What's required in a WSIB first aid kit?

Regulation 1101 Schedule 1 lists the required contents by workplace size. The general categories include: adhesive bandages of various sizes, sterile gauze pads and rolls, triangular bandages, adhesive tape, antiseptic wipes, scissors, tweezers, safety pins, disposable gloves, a CPR breathing barrier, a first aid manual or instructions, and required pad and dressing quantities scaled to workforce size. For construction specifically, most operators add larger trauma dressings, eye irrigation supplies, burn dressings, and additional bandaging for the typical injury profile.

Where should the first aid kit be on a construction site?

Reg 1101 requires the kit to be readily accessible to workers at the workplace. On construction sites, the kit is typically located in the site office trailer or a central, weather-protected location. For larger or scattered sites, secondary kits are placed at major work zones, on each floor of multi-floor builds, and at any remote work area. The general rule: any worker should be able to retrieve the kit and return to a casualty within 90 seconds.

Does Reg 213/91 add specific kit requirements for construction?

Reg 213/91 is the broader Construction Projects regulation under the Occupational Health and Safety Act. It doesn't itself prescribe specific first aid kit contents — that comes from Reg 1101 Schedule 1. However, Reg 213/91 imposes broader emergency response and project safety obligations that practically mean construction kits often exceed the Reg 1101 minimum. Most Ontario GCs maintain kits sized one tier above the regulatory minimum to handle the construction-specific injury profile.

How often should the first aid kit be inspected?

Best practice is to inspect first aid kits monthly at a minimum, with a documented checklist confirming all required items are present, sealed packages are intact, and nothing has expired or been depleted. Some operators inspect weekly on active projects. After any use of supplies, those items should be replaced immediately. Inspection records should be kept and made available during Ministry of Labour visits or audits.

Should we include an AED with our construction first aid kit?

AEDs aren't required by Reg 1101 or Reg 213/91 for most construction sites — but they're increasingly common on larger projects, especially those with older workforce demographics, physically demanding work, or sites where EMS response time exceeds 5 minutes. The cost is $1,500–$3,500 for the unit plus maintenance; the benefit is meaningfully improved survival odds for cardiac events. See our AED workplace guide for the decision framework specific to your project profile.

Construction Kits

WSIB Construction First Aid Kit: Contents and Maintenance

Reg 1101 Schedule 1 baseline plus the construction-specific additions most sites actually need.

Quick Answer

Ontario construction first aid kits must meet Regulation 1101 Schedule 1 contents — bandages, gauze, triangular bandages, antiseptic, gloves, scissors, CPR breathing barrier, etc., scaled to workforce size. Most construction sites add construction-specific supplies: larger trauma dressings, eye irrigation, burn dressings, additional bandaging. Locate the kit in the site office trailer or central weather-protected area, with secondary kits at major work zones on larger projects. Inspect monthly minimum, replace used supplies immediately, and keep documented inspection records.

Where the kit requirements come from

The specific contents of an Ontario construction first aid kit are set by Regulation 1101 Schedule 1 under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act — not by Regulation 213/91 (the Construction Projects regulation under OHSA). This is a common point of confusion. Reg 213/91 covers broader construction project safety; Reg 1101 covers the workplace first aid specifics including kit contents.

Schedule 1 of Reg 1101 lists the required items, with quantities scaled to the size of the workplace. Larger workforces require larger kits with more of each item. The Schedule is publicly available through Ontario’s e-Laws online repository.

The Reg 1101 Schedule 1 baseline (general categories)

Reg 1101 Schedule 1 organizes kit requirements by workplace size. For most Ontario construction projects, the relevant kit categories cover the following general items (specific quantities scale with workforce size):

Adhesive bandages in various sizes for minor cuts and scrapes
Sterile gauze pads of standard sizes (typically 7.5cm x 7.5cm and 10cm x 10cm)
Sterile gauze rolls for larger dressings and wrapping
Triangular bandages for slings, large dressings, or stabilizing fractures
Adhesive tape for securing dressings
Antiseptic wipes or solution for wound cleaning
Disposable gloves (multiple pairs)
Scissors for cutting clothing or bandages
Tweezers for splinter removal
Safety pins for securing slings and bandages
A CPR breathing barrier or pocket mask
First aid manual or instruction sheet

Specific quantities increase with workplace size — a 5-worker site needs less of each item than a 50-worker site. The Schedule provides exact numbers; check the current version of Reg 1101 for the quantity table that applies to your project.

