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First aid response time and near proximity requirements

Summary An employer asked what “in near proximity” means for first aid under 29 CFR 1910.151(b). OSHA said first aid should be available within three to four minutes where life-threatening injuries are reasonably expected; when such injuries are unlikely, it said fifteen minutes was acceptable. It also said employers must arrange suitable emergency transportation if public emergency transport is unavailable.
Document
Federal opinion letter
Agency
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Document number
1992-11-19-5
Date issued
November 19, 1992
Status
Archived by the agency
OSHA marks this page as an archive document and says it may no longer represent OSHA policy.
Status last verified October 9, 2026
Topics
Workplace Safety OSHA 1910 First Aid Emergency Response
Source
View the official document

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NOTICE: This is an OSHA Archive Document, and may no longer represent OSHA Policy. It is presented here as historical content, for research and review purposes only.

November 19, 1992

Mr. Shawn L. O'Mara
Country Fresh Environmental
and Safety Coordinator
[Recipient address omitted]

Dear Mr. O'Mara:

Thank you for your inquiry of October 13, requesting an interpretation of the term "in near proximity" with respect to 29 CFR 1910.151(b).

In areas where accidents resulting in suffocation, severe bleeding, or other life threatening injury or illness can reasonably be expected, a 3 to 4 minute response time, from time of injury to time of administering first aid, is required. In other circumstances, i.e., where a life-threatening injury is an unlikely outcome of an accident, a 15 minute response time is acceptable.

If employees work in areas where public emergency transportation is not available, the employer must make provision for acceptable emergency transportation.

We appreciate your interest in employee safety and health. If we can be of further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Sincerely,
Roger A. Clark,
Director
Directorate of Compliance Programs

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