including detailed recommendations for workplace first aid kits.
While ANSI standards are not laws, they provide guidance on what items should be included in first aid kits based on workplace size, risk level, and environment.

In short: ANSI provides the recommended best practices to help workplaces meet or exceed safety expectations.

What’s the Difference Between OSHA and ANSI?

• OSHA = Mandatory compliance.
OSHA’s rules are federal law and must be followed.

• ANSI = Recommended standards.
ANSI provides detailed guidelines that help employers meet OSHA’s expectations and improve workplace safety.

How they work together:
OSHA requires that first aid supplies be “adequate and available,” but ANSI helps define what “adequate” looks like through its specific kit requirements (Class A, Class B kits, etc.).

Use this checklist to make sure your workplace meets essential safety requirements:

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✔ First Aid Kit Requirements

• First aid kits are fully stocked according to ANSI/ISEA Z308.1 standards

• Kits include required items based on workplace type (Class A or Class B)

• Kits are inspected regularly and restocked as needed

• All employees know where first aid kits are located

• Kits are easily accessible and not locked or blocked

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✔ Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

• Adequate PPE is available for job-specific tasks (gloves, masks, eye protection, etc.)

• Employees are trained on how and when to use PPE

• PPE is in good condition and replaced when damaged or expired

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✔ Emergency Equipment

• Eyewash stations are available where chemicals or debris hazards exist

• Eyewash units are inspected and serviced regularly

• AEDs (Automated External Defibrillators) are present (when required or recommended)

AEDs are maintained, with pads and batteries up to date

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✔ Workplace Training

• Employees receive general safety training appropriate to their job

• Staff know how to report injuries and hazards

• At least one trained first aid responder is available during all shifts (as recommended by OSHA)

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✔ Incident and Safety Management

• Workplace has a clear injury/incident reporting process

• Logs of kits, AEDs, and eyewash inspections are maintained

• Safety procedures and emergency plans are up to date and accessible

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✔ Hazard Prevention & Controls

• Safety hazards are identified, corrected, and documented

• Proper labeling and signage are in place

• Spill kits or hazardous material response items are available when required

What's the difference between Class A and Class B?

• Class A - As set by ANSI in 2015, Class A kits are designed for traditional office spaces and non-hazardous work environments.

• Class B - These kits are designed for higher-risk work environments, such as factories and construction sites. In addition to all of the items found in a Class A kit, are also equipped with life-saving equipment including a tourniquet and splint.

What supplies come with each class?

Every workplace comes with different risks, so every one of our kits are designed to meet your needs whatever they might be. In a Class A kit, you can expect to find all of the basics including bandages, ointments, and gloves. They also include a First Aid Guide and a CPR Breathing Barrier so you can be prepared in a worst-case scenario.

Class B kits are designed to triage life-threatening emergencies. They are equipped with higher quantities of everything found in a Class A kit, plus a tourniquet, splint, and larger trauma bandages to protect your employees before help arrives.