Construction (29 CFR 1926)

Medical Services and First Aid (Construction)

Verified vs OSHA sources · 2026-10-05

29 CFR 1926.50

29 CFR 1926.50 requires that, where an infirmary, clinic, hospital, or physician is not reasonably accessible to the construction worksite, a person holding a valid first-aid certificate be available on site to render first aid. It also requires first-aid supplies, provisions for injured-worker transport, and quick-drench facilities where corrosive materials are used.

29 CFR 1926.50 at a glance

What it requires: A certified first-aid provider on site where no clinic is accessible; supplies, transport, and eyewash
Who it covers: Construction employers
Provider rule: A person with a valid first-aid certificate where medical care is not reasonably accessible (1926.50(c))
Key duty: Ensure prompt first aid, injured-worker transport, and eyewash for corrosives
Max penalty (2026): $16,550 per serious violation; $165,514 per willful
The #1 confusion: The first-aider's certification must be current: required whenever a clinic is not reasonably accessible

What 29 CFR 1926.50 requires (plain English)

29 CFR 1926.50 sets the medical services and first-aid requirements for construction. Its central rule is availability of trained help: where an infirmary, clinic, hospital, or physician is not reasonably accessible in terms of time and distance to the worksite, a person who holds a valid certificate in first-aid training must be available at the worksite to render first aid.

The standard also requires first-aid supplies approved by a consulting physician and readily available, provisions for prompt medical attention in serious cases and for transporting an injured worker, posted emergency telephone numbers, and, as in general industry, suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes and body where corrosive materials are present. On dispersed construction sites, these ensure the response does not depend on a distant hospital alone.

1926.50 parallels the general-industry first-aid standard (1910.151) and works with the construction emergency-response context, the bloodborne pathogens standard (1910.1030) for blood exposure, and the substance-specific rules that flag corrosive chemicals. It reflects that construction's injuries are frequent and its worksites often remote.

The regulatory text

“In the absence of an infirmary, clinic, hospital, or physician, that is reasonably accessible in terms of time and distance to the worksite, which is available for the treatment of injured employees, a person who has a valid certificate in first-aid training from the U.S. Bureau of Mines, the American Red Cross, or equivalent training that can be verified by documentary evidence, shall be available at the worksite to render first aid.”

29 CFR 1926.50(c)

Key facts about 29 CFR 1926.50

A person with a valid first-aid certificate must be on site where medical care is not reasonably accessible (1926.50(c)).
'Reasonably accessible' is judged in terms of time and distance to the worksite.
First-aid supplies approved by a consulting physician must be readily available.
Provisions for transporting an injured worker and posted emergency numbers are required.
Quick-drench eyewash facilities are required where corrosive materials are used (1926.50(g)).
The first-aid certification must be current and verifiable by documentary evidence.
It parallels the general-industry first-aid standard 1910.151.

Scope: who 29 CFR 1926.50 applies to

Regulatory framework: Construction (29 CFR 1926)
Citation reference: 29 CFR 1926.50
Enforcement status: In force and enforced
Jurisdiction: Federal OSHA (29 State-Plan jurisdictions may be stricter)

State-Plan states (e.g. California, Washington, Michigan) operate OSHA-approved programs that must be at least as effective as federal OSHA and frequently impose higher penalties or additional requirements. Confirm the rule as adopted in your state.

Key requirements of 29 CFR 1926.50

#	Employer obligation
1	Provide first aid supplies on every job site
2	Ensure first aid trained person present when no clinic nearby
3	Post emergency phone numbers
4	Provide emergency transportation for injured workers

Summarized from the text of 29 CFR 1926.50. Always read the full regulation for the binding language.

Common First Aid (Construction) violations

Deficiencies OSHA cites under 29 CFR 1926.50 include the ones below, in no particular order. Distinct deficiencies can be cited as separate items, and each serious item carries up to $16,550 (2026). Broader per-instance stacking exists but is a discretionary, case-by-case OSHA enforcement policy, not an automatic multiplier.

No certified first-aid provider on site where medical care is not reasonably accessible (1926.50(c)).
First-aider's certification expired or not verifiable (1926.50(c)).
First-aid supplies missing, inadequate, or not physician-approved (1926.50(d)).
No eyewash or drenching facility where corrosive materials are used (1926.50(g)).
No posted emergency numbers or provisions for injured-worker transport (1926.50(f)).

The first-aider's certificate must be current: an expired card does not count

Two points recur. First, the certification must be valid and verifiable: a worker whose first-aid or CPR card has expired does not satisfy 1926.50(c), and OSHA can ask for documentary evidence of current training. Second, the requirement kicks in based on accessibility, if an infirmary, clinic, hospital, or physician is not reasonably accessible in time and distance, a certified first-aider must be on the worksite. Many jobsites are remote enough that this applies, yet employers assume calling 911 is sufficient. The certified provider bridges the minutes before EMS arrives, which on a distant site can be the difference between life and death.

What OSHA inspectors look for

A compliance officer checks whether a currently-certified first-aid provider is on site when medical care is not reasonably accessible, whether first-aid supplies are present and adequate, whether there is a plan and means to transport an injured worker, and whether eyewash is provided where corrosives are used. No certified first-aider on a remote site is a classic finding.

Example: how a violation is cited

A remote highway project far from any clinic has no worker with current first-aid certification when a serious injury occurs, delaying care. OSHA cites 1926.50(c) because a certified first-aid provider must be available where medical facilities are not reasonably accessible, with penalties from $16,550.

