What are the differences in items between Dressing Stations and First-aid rooms listed neatly.

A workplace dressing station is typically a smaller, distributed first-aid point intended for immediate treatment with a stocked first-aid kit or station that is readily accessible to workers. A first-aid room is a larger, dedicated facility used where the workforce size, hazards, remoteness, or injury potential justify a separate treatment space, additional equipment, documentation capability, and often a higher level of staffing and organization. Across the cited sources, the core regulatory principle is that employers must base first-aid facilities on hazard assessment, workforce size, and access to medical care, and must ensure supplies are readily available, appropriate to the hazards, maintained, and accessible. [12] [3] [15]

For regulatory requirements, OSHA general industry requires ready availability of medical advice and consultation, trained first-aid providers when outside medical treatment is not in near proximity, adequate first-aid supplies, and emergency flushing facilities where corrosives are present. OSHA construction similarly requires advance provision for prompt medical attention, a valid first-aid-trained person when outside treatment is not reasonably accessible, easily accessible supplies, weatherproof and sealed kit contents, transportation or ambulance communication capability, and emergency posting/location information. Washington construction rules add requirements for first-aid supplies in crew vehicles, emergency-response posters at kits or phones, and functional emergency washing facilities. These requirements apply whether the employer uses dressing stations, kits, or a dedicated first-aid room. [15] [15] [18] [17] [8]

Practical difference in required items, equipment, and supplies:

• Dressing station: normally centered on a compliant first-aid kit/station placed close to workers for rapid access; first-aid room: includes kit contents plus dedicated space, furnishings, communication, records, sanitation, and potentially specialized equipment based on hazards.
• Dressing station: intended for immediate minor-to-moderate injury response; first-aid room: intended for assessment, stabilization, privacy, treatment support, and coordination with EMS.
• Dressing station: usually portable or wall-mounted; first-aid room: fixed location that workers know how to find and that may be staffed or linked to designated attendants.
• Dressing station: minimal contents often benchmarked to ANSI Z308.1 for small worksites; first-aid room: typically expanded beyond minimum kit contents according to hazard assessment, injury history, and remoteness.
• Dressing station: fewer support utilities; first-aid room: should have access to hand hygiene, cleaning capability, emergency contact information, incident documentation materials, and where hazards require, eyewash/drenching or other specialized provisions.

[1] [3] [7] Minimum expectations for a workplace dressing station:

• Readily accessible first-aid kit or station located where workers can reach it quickly.
• Supplies matched to likely injuries and maintained in sanitary, usable condition.
• Frequent inspection and prompt restocking after use; in construction, at least weekly checks on each job and sealed/weatherproof packaging.
• Emergency contact information and worksite location information posted at or near kits/phones where required.
• PPE for first-aid providers where blood or other potentially infectious material exposure is reasonably anticipated.
• First-aid manual or instructions available.
• Additional kits or upgraded contents where operations are large, multiple, remote, or high hazard.

[2] [17] [6] [8] Typical dressing-station / first-aid-kit contents supported by the sources:

• Adhesive tape
• Alcohol pads or antiseptic wipes
• Sterile dressing pads and gauze sponges
• Elastic or roller bandage
• Adhesive bandages
• Burn treatment or burn dressing
• Emergency blanket
• Eyewash
• Non-latex exam gloves
• CPR pocket mask or breathing barrier
• Scissors, forceps, or tweezers
• First-aid manual or guide
• Triangular bandage / cravat cloth
• Trauma pads
• Cold pack
• Eye covering
• Hand sanitizer
• Where risk justifies: splints, finger splints, hemostatic dressings, tourniquet, stretcher, AED

[4] [10] [14] [16] Minimum expectations for a first-aid room:

• A clearly identified fixed location known to workers and listed in emergency information.
• Expanded first-aid supplies and equipment based on hazard assessment, not just minimum kit contents.
• Space for treatment, patient positioning, privacy, and supervision while awaiting EMS.
• Means to summon emergency services immediately, with posted emergency numbers and site/location details.
• Incident documentation materials and access to lists of attendants, nearest medical facilities, and key contacts.
• Sanitary storage and housekeeping controls so supplies remain clean, dry, in date, and usable.
• Where hazards require: eyewash/drenching facilities, emergency washing capability, AED, stretcher, splints, and bleeding-control equipment.
• More formal inspection, replenishment, and program oversight by a designated responsible person.

[7] [3] [15] [11] Compliance standards and program controls:

• Use hazard assessment to decide whether a dressing station is sufficient or whether a first-aid room and enhanced equipment are needed.
• Benchmark kit contents to ANSI Z308.1 minimums, then upgrade for high-risk work, severe bleeding potential, remote sites, or changing hazards.
• Ensure trained first-aid personnel are available when outside medical care is not near enough; training must fit the workplace hazards.
• Inspect, replenish, and document kit/room readiness on a defined schedule.
• Provide bloodborne-pathogen precautions and PPE for responders.
• Provide transportation arrangements or reliable emergency communications.
• Post emergency numbers, site address/location, and the location of first-aid facilities and attendants.

[13] [9] [16] [1] [17] Itemized comparison list:

• Purpose: Dressing station = immediate point-of-use first aid; First-aid room = dedicated treatment facility.
• Location: Dressing station = near work areas; First-aid room = fixed, identified room known to all workers.
• Contents baseline: Dressing station = minimum compliant kit/station; First-aid room = kit contents plus expanded equipment and support items.
• Furniture/space: Dressing station = usually none beyond cabinet/case; First-aid room = treatment surface/seating/storage/privacy space.
• Communications: Dressing station = nearby posting and phone/radio access; First-aid room = direct emergency communication capability and posted contacts.
• Documentation: Dressing station = limited; First-aid room = stronger expectation for logs, incident forms, contact lists, and reference materials.
• Sanitation: Dressing station = clean, dry, protected kit; First-aid room = broader housekeeping and sanitary control of room and supplies.
• Special hazards: Dressing station = may include hazard-specific add-ons; First-aid room = more likely to include eyewash support, AED, stretcher, splints, bleeding-control gear, and other specialized equipment.
• Inspection: Dressing station = frequent checks and restocking; First-aid room = same, but usually under more formal oversight by a designated responsible person.
• When appropriate: Dressing station = small, lower-risk, or well-served sites; First-aid room = larger, higher-risk, remote, or more complex operations.

[1] [7] [3] In short, the main difference is scale and capability: a dressing station is a readily accessible supply point for immediate first aid, while a first-aid room is a dedicated facility with broader equipment, sanitation, communication, and organizational support. Neither OSHA nor the cited Canadian guidance gives one universal contents list for every first-aid room; instead, employers are expected to determine required contents from the hazards, number of workers, injury history, remoteness, and access to medical care, then maintain those facilities so they remain compliant and effective. [5] [12] [3]