The following guidance details the requirements for first aid kits and chemical spill kits required to be present in your hazardous chemical laboratory. Following these guidelines will allow you to adequately prepare for minor injuries and spills, as well as maintain compliance with the Laboratory Chemical Safety Program. A Principal Investigator (PI) or laboratory supervisor listed as the Approval Holder (AH) for a laboratory (or a set of laboratories) may share a first aid kit and a spill kit between their contiguous laboratories. PI’s sharing a lab space may share one first aid kit and spill kit per unique lab space/room. The Common Purchase List For Chemical Safety can help provide information for the lab safety equipment when ready to obtain.
First Aid Kit
Every laboratory is required to have a first aid kit, with its location known to every laboratory worker. These kits may be purchased locally (e.g. Physicians Care All Purpose Kit) for a low price or created on your own. A first aid kit in a hazardous chemical laboratory must contain at least the minimum requirements required by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI/ISEA Z308.1 2015).
Minimum Requirements for Workplace First Aid Kits and Supplies Basic Kit
| ITEM | MINIMUM QUANTITY |
| Absorbent compress, 32 sq. in. | 1 |
| Adhesive bandages, 1 in. x 3 in. | 16 |
| Adhesive tape, 3/8 in. x 2.5 yd. total | 1 |
| Antibiotic treatment, 0.14 fl. Oz. (0.9 g) | 6 |
| Antiseptic,0.14 fl. Oz. (0.5 g) application | 10 |
| Burn treatment, 1/32 oz. (0.9 g) application | 6 |
| First Aid Guide | 1 |
| Medical Exam Gloves | 2 pairs |
| Sterile pads, 3 in. x 3 in. | 1 |
| Triangular bandage, 40 in. x 40 in. 56 in | 1 |
Chemical Spill Kits
A chemical spill kit is required in every laboratory to prepare for minor chemical spills. In case of a minor chemical spill, every laboratory needs to have the following items available in a consolidated, portable kit:
- Absorbent materials, such as pillows, pads, etc.
- Neutralizing materials (sodium bicarbonate for acids and citric acid for bases)
- Only required if the laboratory uses or stores corrosives
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as gloves, laboratory coat and splash goggles
- Dustpan and broom to aid in the cleanup of solid spills.
Components of a chemical spill kit must be consolidated within a portable kit, whenever possible. If components must be kept outside the consolidated kit, their location must be detailed in written instructions inside the kit container. Chemical spill kits may be combined with biological spill materials in one consolidated kit.