Illustrative example, not a specific OSHA case.

First Aid (Construction) compliance checklist

Use this to evaluate your compliance with 29 CFR 1926.50. Each item is a key requirement OSHA may verify during an inspection.

Assess whether a clinic, hospital, or physician is reasonably accessible in time and distance to the site.
Where it is not, ensure a worker with current, verifiable first-aid certification is available on site.
Provide physician-approved first-aid supplies, readily available and maintained.
Post emergency telephone numbers and arrange means to transport an injured worker.
Provide quick-drench eyewash and shower facilities where corrosive materials are used.
Keep certifications current and coordinate with the bloodborne pathogens program.

2026 penalties for 29 CFR 1926.50

Maximums set by 29 CFR 1903.15(d). 2026 amounts unchanged from 2025 (no CPI adjustment; OMB M-26-11). Not an increase. The 2025 OSHA penalty levels remain in effect for 2026; OSHA made no inflation adjustment for 2026. 29 CFR 1903.15 identifies January 15, 2025 as the effective reference for these amounts, while OSHA's public penalties page currently references penalties assessed after Jan. 15, 2026.

Violation type	Minimum	Maximum	When it applies
Serious	$1,085	$16,550	Substantial probability of death or serious physical harm.
Other-Than-Serious	$0	$16,550	Relates to safety/health but unlikely to cause death or serious harm.
Willful	$11,823	$165,514	Intentional, knowing, or voluntary disregard of the requirement.
Repeated	$4,256	$165,514	A substantially similar violation cited within the last 5 years.
Failure to Abate	None	$16,550/day	up to $16,550 per day; total capped at 30x the daily amount (FOM Ch.6)

First-aid citations follow injuries on remote or dispersed jobsites. Serious violations reach $16,550 and willful or repeat violations $165,514; no certified provider and missing supplies or eyewash are the usual findings.

Maximums and the willful minimum are set by 29 CFR 1903.15(d); the serious and repeated minimums are OSHA policy floors from its annual penalty adjustment memo. OSHA applies gravity-based and size, good-faith and history reductions (FOM CPL 02-00-164 Ch.6). Estimates only, not legal advice.

The business case for First Aid (Construction) compliance

Construction often happens far from hospitals, and serious injuries (falls, struck-by, lacerations) need immediate care while help is summoned. A certified first-aider on site, supplies, and a transport plan are what keep a survivable injury from becoming a fatality in the crucial minutes before EMS arrives.

Free compliance tools for 29 CFR 1926.50

Emergency Action Plan Builder Pre-Task Plan Generator Job Hazard Analysis Builder

First Aid (Construction) penalties by state

Penalties and enforcement vary by state. State-Plan states may impose higher penalties and additional requirements beyond federal 29 CFR 1926.50.

Alabama Arkansas Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia

View all 50 states + DC →

Frequently asked questions about 29 CFR 1926.50

Does a construction site need a certified first-aid provider?

Yes, where medical care is not close. Under 1926.50(c), if an infirmary, clinic, hospital, or physician is not reasonably accessible in terms of time and distance to the worksite, a person holding a valid first-aid certificate (for example from the American Red Cross) must be available at the site to render first aid. The certification must be current and verifiable by documentary evidence.

What does 'reasonably accessible' mean for construction first aid?

It refers to how quickly professional medical care can reach the worksite in terms of time and distance, not a fixed mileage. If a clinic or hospital is close enough to treat an injured worker promptly, on-site certified first aid may not be required; if it is not, as on many remote or dispersed sites, 1926.50(c) requires a certified first-aider on site. OSHA has historically viewed roughly 3 to 4 minutes as critical for the most serious injuries.

Does construction first aid require eyewash stations?

Yes, where corrosives are present. Under 1926.50(g), suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes and body must be provided within the work area for immediate emergency use wherever workers may be exposed to injurious corrosive materials. This mirrors the general-industry requirement and applies to any construction operation using acids, caustics, or similar chemicals.

What is the difference between 1926.50 and 1910.151?

They are the first-aid standards for their industries: 1926.50 for construction and 1910.151 for general industry. Both require trained first-aid providers where medical help is not close, adequate supplies, and eyewash for corrosive exposures. Construction's 1926.50 is explicit about a valid first-aid certificate and about provisions for transporting injured workers, reflecting the remoteness of many jobsites.

Regulatory history of 29 CFR 1926.50

1926.50 has been the construction first-aid standard since OSHA's early construction rules, and it references first-aid certification from recognized providers such as the American Red Cross. Its accessibility-based trigger reflects that construction worksites are frequently remote from medical facilities, making on-site trained responders essential.

Related glossary terms

Key terms that appear in 29 CFR 1926.50, each with a full plain-English explainer.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)Emergency Action Plan (EAP)Competent Person Serious Eye Damage

Related guides & articles

OSHA First Aid & CPR Requirements: Construction Guide California OSHA First-Aid & CPR Construction Requirements

Related OSHA standards

29 CFR 1910.151

Medical & First Aid

29 CFR 1926.501

Fall Protection

#1 most cited

29 CFR 1910.1200

HazCom / GHS

#2 most cited

29 CFR 1926.1053

Ladders (Construction)

#3 most cited

Primary sources

OSHA figures on this page are imported from HazComFast's verified regulatory module (verified 2026-10-05 against eCFR, OSHA.gov, and the Federal Register).

This page is an educational summary, not legal advice. OSHA standards and penalty amounts change; confirm requirements against the current regulation and your applicable State-Plan before acting.

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