Fire Aid Kit items
Dears,
Appreciated efforts. Need help with 2 questions:
1. I wanted to see if it is acceptable to include acetaminophen or ibuprofen or other pain relievers in a first aid kit to treat headache?
I checked OSHA: Appendix A to § 1910.266 - First-Aid Kits (Mandatory) and I don't see medicines as required in first aid kits items.
I wanted to double check if OSHA or other regulators mandate to have medicines or prevent having it (for overdose / misuse... etc) ?
2. Is it acceptable to include forehead thermometer and a blood pressure device? assuming staff are trained to use and know how to read initial readings until EMT comes.
Thank you all,
Comments (8)
Neither OSHA or ANSI Z308.1 specify any requirements for medications in first aid kits, so it's up to you, as the employer, to decide if you want to include that. Same concept on the BP cuff and thermometer.
You would just need to outline who and why workers could use it. If you're using it for first aid purposes, people need to be properly trained. For example, someone having chest pain from an asthma attack should not take ibuprofen because it can make the situation worse, and should take acetaminophen instead.
Make sure any reusable items, such as the BP cuff and thermometer, as properly sanitized in between uses, as well.
There is nothing about medications in OSHA or ANSI. My concerns are those of an old Personnel Manager. I am more worried about the liability issues of only First Aid trained people giving medication. So I am more worried about HR/Liability over OHS.
In my former life Corporate Policy did not allow us to have any medication in our First Aid Rooms or First Aid kits (at small locations). We did get away with having Tylenol and Cough Drops in the vending machines in the lunchroom till one day we had a Corporate EHS visit and the Corp Auditor saw them. We then got direct orders to remove those too.
Back in 2017 when I retired we had a big controversy over Eppy (sp?) Pens and Insulin Injectors. As I left we got directions we could allow visiting RNs administer medication but no one below that level of medical care. We could however hand an employee their medication and they could inject themselves. If the employee was unconscious we were told to call 911. I was happy when I retired from that world!
Consult you insurance company (WC and Liability), HR, Corporate Policy, & you local Occ Health providers!
I stopped providing acetaminophen and ibuprofen first because of the cost of prepackaged pain meds. It was outrageous for a box 50-100 packets compared to around $5.00 for a generic bottle in the store. Plus, my old manager, who was our HR manager, once had to take a an employee to the ER at a former employer after they tried to overdose on them. I've had techs argue with me that everywhere else they provided them. That being said, our office manager at that particular location does keep a bottle on hand which I told him he is welcome to ask her it.
We do have a forehead thermometer somewhere around here that was purchased during the height of COVID in the event "we would end up going down the route of taking everyone's temps as they arrived." (thankfully we did not get to that point.)