
Construction Site First Aid Kit Requirements
If you work in construction, there’s one thing you should never overlook: your construction site first aid kit. It’s not just another safety checklist item—it’s a legal requirement and a real-time lifeline when accidents happen.
But figuring out what kind of kit you actually need can get confusing fast. Between ANSI standards, OSHA guidelines, kit “Classes” and “Types,” it’s easy to second-guess your purchase. That’s why we’re breaking it all down for you, plain and simple.
Need gear help now? Contact us and we’ll guide you to what fits your site best.
What Kind of Construction Site First Aid Kit Do You Need?
If you’re managing or working on a construction site, you need a Class B, Type IV ANSI-compliant first aid kit.
That’s the only combination built to handle both the serious injury risks of a construction site and the rugged conditions your kit will be exposed to—rain, impact, dirt, you name it. This is the industry gold standard for any real-world job site.
So what exactly does that mean? Let’s break it down.
Class B: The Right Contents for Construction Hazards
A Class B first aid kit is designed to handle high-risk environments. It contains more items—and more serious items—than a Class A kit. The idea is to be able to respond quickly and effectively to injuries that can actually happen on a construction site, not just paper cuts or blisters.
Core Supplies in a Class B Kit
These are the ANSI-required contents in a Class B kit, tailored for high-risk job sites:
Wound Care Essentials
- Large and small sterile gauze pads (3"x3", 4"x4")
- Trauma pads for heavy bleeding
- Roller bandages (2" and 4") for wrapping wounds or holding dressings in place
- Adhesive tape (5-yard rolls) to secure bandages
- Adhesive bandages (50+ count) for everyday cuts and scrapes
- Burn dressings (4"x4" gel-soaked) for fast treatment of minor to moderate burns
These items help treat bleeding, lacerations, and abrasions—the most common injuries on any site.
Personal Protection & CPR
- CPR face shield or barrier mask with a one-way valve
- Nitrile gloves (4 pairs minimum) to prevent contact with blood or bodily fluids
- Antiseptic wipes and hand sanitizer (non-alcohol, ANSI-approved)
- Eye protection pads and sterile eyewash (minimum 4 oz)
Construction sites kick up dust, metal, and wood particles. These items help protect both the injured and the responder.
Advanced Injury Response Tools
- Splints to immobilize suspected fractures
- Tourniquet to control severe bleeding until emergency responders arrive
- Scissors and tweezers for cutting gauze or removing debris
- A comprehensive first aid guide with treatment instructions
These are the items you hope you’ll never need—but when you do, they need to be there and ready to go.
Type IV: Built Tough for Jobsite Conditions
While Class B defines what’s inside the kit, Type IV determines how the kit is built. This part is especially important on a construction site, where the gear can get kicked, rained on, dropped, or shoved into the back of a truck.
Key Features of a Type IV First Aid Kit
Impact Resistance
Type IV kits are made from hard plastic or reinforced metal. They protect the contents inside even if dropped from a height or banged around during transport. This keeps sterile items safe and usable.
Water and Weather Resistance
Construction doesn’t stop for the weather, and neither should your first aid kit. Type IV kits are sealed to resist moisture, dust, and humidity—critical in outdoor or partially sheltered job sites.
Portability
All Type IV kits include sturdy handles, making them easy to move between trucks, site trailers, and job zones. They’re designed to go where the crew goes.
Mountable and Visible
Many kits come with mounting hardware or holes, so they can be affixed to walls or inside site trailers. This helps keep the first aid kit for construction site use highly visible and within quick reach during emergencies.
Why Class B, Type IV Is the Industry Standard
Meets Legal and Safety Requirements
Both OSHA and ANSI point to the Class B/Type IV combo as the most suitable for job sites where injury risks are high and environments are unpredictable. It checks all the boxes for first aid kit requirements in construction.
Prepared for Real Injuries
This isn’t just about passing inspections. Construction injuries range from deep cuts and fractures to burns, eye trauma, and shock. A construction site first aid kit needs to be ready for any of these scenarios—and Class B kits are.
Withstands the Environment
Rain, cold, heat, vibration, grime—construction sites are no place for a cardboard box of supplies. Type IV cases are up to the task.
Understanding the Two-Part System: Class vs. Type
A lot of folks confuse “Class” and “Type” when shopping for a construction site first aid kit, so here’s the simplest way to understand it:
- Class A or B tells you what’s inside the kit
- Type I through IV tells you how durable and portable the kit is
Let’s break each one down so you know exactly what you're dealing with.
How Many Classes of First Aid Kits Are There?
ANSI defines two kit classes based on the level of injury risk in the environment.
Class A Kits: The Basics
Class A kits are designed for low-risk environments like office spaces or retail settings. They include essential items like bandages, burn cream, antiseptic, and a CPR mask.
