Where Should The First Aid Kit Be In A Workplace?

There is no specific location in which a first aid kit must be stored, but it must be easily accessible, clearly visible and signposted by a ‘first aid kit’ sign nearby, so it can be found easily. 

Their location should depend on the layout of the workplace and the findings of your first aid needs assessment. For example, you may find that certain areas of the same floor have higher level hazards and therefore need more kits or require moving them closer to these areas.

It is also recommended that first aid kits are kept far away from high-temperature environments or areas that create debris, to protect the integrity of the items inside, keeping the kit sterile and ready for use at any given time. 

In terms of actual placement, first aid kits should be mounted to the wall, kept on a table, or in a safe cabinet.

What size first aid kit does my workplace need?

There are many different sizes of first aid kits and multiple factors must be taken into consideration to ensure you choose the right size kit for your workplace.

For high risk workplaces, including construction sites, chemical manufacture, warehousing or any work environment that involves working with dangerous machinery or sharp instruments, we recommend: 

• 1 small kit – for less than 5 people
• 1 medium kit – for groups of 5 to 25 people
• 1 large kit – per group of more than 25 people

For low risk workplaces, such as offices or schools, we recommend:

• 1 small kit: less than 25 employees.
• 1 medium kit: 25 to 100 employees.
• 1 large kit – per group of more than 100 people

View our complete range of Workplace First Aid Kits. 

How many first aid kits should a workplace have?

The number of first aid kits that are required will vary from business to business. In order to decide how many first aid kits your workplace needs, you must carry out a risk assessment. 

This must be completed by a competent and skilled employee and based on three main points:

• The size of your workplace – the higher the complexity of your workplace, the more first aid kits you will need. In general, if you have multi-hazard or multi-floor space or it takes more than 60 seconds to get between two areas, you should have more than one kit. 
• The number of employees – the greater the number of employees, the more first aid kits required. 
• The level of hazard – lower risk environments like schools or offices require less first aid kits than higher risk environments such as laboratories or construction sites. 

British Standard Compliant BS-8599-1 Workplace First Aid Kits

The only official UK standard for first aid kit contents is the British Standard BS8599-1. These BS8599-1 compliant kits provide employers with a means by which they can choose a kit that matches their risk needs assessment, while still demonstrating compliance with the spirit of the legislation.  All sizes feature a stylish colour-coded carry case and includes all HSE approved contents.

For all of your workplace first aid needs, take a look at Morsafe’s extensive range of first aid products. If you need more guidance, please contact us on 01686 611 377 or sales@morsafesupplies.com.

Written by Kate Jones for Morsafe Supplies.