First Aid Kits & Supplies

Under the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981, employers must provide adequate and appropriate first aid equipment, facilities, and trained personnel. The minimum requirement is a suitably stocked first aid kit. The HSE recommends that a basic kit for a low-risk workplace contains plasters, sterile wound dressings, triangular bandages, safety pins, disposable gloves, and eye wash. Higher-risk workplaces and those with larger numbers of employees require more extensive provision and trained first aiders.

The number of first aid kits required depends on the size of the premises, the number of employees, the nature of the work, and whether the site operates across multiple floors or buildings. HSE guidance recommends at least one kit for up to 25 employees in a low-risk environment, with additional kits for each additional 25 employees or for workplaces spread across multiple locations. Each kit should be clearly signed, easily accessible, and assigned to a named responsible person for regular checking.

First aid kits should be checked at least monthly and after any use. Items that are past their expiry date, have been used, or are damaged should be replaced immediately. Assign a named responsible person to each kit and maintain a simple log of checks and restocking dates. Sterile products, dressings, eye wash, and gloves, have expiry dates that must be observed. An incomplete or out-of-date first aid kit does not fulfil the legal requirement under the First-Aid Regulations.

Low-risk workplaces such as offices, retail, and light industrial settings require a basic first aid kit covering common minor injuries. High-risk workplaces, including construction, manufacturing, food processing, and warehousing, require a more complete kit that may include burns dressings, eye irrigation solutions, and additional wound care supplies. HSE guidance and your workplace risk assessment will indicate what level of provision is appropriate. Higher-risk environments may also require additional trained first aiders.

The First-Aid Regulations require employers to appoint at least one person to take charge in an emergency and summon medical help, even if no qualified first aider is required. For larger or higher-risk workplaces, at least one trained first aider holding a valid HSE-approved First Aid at Work (FAW) or Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) certificate should be present during working hours. First Aid certificates must be renewed every three years.

Standard workplace first aid kits should not contain medication including paracetamol, ibuprofen, or antihistamines, as administering medication is outside the scope of standard first aid and may cause adverse reactions. Eye wash, sterile saline, and burn gels are appropriate for inclusion. First aiders are not permitted to administer medication unless specifically trained to do so.

Alongside a standard first aid kit, high-risk workplaces may require: an automated external defibrillator (AED); burn dressings and cooling gels for sites with heat or chemical exposure; eye wash stations for chemical handling areas; and tourniquets for high blood-loss risk environments. The specific requirements should be determined by a thorough risk assessment. AEDs are increasingly common in larger commercial premises and are proven to save lives when used quickly in cardiac events.

Commercial first aid kits are assembled to meet HSE workplace first aid regulations and are available in formats appropriate for different risk levels and workplace sizes. They contain individually wrapped, sterile products with clear expiry dates and are supplied with a contents list to simplify restocking. Commercial kits are available in wall-mounted cabinets for clear visibility and quick access. Consumer first aid kits are not designed to meet workplace regulatory requirements and may not contain the correct items or quantities.