First-Aid Readiness on the Job Site

The core of 1926.50:

• Medical personnel available for advice and consultation on occupational health (1926.50(a)).
• Provisions for prompt medical attention in case of serious injury, arranged before the project starts (1926.50(b)).
• Where no infirmary, clinic, hospital, or physician is reasonably accessible in terms of time and distance, a person with a valid first-aid certificate (American Red Cross or equivalent) available on site (1926.50(c)).
• First-aid supplies easily accessible when needed (1926.50(d)).
• Equipment for prompt transport of the injured, or a communication system to contact an ambulance (1926.50(e)).

The whole point of having trained responders and supplies on site is that professional care usually isn't next door. OSHA has interpreted the general-industry 'near proximity' standard to mean emergency care should be reachable in no more than about 3 to 4 minutes where serious injuries — like severe bleeding, electrocution, or cardiac arrest — are possible, and up to about 15 minutes for lower-hazard workplaces.

Those minutes are an OSHA interpretation (backed by review-commission and court decisions), not a number written into the standard itself. The takeaway for the crew is simple: don't count on the hospital being close. The care that happens in the first few minutes on site is often what matters most.

Being 'ready' isn't just the employer's job. Before you need it, know: who on your crew is first-aid trained, where the kit and any AED are, the site address and how responders will get in, and how to call for help.

The talks that follow cover the pieces — trained providers and medical services, kits and supplies, emergency communication, scene safety, bloodborne pathogens, and the common injuries you might face (bleeding, shock, burns, fractures, eye injuries, cardiac arrest). None of it replaces hands-on certified training; it makes sure you know the plan and can act instead of freeze.