MSHA First-Aid Kit Requirements

Surface and Underground Metal/Nonmetal Mining

Adequate first aid materials, including stretchers and blankets, must be provided at places convenient to all working areas. Water or neutralizing agents must be available where corrosive chemicals or other harmful substances are stored, handled, or used.

Underground Coal Mining

Each operator of an underground coal mine must maintain a supply of the first aid equipment at or near each working place where coal is being mined, at each preparation plant, and at shops and other underground installations where 10 or more persons are regularly employed.

The equipment required to be made available and maintained must include the following:

• One stretcher
• One broken-back board
• Twenty-four triangular bandages (15 if a splint-stretcher combination is used)
• Eight 4-inch bandage compresses
• Eight 2-inch bandage compresses
• Twelve 1-inch adhesive compresses
• An approved burn remedy
• Two cloth blankets
• One rubber blanket or equivalent substitute
• Two tourniquets
• One 1-ounce bottle of aromatic spirits of ammonia or a dozen ammonia ampules
• Necessary complements of arm and leg splints or two inflatable plastic arm and leg splints each

All first aid supplies are required to be stored in suitable, sanitary, dust-tight, moisture-proof containers, and such supplies must be accessible to the miners.

Refuge alternatives must also contain at least 2,000 calories worth of food and 2.25 quarts of potable water per person per day that the refuge is expected to be used in an emergency situation.

To learn more about Workplace First Aid visit our Workplace First Aid Online Training web page.