Office first aid kit: what should it contain?

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We often think that workplace accidents only happen on construction sites. However, even in a calm environment, a cut with a retractable blade knife, a fall down stairs, or a sudden illness can occur at any time. This is why a well-stocked, compliant, and accessible office first aid kit is not a luxury: in Quebec, it is a legal obligation for all employers. In this article, you will discover what your kit must contain according to CNESST regulations, where to place it, how to maintain it, and how to ensure your team knows how to use it when it counts.

An Obligation Supervised by the CNESST

In Quebec, every employer must make adequate first aid material available at all times. Since 2021, the minimum content of workplace first aid kits must comply with standard CSA Z1220-17 “Workplace first aid kits”. This standard defines kit formats based on the risk level of the environment and the number of workers:

• Basic kit: low or moderate risk environments – this is the case for most offices;
• Intermediate kit: high-risk environments (workshops, warehouses, factories);
• The format increases with the number of workers per shift.

The assessment of the risk level is up to the employer. For a typical office, a CSA Z1220 compliant basic kit meets the requirements. To learn everything about your obligations, re-read our article on CNESST 2026 workplace first aid standards.

The Essential Contents of an Office Kit

Without reproducing the complete normative list here, a compliant office kit includes four main families of material:

• Wound care: adhesive bandages of various sizes, sterile gauze pads, gauze rolls, medical adhesive tape, antiseptic wipes;
• More serious injuries: compression bandage, triangular bandages, burn dressings;
• Rescuer protection: nitrile gloves, CPR pocket mask;
• Tools and accessories: scissors, tweezers, safety pins, emergency blanket, and first aid intervention guide.

You can keep your kit up to date with individual items from our collection of first aid supplies and bandages and dressings.

Where to Place the Kit and How to Maintain It

A compliant but untraceable kit is useless. Some simple rules:

• Visible and accessible: in a location known to everyone, never locked during working hours;
• Clearly marked: display the kit's location and the names of workplace first aiders;
• Regularly inspected: designate a responsible person who checks the contents at a fixed frequency, replaces used material, and monitors expiration dates;
• Adapted to your premises: an office on several floors or with remote areas may require more than one kit.

Material Is Not Enough: Train Your First Aiders

Quebec regulations also require the presence of qualified first aiders in the workplace. A kit in the hands of a trained person doubles its value: actions are taken more quickly, with more assurance, and the situation remains under control while waiting for help. Take a look at our first aid and CPR training courses to prepare your team, and assess whether your environment would benefit from equipping itself with an automated external defibrillator (AED), a valuable ally in case of cardiac arrest.

What to Remember

An office first aid kit must comply with CSA Z1220-17, be adapted to the risk level and number of workers, placed in an accessible location, and regularly inspected. Add trained first aiders and you transform a legal obligation into a real safety net for your team. Need a simple starting point? Our basic first aid kit covers the requirements for low or moderate risk environments.

Sources: CNESST — Workplace First Aid, CSA Z1220-17 standard.

This article is for educational purposes only. In case of emergency, call 911.