Where the kit requirements come from (2026 update)

The rules changed at the start of 2026. Effective January 1, 2026, Ontario’s Regulation 1101 first aid provisions — including the old Schedule 1 kit contents — were replaced by the CSA Z1220-24 standard, administered together with provincial occupational health and safety regulation. If you are working from an older guide that lists “Reg 1101 Schedule 1 contents,” that framework is now superseded.

The broader Construction Projects regulation (O. Reg. 213/91 under the OHSA) still governs project-wide emergency response and safety obligations, but it does not itself prescribe kit contents — those now come from CSA Z1220-24.

Source: CSA Group, CSA Z1220-24 (Workplace First Aid Kits); Ontario Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. Confirm the current required contents against the latest CSA Z1220-24 and your provincial regulator.

How CSA Z1220-24 works: pick a Type, then a Size

CSA Z1220-24 replaces the old “one schedule per workplace size” approach with a two-step choice. Confusion over type and size is the single most common reason Canadian businesses fail a first aid inspection, so it is worth getting right.

Step 1 — Choose a Type (by hazard)

• Type 1 — Personal: for lone or isolated workers (e.g., a single worker in a vehicle). Under the 2026 standard these now include a Mylar emergency blanket and 2″ and 3″ conforming gauze.
• Type 2 — Basic: low-to-moderate-risk workplaces (offices, retail). The 2026 standard now requires a windlass tourniquet in this tier.
• Type 3 — Intermediate: high-risk work — this is the construction/forestry tier. Carries higher quantities of pressure dressings for the more severe injuries these settings produce.

Step 2 — Choose a Size (by workforce)

After the Type, choose a kit Size — Small, Medium, or Large — based on the maximum number of workers present on a single shift. A larger crew needs a larger kit with more of each item.

Source: CSA Z1220-24 (Type 1/2/3 + Small/Medium/Large framework). Treat this summary as an approximate guide and confirm exact contents against the current standard.

Typical construction kit contents (Type 3)

The exact itemized contents and quantities are set by CSA Z1220-24 and scale with kit Size. For a construction (Type 3 / Intermediate) kit, the general categories cover:

• Adhesive bandages in various sizes for minor cuts and scrapes
• Sterile gauze pads of standard sizes (e.g., 7.5 cm x 7.5 cm and 10 cm x 10 cm)
• Sterile gauze rolls / conforming gauze for larger dressings and wrapping
• Pressure dressings in higher quantities (the defining feature of the Type 3 tier)
• Triangular bandages for slings, large dressings, or stabilizing fractures
• Adhesive tape for securing dressings
• Antiseptic wipes / wound-cleaning supplies
• Disposable gloves (multiple pairs)
• Scissors / utility shears and tweezers
• Safety pins for securing slings and bandages
• A CPR breathing barrier / pocket mask
• Emergency (Mylar) blanket
• First aid guide / instruction sheet

Because contents and counts are set by the standard and Size, check the current CSA Z1220-24 tables for the exact quantities that apply to your project.

Source: CSA Z1220-24 contents tiers (Basic / Intermediate / Advanced). Canadian Red Cross and Heart & Stroke Foundation for the underlying first aid rationale.

Construction-specific additions most sites actually need

The CSA Z1220-24 Type 3 kit is the floor. The injury profile on construction projects — lacerations, burns, eye injuries, crush injuries, falls — means most operators add supplies beyond the standard baseline. High-risk workplaces such as construction and forestry are specifically advised to carry bleeding-control gear:

Source: CSA Z1220-24 (high-risk workplaces: tourniquet + hemostatic dressing); Canadian Red Cross / Heart & Stroke Foundation for severe-bleeding and burn first aid.

Some operators also include items reflecting specific site hazards — for example, sites involving asbestos abatement may include additional respiratory protection; sites with hot bitumen work may include specific burn-management supplies; outdoor sites in summer may include heat illness supplies (cooling cloths, electrolyte solution).

Where to locate the first aid kit

CSA Z1220 and Ontario OHS rules require the kit to be clearly marked and readily accessible to workers. On construction projects, the practical interpretation:

• Site office trailer — the most common primary location for the main kit on most projects
• Centrally posted location with clear first aid signage so any worker can find it fast
• Weather-protected — kits left exposed to rain, snow, or extreme heat degrade quickly
• Accessible during all work hours — not in a locked manager’s office that’s empty after 5pm if there’s after-hours work
• Near a phone for simultaneous 911 calls

Source: CSA Z1220-24 (kits clearly marked, readily accessible, inspected and maintained); concordant with Canadian Red Cross / Heart & Stroke workplace guidance.

