Before you can determine if a first aid program is required, you must determine how long it will take for emergency response services to respond to a call. Based on OSHA's interpretation of its regulation, the allowable response time is 3-4 minutes for manufacturing facilities. If your company is outside of this response window you will need to create a first aid program and designate First Aid Responders (FARs). FARs need to receive the appropriate training in first aid and OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogen rule. [For more information on this or any other safety issue contact PIA's Environmental, Health, and Safety Department at ehs [at] printing.org.]