Medical services and first aid

Under 1910.151(a) the employer must ensure employees have ready access to medical personnel for advice and consultation on matters of plant health.

• "Ready availability" means the employer must make arrangements so that qualified medical professionals (for example, a physician, nurse, or other licensed provider) can be contacted and consulted promptly when health questions or concerns about workplace exposures arise.
• This can be accomplished by on-site staff, an on-call arrangement, or an outside clinic/provider as long as timely consultation is assured for the workplace hazards and work schedules.

Cited authority: 1910.151(a).

Under 1910.151(b) the employer must provide a person or persons adequately trained to render first aid when there is no infirmary, clinic, or hospital in near proximity to the workplace that is used for treating all injured employees.

• If a nearby medical facility is actually used for treating employees and can accept patients promptly, the employer may not need an on-site first aider.
• If that facility is not available for all shifts or would not provide timely treatment for the workplace hazards, the employer must ensure trained first aid personnel and adequate first aid supplies are readily available.

Cited authority: 1910.151(b).

Under 1910.151(b) the employer must evaluate whether a nearby infirmary, clinic, or hospital is actually available and used for treating all injured employees; if not, trained first-aid personnel are required.

• Consider travel time, emergency vehicle access, time of day/shift coverage, and whether the facility will accept and treat work injuries promptly.
• Also consider the nature and severity of workplace hazards—high-risk workplaces need faster access to care.
• If reliance on an external facility would delay treatment or is uncertain for any shift, the employer should provide trained first aiders on site.

Cited authority: 1910.151(b).

Under 1910.151(b) the employer must ensure the designated person(s) have adequate training to render first aid appropriate to the workplace hazards.

• Adequate training means the person can recognize and provide initial, potentially life‑saving care (for example, control bleeding, treat for shock, manage airway emergencies) and knows how to summon emergency medical services.
• Employers commonly use accredited first-aid/CPR courses (Red Cross, OSHA-authorized providers, or equivalent) and should tailor training to the specific hazards present.
• Training must be refreshed as needed to maintain competence and account for any changes in workplace hazards or staffing.

Cited authority: 1910.151(b).

Under 1910.151(b) the employer must make adequate first aid supplies readily available.

• "Adequate" means the supplies should match the nature and scale of workplace hazards (e.g., burn dressings where thermal or chemical burns are a risk; eye irrigation for splash hazards).
• Supplies should be organized, maintained, and easily accessible during all shifts; employers should replace used or expired items promptly.
• Employers should document where supplies are kept and ensure employees and trained first aiders know how to access them.

Cited authority: 1910.151(b).

Under 1910.151(c) the employer must provide suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes and body where the eyes or body of any person may be exposed to injurious corrosive materials.

• The requirement applies whenever corrosive materials are present in a way that could expose workers (for example, splashes, spills, or spray operations).
• Facilities must be located within the work area so they are available for immediate emergency use.

Cited authority: 1910.151(c).

Under 1910.151(c) a "suitable" eyewash or drench facility is one that provides immediate, effective flushing for the type of corrosive hazard present.

• Practical features include: immediate activation without tools, hands‑free operation when possible, adequate flow to flush eyes/body, location within the work area to permit prompt use, and clear access (no obstructions).
• Employers should match the facility type (eyewash station, combination eye/face wash, emergency shower) to the exposure risks and ensure regular inspection and maintenance so the device is ready when needed.

Cited authority: 1910.151(c).

Under 1910.151(c) the eyewash or drench facility must be provided "within the work area for immediate emergency use," meaning it must be close enough that an exposed worker can begin flushing without delay.

• Employers should place facilities so response to an exposure is immediate; distance or travel time must not cause a harmful delay.
• Factors to consider include the severity of the corrosive, layout of the work area, and whether PPE or other controls might slow access; if in doubt, place the facility closer.

Cited authority: 1910.151(c).

Under 1910.151(b) an employer may rely on external medical facilities if a nearby infirmary/clinic/hospital is actually used for treating all injured employees and can do so promptly; otherwise the employer must provide trained first aiders and supplies on site.

• If EMS response or hospital access would cause delays that could worsen common workplace injuries, on-site trained first aid personnel and supplies are required.
• The employer must assess response times, facility availability for work injuries, and the severity of workplace hazards before deciding to rely solely on external emergency services.

Cited authority: 1910.151(b).

Under 1910.151(a) the standard does not require a specific professional title; employers must ensure ready availability of medical personnel qualified to provide advice and consultation on plant health.

• A physician, registered nurse, physician assistant, occupational health nurse, or other health professional may fulfill the requirement if they are qualified to advise on the workplace health issues at hand.
• The key is that the provider can give timely, competent medical advice tailored to the workplace hazards.

Cited authority: 1910.151(a).

Under 1910.151(a) and 1910.151(b), employers are required to ensure ready availability of medical personnel for advice and consultation and to provide trained first aiders and supplies when no nearby facility treats employees; the standard does not mandate a full on-site medical clinic in every workplace.

