Are employers allowed to have medicine in the first aid kits such as aspirin?

OSHA neither requires nor prohibits the use of over-the-counter medicines, or OTCs, in first aid kits. OSHA doesn’t provide much guidance about this but refers employers to ANSI standards for guidance.

ANSI states that they should be in a single dose, tamper-evident packaging and should not contain ingredients known to cause drowsiness. With proper risk evaluation, employers can make OTC available in their workplace with minimal risks.

While OSHA doesn’t specifically require or prohibit the inclusion of OTCs in first aid kits, there are considerations that should be made while evaluating your workplace for hazards. These include:

• Whether the OTCs you provide are appropriate for the intended use and don’t pose unnecessary risks to employees. For example, medications that can cause drowsiness may not be appropriate in workplaces where employees operate heavy machinery, perform safety-sensitive tasks, or drive home safely after work.
• Employees are aware of the medications that are available in the first aid cabinet or kit and how to properly use them. This may include providing training on when it’s appropriate to use the OTCs, proper dosages, and any potential side effects or interactions with other OTCs.
• The OTCs you provide are not expired or have other potential health concerns.
• The OTCs you provide are limited for use by employees. The inability to provide training to non-employees could present a risk of unknown health issues or side effects.
• Employees understand they are not required to take provided medication. For example, employees should not feel as though they are being forced to take OTCs as a means of preventing them from leaving work due to feeling ill or in pain.

If your workplace is under a state-OSHA plan jurisdiction, check for more stringent requirements. Overall, the decision to include OTCs in a workplace first aid cabinet or kit should be based on a careful assessment of the risks and benefits and should be made consultation with appropriate medical or legal professionals.