Class B Kits: Built for Job Sites
Class B is what your construction site first aid kit needs to be. These kits go beyond the basics. They include splints, trauma dressings, tourniquets, and eyewash—all tailored for environments where heavy equipment, tools, and hazards are everywhere.
For anyone asking about class A vs class B first aid kits, here’s your answer:
Class A = light-duty.
Class B = jobsite-ready.
First Aid Kit Types: Portability & Durability Explained
Once you’ve figured out the right class, you’ll need to choose the right type—this tells you whether the kit can stand up to the environment it's used in.
What Is a Type 1 First Aid Kit?
A Type 1 first aid kit is made for indoor, stationary use. It must be mounted and isn’t designed to move. It’s okay for clean, quiet environments—not construction.
Type 2 Kits: Portable, But Still Indoors
These are portable versions of Type 1 kits. Still meant for indoor use, like in warehouses or trailers, but not meant to handle rugged or outdoor environments.
Type 3 Kits: Indoor/Outdoor Flex Use
Type 3 kits are mountable, portable, and water-resistant. Good for outdoor or sheltered work—but not rugged construction.
Type 4 Kits: The Jobsite Warrior
A Type 4 kit is your go-to for construction. It’s water-resistant, impact-resistant, portable, and built to take abuse. This is the one you want for first aid kits for construction sites.
If you’re still asking what is a type 1 first aid kit, now you know—and you also know that Type 4 is the only real answer for construction.
What Makes ANSI First Aid Kits So Important?
When you hear “ANSI first aid kits,” it means the kit meets standards laid out by the American National Standards Institute, specifically ANSI Z308.1-2015. OSHA references these exact standards when inspecting worksites.
A compliant construction site first aid kit must include:
- Wound dressings and trauma pads
- Eye protection and eyewash
- Splints and tourniquets
- Scissors, gloves, CPR mask
- And enough of each item to meet minimum quantity standards
Each item must be properly sealed, labeled, and tamper-evident.
First Aid Kit Requirements for Your Workplace
So what are the actual first aid kit requirements you’re expected to meet?
The minimum requirements for first aid kits in the workplace depend on jobsite risk level. Construction sites fall under high risk, which is why class B first aid kit requirements exist in the first place.
You also need to factor in where and how the kit is used. A first aid kit for construction site settings must be both comprehensive (Class B) and rugged (Type IV).
Want more details? OSHA provides a solid baseline in their protective equipment guide and construction safety training portal.
Kit Maintenance and Site Compliance
Do First Aid Kits Expire?
Yes. Most items in a construction site first aid kit—especially antiseptics, burn dressings, and medications—have expiration dates. If they’re expired, you’re not compliant.
Can You Lock Your First Aid Kit?
You can, but only if someone with a key is always present. The kit must be accessible during all working hours.
What About Unitized Kits?
ANSI no longer requires unitized packaging, but many kits still use it. It helps organize supplies by category using color codes. For example:
- Blue = antiseptics
- Red = burn treatments
- Orange = PPE
- Green = other gear
This setup makes inspection and restocking easier, especially on large sites.
Don’t Forget the Rest of Your PPE
Having a proper construction site first aid kit is just the start. Keeping workers safe means preventing injuries in the first place—and that’s where head protection comes in.
TPR Industrial leads the way in Type 2 head protection, offering gear that’s ANSI-certified and made to last:
Explore:
We use WaveCel science to add advanced impact protection that reduces rotational and linear force injuries. If you’re comparing type i and type ii hard hats explained, or figuring out hard hat colors and their meaning, we’ve got those answers too.
FAQs About Construction Site First Aid Kit Guidelines
How many construction site first aid kits do I need?
You need one kit per 25 employees. Large or multi-level sites may require multiple kits to meet access requirements.
Do ANSI kits meet OSHA standards?
Yes. OSHA recognizes ANSI Z308.1-2015 as the go-to standard for workplace first aid kits.
Are medications allowed in kits?
They are, but must be non-drowsy, single-dose, and tamper-evident.
What is a Type A first aid kit?
While not used often in commercial terms, some manufacturers label Class A kits as “Type A.” It’s another way of saying the kit meets basic requirements for low-risk spaces—not suitable for construction.
FAQs About TPR Industrial
Does TPR Industrial sell first aid kits?
We don’t—but we’re specialists in PPE that helps you avoid needing one in the first place. Our focus is on protective headgear that sets the standard.
What makes your gear different?
We co-developed WaveCel safety tech to bring cutting-edge helmet protection into industrial settings. You’re not just buying compliance—you’re buying impact defense that works.
Are your helmets ANSI compliant?
Yes. Every helmet we offer exceeds ANSI Z89.1-2014 and EN 12492:2012 standards.