Which first aid kit do you need?

This is an extract from the approved code of practice relating to first aid at work, published by the Health and Safety Executive.

Question 1: What is first aid at work?
 People at work can suffer injuries or be taken ill. It doesn’t matter whether the injury or illness is caused by the work they do or not, it is important to give them immediate attention and call an ambulance in serious cases. First aid at work covers the arrangements you should make to ensure this happens. It can save lives and prevent minor injuries becoming major ones.


Question2: What do I need to do?
The Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 require you to provide adequate and appropriate first-aid equipment, facilities and people so your employees can be given immediate help if they are injured or taken ill at work.
What is ‘adequate and appropriate’ will depend on the circumstances in your workplace and you should assess what your first-aid needs are (see Q3).

The minimum first-aid provision on any work site is:

■ a suitably stocked first-aid box (see Q4);
■ an appointed person to take charge of first-aid arrangements (see Q5);
■ information for employees about first-aid arrangements (see Q8).
It is important to remember that accidents and illness can happen at any time. First-aid provision needs to be available at all times people are at work.



Question 3: What should I consider when assessing first-aid needs?
Some small workplaces may only need the minimum provision. But, there are factors that might mean you need greater provision. The checklist in Table 1 covers the points you should consider.


Question 4: What should I put in the first-aid box?
There is no mandatory list of items to put in a first-aid box. It depends on what you assess your needs to be. As a guide, where work activities involve low hazards, a minimum stock of first-aid items might be:
■ a leaflet giving general guidance on first aid (eg HSE’s leaflet: Basic advice on first aid at work 
■ 20 individually wrapped sterile plasters (assorted sizes), appropriate to the type of work (you can provide hypoallergenic plasters, if necessary);
■ two sterile eye pads;
■ four individually wrapped triangular bandages, preferably sterile;
■ six safety pins;
■ two large, individually wrapped, sterile, unmedicated wound dressings;
■ six medium-sized, individually wrapped, sterile, unmedicated wound dressings;
■ a pair of disposable gloves This is a suggested contents list only, but all reputable suppliers will stock HSE compliant first aid kits suitable for 1-10 persons with these contents.


It is recommended that you don’t keep tablets and medicines in the first-aid box.

Table 1 - Checklist for assessment of first-aid needs

  

Hazards (use the findings of your risk assessment and take account of any parts of your workplace that have different work activities/hazards which may require different levels of first-aid provision)

 

1. Does your workplace have low-level hazards, like you might find in offices and shops?

 

The minimum provision is: an appointed person to take charge of first-aid arrangements and a suitably stocked first-aid box.

 

 

2. Does your workplace have higher level hazards, such as chemicals or dangerous machinery?

You should consider:

·         providing first-aiders

·         additional training for first-aiders to deal with injuries caused by special hazards

·         additional first-aid equipment

·         precise siting of first-aid equipment

·         providing a first-aid room

·         informing the emergency services.

Employees

How many people are employed on site?

 

1. Where there are small numbers of employees, the minimum provision is:

·         an appointed person to take charge of first-aid arrangements;

·         a suitably stocked first-aid box.

2. Where there are large numbers of employees you should consider providing:

·         first-aiders

·         additional first-aid equipment eg. 11-20 or 21-50 person kits, burns kits etc

·         a first-aid room.

3. Are there inexperienced workers on site, or employees with disabilities or particular health problems?

You should consider:

·         additional training for first-aiders;

·         additional first-aid equipment;

·         local siting of first-aid equipment.

Your first-aid provision should cover work experience trainees.

 Accidents and ill-health record

What injuries and illness have occurred in your workplace and where did they happen?

Make sure your first-aid provision caters for the type of injuries and illness that might occur in your workplace. Monitor accidents and ill health and review your first-aid provision as appropriate.

Working arrangements

Do you have employees who travel a lot, work remotely or work alone?

You should consider:

·         issuing personal first-aid kits

·         issuing personal communicators/mobile phones to employees.

Do any of your employees work shifts or work out of hours?

You should ensure there is adequate first-aid provision at all times people are at work.

These kits can be bought online at our website www.hygienefirst.co.uk

Should you require more information or advice, please e-mail sales@hygienefirst.co.uk where one of our sales team will be pleased to help.