Workplace First Aid Kit (Medium, 11-20 Persons)

In-Depth Look

First aid provision on construction sites is a legal requirement under the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981. Employers must provide adequate and appropriate equipment, facilities and people, based on an assessment of their first aid needs.

What the Law Asks For

HSE does not approve first aid kits and does not set a mandatory list of contents. The right contents depend on your needs assessment, which considers things such as the number of people, the hazards on site and how far you are from emergency help. BS 8599-1 sets out kit contents that many workplaces use as a guide. The seller labels this kit as medium, for 11-20 persons, so check that against your own assessment and the hazards on your site.

Documentation

According to the listing, the kit comes with an accident book and inspection tags. Recording accidents and checking that kits are complete and in date are both good practice, and the tags give a visible record that checks are being carried out.

Summary

This medium workplace first aid kit comes with a wall bracket, accident book, inspection tags and eye wash pods, according to the listing. Use your first aid needs assessment to decide whether it is the right size and contents for your site, mount it where people can find it, and check and restock it regularly.

How It Compares

This kit is marketed for workplace use. It is worth knowing what the rules actually say before you choose a size. The Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 require employers to provide adequate and appropriate first aid equipment, facilities and people. There is no mandatory list of kit contents. The contents follow a first aid needs assessment, which looks at the hazards, the number of people and the nature of the work. HSE does not approve or certify first aid kits.

BS 8599-1 (2019) is a British Standard for workplace first aid kits. Kits made to it come in small, medium and large. HSE says it is not a regulatory requirement under the 1981 Regulations to buy kits that comply with the standard. A medium BS 8599-1 kit lists items such as dressings, plasters, bandages, gloves, foil blankets, shears and a resuscitation face shield. The exact items and counts differ between makers, so check the contents list on the one you buy.

For sizing, supplier summaries suggest a medium kit suits 5 to 25 employees in a high hazard setting such as construction, and 25 to 100 in a low hazard setting. Treat these as a starting point for your own needs assessment.

For other site safety equipment, see the JSP EVO2 vented safety helmet.

The kit is only part of the picture. The needs assessment also considers first aiders, facilities and information for staff, because the regulations cover people and facilities as well as equipment. Store the kit where it can be reached and make sure staff know where it is. Keep it clean and dry, and replace anything used straight away.

Common Questions

Is a first aid kit a legal requirement at work? Employers must provide adequate and appropriate first aid equipment, facilities and people under the 1981 Regulations. The regulations do not list the contents, so a first aid needs assessment decides what is required.

What size kit do I need? BS 8599-1 kits come in small, medium and large. Supplier summaries suggest a medium kit for 5 to 25 employees in high hazard work and 25 to 100 in low hazard work. Your own needs assessment has the final say.

Does a kit have to be “HSE approved”? No. HSE does not approve kits. It says buying kits that comply with BS 8599-1 is not a regulatory requirement, and the contents should reflect your first aid needs assessment.

How often should I check my kit? Check it regularly, replace items that have been used or passed their expiry date, and keep a record of your checks.

Do I need an accident book? Employers are expected to keep a record of accidents at work, and HSE recommends that first aiders keep a record of the incidents they attend, with the date, place, injury and treatment given. An accident book is a common way to do this.