Multi-zone and multi-floor projects

On larger projects, a single kit in the site trailer isn’t adequate — a worker should never have to travel far to reach one. For high-rise builds, multi-zone projects, and large industrial sites:

• Primary kit in the site office trailer for general access and inspection convenience
• Secondary kits on each major work zone — one per floor on high-rise builds, one per zone on horizontal projects
• Tertiary kits at any remote work area — far excavations, sub-trades operating distant from the main building
• Signage at every kit location with universal first aid symbols
• All kits stocked consistently for predictable response regardless of which kit is closest

The number and placement of kits should be based on the size of the site, the number of workers, and the distance to the nearest kit — set these in your site-specific emergency plan rather than to a single fixed rule.

Inspection schedules and documentation

CSA Z1220 requires kits to be inspected and maintained regularly, and Ministry of Labour inspectors expect documented evidence that this is happening. The typical practice:

Weekly visual inspection

Designated first aider or safety coordinator confirms the kit is in place, marked, undamaged, and not obviously depleted. Quick visual; takes about 30 seconds.

Monthly detailed inspection

Open the kit, verify all items against a checklist, check expiry dates on any time-limited items, confirm sealed packages are intact. Replace depleted or expired items. Sign and date the inspection record.

After any use

Replace used supplies immediately — don’t wait for the next scheduled inspection. Document what was used in an incident report.

Quarterly senior review

For larger projects, the safety coordinator or JHSC reviews inspection records and identifies any patterns (frequent depletion of certain items may indicate a workplace hazard worth addressing at the source).

What inspectors look for

During a Ministry of Labour inspection, expect inspectors to:

• Confirm the kit is present, marked, and at the posted location
• Open the kit and verify contents against the applicable CSA Z1220-24 Type and Size
• Check expiry dates on items that have them
• Ask for the inspection log / record
• Confirm the location matches the posted first aid kit location signage
• Cross-reference with the designated first aiders and required workplace first aid records

Documenting kit maintenance

A simple kit maintenance log includes:

• Date of each inspection
• Inspector name and signature
• Items checked and confirmed present
• Items replaced and why (depleted, expired, contaminated)
• Any incidents resulting in kit use and the supplies consumed
• Next scheduled inspection date

Most construction operators keep the log inside the kit itself (in a sealed plastic sleeve) so inspectors can see the maintenance history immediately.

Should you add an AED to the kit?

AEDs aren’t required by CSA Z1220-24 or Reg 213/91 for construction projects. But they’re increasingly common on larger projects, especially:

• Projects with large multi-trade operations or many workers on shift
• Projects with an older workforce demographic
• Physically demanding work where exertion-related cardiac events are a higher risk
• Remote or rural sites with long EMS response times
• Projects involving electrical work where cardiac arrhythmia from electrical contact is a specific hazard

The case for an on-site AED is simple: early defibrillation is one of the strongest predictors of survival from sudden cardiac arrest, and survival falls with every minute of delay (Heart & Stroke Foundation of Canada). Unit prices vary by model and vendor, and every AED needs ongoing pad and battery replacement, so budget for the lifecycle cost, not just the purchase. See our AED workplace decision guide for the full framework.

Source: Heart & Stroke Foundation of Canada (early defibrillation and survival). AED unit pricing varies by vendor — confirm current quotes.

Where to buy a construction first aid kit

Most Ontario construction operators source kits from:

• Workplace safety suppliers — Acklands-Grainger, Levitt-Safety, SafetyZone, and similar
• IHSA (Infrastructure Health & Safety Association) resources aligned to construction-specific best practice
• Canadian Red Cross and St. John Ambulance sell kits marketed as CSA Z1220-compliant
• General industrial suppliers like Uline that stock workplace first aid kits

Pre-built kits sold as “CSA Z1220 compliant” generally meet the standard for their stated Type and Size — verify the label matches the Type (construction is Type 3) and the Size for your crew. Most construction operators then add the construction-specific items above as a top-up.

Pricing for kits and training together

A compliant base kit and construction-specific top-ups are a modest cost — the bigger investment is the training that goes with it. A first aid kit without trained first aiders is just a box of supplies. See our construction first aid guide for full pricing on Standard First Aid + CPR, and confirm current kit prices with your safety supplier.