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General product and standards information, not medical advice. For an injury or illness, contact emergency services or a clinician.
Short answer: a wall-mounted first aid kit is the kit type the ANSI/ISEA Z308.1 standard calls Type I: a kit used indoors and permanently mounted to a wall or other structure. OSHA itself sets no mounting rule. It requires first aid supplies to be “readily available.” This guide is for anyone choosing between a wall cabinet, a bag, a box or a hard container for a workplace, and who needs to know what the label should say.
Purpose and setting: wall mount, bag, box or container
Shoppers use four words for the same job: a kit that holds first aid supplies where people can reach them. The standard does not sort kits by those names. It sorts them on two separate axes, and the ISEA announcement of the 2015 revision describes both:
- Class (A or B) describes the contents. Class A kits are “designed to deal with most common workplace injuries, such as minor cuts, abrasions and sprains.” Class B kits “include a broader range and quantity of supplies” for “more complex or high-risk environments.”
- Type (I, II, III or IV) describes the container and where it is meant to be used: kits are “designated by Type (I, II, III or IV) depending on the work environment in which they are to be used.”
So a wall cabinet, a bag and a box are not different compliance levels. The Class tells you what is inside; the Type tells you where and how the kit is meant to be used. For the contents themselves, see the Class A and Class B tables in what is inside a first aid kit; this page stays on the enclosure.
Checklist table: what the label should tell you
| Item to check | What the standard says | Why it matters | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type I | Kits “used indoors and permanently mounted to a wall or other structure.” | This is the wall-mount designation. | The wall cabinet case. Source: ISEA, 2015 revision announcement. |
| Type IV | Kits “suitable for outdoor use and must pass tests for corrosion, moisture and impact resistance.” | The only Type for which the announcement names test requirements. | Relevant where a kit is exposed to weather or rough handling. |
| Type II and Type III | Defined in the standard itself, which is sold by ISEA/ANSI. | They sit alongside I and IV on the same scale. | Read the manufacturer’s label and the standard for the exact definition. |
| Class A or Class B | Class A covers common workplace injuries; Class B a broader range and quantity. | Contents, independent of the Type. | Counts are in the 2015 table; see the contents guide linked above. |
| Standard edition | The revision was announced in 2015 (ANSI/ISEA Z308.1-2015). | A label should name the edition it was built to. | OSHA’s own publication still cites the 2003 edition. |
What OSHA actually requires
Does OSHA require a wall-mounted kit?
No. 29 CFR 1910.151(b) says: “Adequate first aid supplies shall be readily available.” Where there is no infirmary, clinic or hospital in near proximity to the workplace, a person or persons must be adequately trained to render first aid. The regulation text does not mention ANSI Z308.1 and sets no container or mounting rule. OSHA publication 3317, First Aid, adds that supplies “must be stored in an area where they are readily available for emergency access.”
The same publication points to ANSI Z308.1 (2003 edition in that document) as a specific example of minimal contents, calls those kits “suitable for small businesses,” and says that for large operations employers “should determine how many first-aid kits are needed.” Nothing in what OSHA says there fixes a mounting height or fastening method.
What varies by facility type
- Indoor, fixed location: Type I is the designation for a kit permanently mounted indoors.
- Outdoor or exposed: Type IV is the designation with corrosion, moisture and impact testing.
- Hazard level: ISEA ties Class B to more complex or high-risk environments; the employer decides which Class fits.
- Size of operation: OSHA 3317 leaves the number of kits to the employer for large operations.
- Construction: a different rule applies. 29 CFR 1926.50(d) calls for first aid supplies to be easily accessible, in a weatherproof container with individually sealed packages, checked before each job and at least weekly thereafter (OSHA, checked 2026-11-01). See construction site first aid station requirements.
- Vessels and workplace stations: see marina and boat first aid kit requirements and corporate first aid station supply checklist.
Storage, expiry and restocking
OSHA 3317 asks employers to “give a specific person the responsibility for choosing the types and amounts of first-aid supplies and for maintaining these supplies.” A mounted cabinet only meets “readily available” if people know it is there and the named owner keeps it stocked. Expiry wording and restocking points are set out in the contents guide. For the broader OSHA stocking picture, including container types, read the OSHA-compliant first aid kit stocking guide.
Standards and rules that apply
- OSHA, 29 CFR 1910.151(b), general industry first aid supplies (osha.gov, checked 2026-11-01).
- OSHA publication 3317, First Aid (osha.gov, checked 2026-11-01).
- ANSI/ISEA Z308.1, minimum requirements for workplace first aid kits, as described in the ISEA announcement of the 2015 revision (checked 2026-11-01).
- OSHA, 29 CFR 1926.50(d), construction sites (osha.gov, checked 2026-11-01).
FAQ
Does OSHA require a wall-mounted first aid kit?
No. OSHA requires adequate first aid supplies that are “readily available” and stored where they can be reached in an emergency. It does not require wall mounting.
What is a Type I first aid kit?
A kit used indoors and permanently mounted to a wall or other structure, in the ANSI/ISEA Z308.1 Type designation.
What is the difference between Class and Type?
Class (A or B) describes contents and the level of workplace risk. Type (I to IV) describes the container and the environment it is built for.
Are a first aid kit bag, box and container the same thing?
They are everyday names for enclosure formats. The standard’s designations are Types I to IV, so check the Type and Class printed on the kit rather than the name of the format.
Sources
- OSHA, 29 CFR 1910.151, Medical services and first aid, checked 2026-11-01.
- OSHA, First Aid (OSHA 3317), checked 2026-11-01.
- OSHA, 29 CFR 1926.50, Medical services and first aid (construction), checked 2026-11-01.
- ISEA, announcement of the revised ANSI/ISEA Z308.1 first aid kit standard, checked 2026-11-01.