• Employers must assess hazards and available local medical resources; where on-site services are necessary (because of distance, severity of hazards, or specific workplace needs), the employer must provide them.
• The obligation is performance-based: ensure timely medical advice and initial care, not necessarily an on-site hospital.

Cited authority: 1910.151(a) and 1910.151(b).

Under 1910.151(c) employers must provide suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing where corrosive exposures are possible; maintaining and testing that equipment is necessary to ensure it will work in an emergency.

• Regular inspection, flushing, and maintenance help ensure adequate flow and cleanliness so the equipment is ready for immediate use.
• Employers should keep records of inspections and repairs and train employees on the location and use of the equipment to avoid delays during an exposure.

Cited authority: 1910.151(c).

Under 1910.151(b) the employer must provide an adequate number of trained first aiders based on workplace size, shift patterns, and hazards; the standard does not prescribe a numeric minimum.

• Employers should ensure at least one trained person is available on every shift and that coverage accounts for breaks, vacations, and multiple work areas.
• High‑hazard or large sites may need multiple trained responders and a documented plan for ensuring coverage at all times.

Cited authority: 1910.151(b).

No, 1910.151(b) requires trained personnel and adequate supplies but does not itself require written training records or incident logs.

• Employers often keep training documentation and incident records as good practice and to demonstrate compliance, but any specific recordkeeping requirements would come from other OSHA standards or employer policies.

Cited authority: 1910.151(b).

Yes. While 1910.151(c) requires drenching/eyewash facilities for corrosives, employers must also consider atmospheric hazards (including oxygen‑deficient atmospheres) and protect responders accordingly.

• For civilian employees, OSHA's respiratory protection rules apply to oxygen-deficient atmospheres; such atmospheres are considered immediately dangerous to life and health (IDLH) and require appropriate respiratory protection and rescue planning as discussed in the OSHA interpretation on oxygen‑deficient atmospheres: https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2024-07-16.
• Employers should not send unprotected first-aid responders into an oxygen-deficient atmosphere; ensure responders have appropriate PPE and training, or wait for qualified rescue personnel.

Cited authority: 1910.151(c) and OSHA interpretation on oxygen‑deficient atmospheres (https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2024-07-16).

Under 1910.151(a) remote medical consultation (for example, telemedicine) can satisfy the requirement if it provides timely, competent advice and consultation for workplace health issues.

• Telemedicine is acceptable when it gives employees or on-site responders immediate access to qualified medical personnel for assessment and direction that addresses the workplace hazards and timing needs.
• Employers must ensure the remote service is reliable, available when needed, and that on-site staff know how to contact and follow recommendations from the remote provider.

Cited authority: 1910.151(a).

Under 1910.151(b) the employer must ensure trained persons can render adequate first aid; the standard does not list specific topics, so CPR and AED training are required only if they are needed given the workplace hazards and response times.

• Where cardiac arrest is a foreseeable risk or EMS response would be delayed, CPR and AED training are good practice and often necessary to provide adequate on-site care.
• Employers should assess workplace risks and ensure training content (CPR/AED inclusion) matches those risks.

Cited authority: 1910.151(b).

Under 1910.151(c) employers must provide quick drenching or flushing facilities where eyes or body may be exposed to injurious corrosive materials, which includes storage areas if exposures (for example, spills or leaks) could harm workers.

• If workers handle, transfer, inspect, or could be exposed to leaks or spills in the storage area, place suitable eyewash/flush facilities in that work area for immediate use.
• If storage is completely sealed and workers never enter the immediate storage area, the need depends on whether employees could be exposed during normal operations or emergencies.

Cited authority: 1910.151(c).

Under 1910.151(b) the employer must provide a person or persons adequately trained to render first aid where there is no nearby infirmary/clinic/hospital used for treating all injured employees, so simply providing kits without trained personnel will not meet the requirement when no nearby medical facility is available.

• In remote work where medical facilities are not in near proximity or response would be delayed, employers should ensure both adequate first aid supplies and trained personnel are available on site or on every shift.

Cited authority: 1910.151(b).

Yes. Under 1910.151(a)–(c) employers must ensure medical advice/consultation and first‑aid arrangements that match workplace hazards, and the presence of highly hazardous chemicals may require enhanced medical planning and immediate-response capabilities.

• For example, storage or handling of large quantities of hazardous chemicals (discussed in OSHA's PSM interpretation about flammable gases: https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2024-06-06) increases the likelihood of serious incidents and supports the need for on-site trained medical personnel, specialized first-aid supplies, emergency decontamination, and coordination with emergency responders.
• Employers should assess chemical hazards and ensure medical coverage, decontamination facilities, and responder PPE/training are appropriate for the risks.

Cited authority: 1910.151 and OSHA interpretation on PSM and flammable gas aggregation (https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2024-06-06).