First-aid response time under the near-proximity rule

NOTICE: This is an OSHA Archive Document, and may no longer represent OSHA Policy. It is presented here as historical content, for research and review purposes only.

February 9, 1994
Ms. Rachel Greathouse
Safety Engineer
Courtaulds Coatings
[Recipient address omitted]
Dear Ms. Greathouse:

Thank you for your inquiry of October 1, 1993, requesting interpretation of the term "in near proximity" in the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standard 29 CFR 1910.151(b). We apologize for the delay in our response.

In areas where accidents resulting in suffocation, severe bleeding, or other life threatening or permanently disabling injury or illness can 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 or permanently disabling injury is an unlikely outcome of an accident, a longer response time such as 15 minutes is acceptable.

Where first aid treatment cannot be administered to injured employees by outside professionals within the required response time for the expected types of injuries, a person or persons within the facility shall be adequately trained to render first aid.

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