ANSI is the American National Standards Institute and it is in charge of creating industrial standards for private corporations. ANSI standards are voluntary, and corporations choose to comply with them and become accredited because it shows that they are following proper procedures and that they are maintaining a level of consistency over time. It is a great selling point for any company when they are meeting ANSI standards with their products, procedures and quality.
ANSI is the US representative to ISO and also enforces all ISO standards as well as accredits companies that are conforming to these standards. ISO and ANSI are used as a benchmark for quality and lets consumers know what they can expect in a product when they purchase it from a certified company. Most industrial companies can find some ANSI standard that will apply to their industry by looking on http://www.ansi.org/.
In our industry, ANSI governs what must be in a first aid kit for various work environments. ANSI classifies first aid kits into four categories, Types I-IV. Here are the parameters for each:
| Type | Use | Portable | Mountable | Water Resistant | Waterproof | Kit Examples |
| I | Indoor | X | Cabinets | |||
| II | Indoor | X | Soft Packs | |||
| III | Indoor/Outdoor | X | X | X | Plastic Kits | |
| IV | Indoor/Outdoor | X | X | X | Metal Kits |
Each kit must meet this minimum standard for the items that are included:
- Absorbent Compress, 32 sq. in. (206 sq. cm), with no side smaller than 4in. (10 cm) – 1
- Adhesive Bandages, 1 x 3 in. (2.5 x 7.5 cm) – 16
- Adhesive Tape, 3/8 in. x 2.5 yd. (2.3 m) total – 1
- Antibiotic Treatment, 0.14 fl oz (0.5 g) application – 6
- Antiseptic, 0.14 fl. oz. (0.5 g) application – 10
- Burn Treatment, 1/32 oz. (0.9 g) application – 6
- First Aid Guide – 1
- Medical Exam Gloves – 2 pair
- Sterile pad, 3 x 3 in. (7.5 x 7.5 cm) – 4
- Triangular Bandage, 40 x 40 x 56 in. (101 x 101 x 142 cm) – 1
When you are shopping for a first aid kit, you may be required to have one of these types of kits, and we can provide custom options for each type to help you be compliant. For more information about how to build an ANSI compliant kit for your organization, you can contact us and we will be happy to put together a custom kit for you.
