Quick answer: ANSI/ISEA Z308.1-2026 is the updated national standard for workplace first aid kits. It was approved on September 15, 2026, and takes effect in March 2027. It requires bilingual English and Spanish first aid guides and stricter tourniquet performance, and adds new guidance on naloxone, bleeding control, mobile workers and trained responders.
The national standard for workplace first aid kits has been updated. The revision changes what goes in a compliant kit and adds new expectations for how employers prepare for emergencies. The time to review your first aid program is now, not after an incident exposes the gaps.
Want the full picture? Download our free ANSI/ISEA Z308.1-2026 Customer Guide for a side-by-side comparison with the 2021 edition, a facility readiness checklist and answers to common questions.
OSHA requires employers to keep adequate first aid supplies readily available (29 CFR 1910.151) and points to ANSI/ISEA Z308.1 as the benchmark for what an adequate kit contains. When the standard changes, the benchmark changes with it.
First aid guides must be bilingual. Every compliant kit now needs a first aid guide printed in both English and Spanish, written clearly enough that anyone can follow it in an emergency. Most kits in service today don’t meet this requirement.
Tourniquet requirements are stricter. Tourniquets must now stop severe bleeding within 90 seconds and hold for at least 15 minutes. The standard also warns about counterfeit tourniquets on the market. A tourniquet that fails when it’s needed can cost a life.
Some supply specifications have been revised. Requirements for items such as hand sanitizer and scissors have been updated, so it’s worth confirming your supplies match the current edition.
Hazard assessment carries more weight. Kit selection, quantities and placement should be based on your workplace’s actual risks. Choosing a kit by headcount alone, such as a “25-person kit,” is no longer considered adequate.
Emergency preparedness goes beyond the kit. The standard now includes guidance on:
Our Customer Guide includes a full compliance readiness checklist you can use at each facility.
This post is a summary. To see the full requirements, purchase ANSI/ISEA Z308.1-2026 directly from the International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA) at safetyequipment.org/first-aid-standard. The standard is a copyrighted document, so it isn’t something we’re able to share.
When someone at work is hurt, the right supplies and a trained responder can decide the outcome. The updated standard reflects today’s real workplace risks, from opioid emergencies to severe bleeding. Employers who act now will be compliant on time and, more importantly, ready when it counts.
As a member of the ISEA task group that developed the 2026 standard, Aero Healthcare can help you audit your kits and update them with products labeled to ANSI/ISEA Z308.1-2026.
Ready to get compliant? Download the Customer Guide, explore our first aid kits and bleed control kits, or contact our team to review your facilities before March 2027.