Construction-specific additions most sites actually need

The Reg 1101 minimum is the floor. The injury profile on construction projects — lacerations, burns, eye injuries, crush injuries, falls — means most operators add supplies beyond the regulatory baseline:

Construction kit additions (recommended above the Reg 1101 minimum)

Larger trauma dressings (15cm x 15cm or 20cm x 20cm) for major wounds
Compression bandages for bleeding control on extremities
Eye irrigation solution or sterile water for flushing eye injuries from grinding, welding flash, or chemical exposure
Eye patches or sterile eye dressings
Burn dressings — moist or gel-based, for welding burns or chemical burns
Cold packs (single-use, activate by squeezing) for sprains, strains, and burn cooling
Splints or rigid stabilizers for suspected fractures
Saline solution for wound irrigation in dirtier construction environments
Larger volume gauze and bandaging for major bleeding scenarios
Foil/space blankets for shock or cold exposure
Heavy-duty gloves in addition to standard disposable gloves
Pen and incident report forms for documenting any first aid intervention
Emergency contact card with EMS protocol and site-specific address/access notes

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

Reg 1101 requires the kit to be readily accessible to workers at the workplace. 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 signage so any worker can find it
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

Multi-zone and multi-floor projects

On larger projects, a single kit in the site trailer isn’t adequate. The general rule: any worker should be able to retrieve the kit and return to a casualty within 90 seconds. 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 identical in contents for predictable response regardless of which kit is closest

Inspection schedules and documentation

Reg 1101 doesn’t specify an explicit inspection frequency, but Ministry of Labour inspectors expect documented evidence that kits are maintained. The typical practice:

Weekly visual inspection

Designated first aider or safety coordinator confirms the kit is in place, undamaged, and not obviously depleted. Quick visual; takes 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 and at the posted location
Open the kit and verify contents against Reg 1101 Schedule 1
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 WSIB Form 82 and the designated first aiders listed

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 Reg 1101 or Reg 213/91 for construction projects. But they’re increasingly common on larger projects, especially:

Projects with 50+ workers or large multi-trade operations
Projects with older workforce demographics
Physically demanding work where exertion-induced cardiac events are a higher risk
Remote or rural sites with EMS response times above 10 minutes
Projects involving electrical work where cardiac arrhythmia from electrical contact is a specific hazard

AED cost: $1,500–$3,500 for the unit plus ongoing pad and battery maintenance. See our AED workplace decision guide for the full framework.

Where to buy a construction first aid kit

Most Ontario construction operators source kits from:

Workplace safety suppliers — Acklands-Grainger, Stelpro, Levitt-Safety, SafetyZone, etc.
IHSA sometimes offers kits aligned to construction-specific best practice
Canadian Red Cross and St. John Ambulance sell kits that meet WSIB Schedule 1 requirements
General industrial suppliers like Uline that stock workplace first aid kits

Pre-built kits sold as “WSIB compliant” generally meet the Reg 1101 baseline. Most construction operators then add the construction-specific items listed above as a top-up.

Note: This article is a plain-language overview. Regulation 1101 Schedule 1 specifies exact required contents and quantities — review the current version of the regulation (via Ontario’s e-Laws repository) for precise compliance requirements applicable to your project size.

Pricing for kits and training together

A WSIB-compliant base kit runs roughly $40–$150 depending on workplace size. Construction-specific additions add another $50–$200. The bigger cost is the training that goes with it — see our construction first aid guide for full pricing on Standard First Aid + CPR.

Pair your kit with proper training

A first aid kit without trained first aiders is just a box of supplies. Life Safe runs on-site Standard First Aid + CPR training across Ontario construction sites.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What’s required in the kit?

Reg 1101 Schedule 1 specifies contents — bandages, gauze, antiseptic, gloves, scissors, CPR barrier, etc., scaled to workforce size.

Where should the kit be located?

Site office trailer or central, weather-protected location. Secondary kits at major work zones on larger projects.

How often do we inspect?

Monthly minimum with documented records. Weekly visual checks recommended on active projects.

Do we need an AED?

Not required, but increasingly common on larger or remote sites. See our AED workplace guide.