First Aid Kits are an essential part of the safety in every workplace and a requirement for compliance. So, if you don’t have a First Aid Kit at your workplace, it’s imperative that you get an appropriate one the suits your workplace and needs.
While there are many First Aid Kits options to choose from, when selecting a Workplace First Aid Kit there are important factors to consider, so here’s a guide for you to pick the best First Aid Kit for your workplace:
Quantity of People: Consider how many people the first aid kit will be servicing. The more people, the bigger the kit you will need. For large worksites, divide it up into different areas and determine the number of people per area and make a first aid kit available for each area.
Prominent and Visible: All First Aid Kits should be able to be located quickly and be easily accessible. They should have a white cross with a green background.
Regulatory approval: Ensure the first aid kit and supplies are registered with the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) to be able to be sold in Australia. To ensure only safe medical products and devices are sold in Australia, the TGA requires them to have an ARTG number.
Restocking: Restocking frequency will largely depend on how often you use your First Aid Kit and the types of items you use. At a minimum, it’s important that you restock your kits at least once a year and check for expired products to ensure your first aid kit is always ready and up to date.
Risk and Common Injuries: Workplaces are usually categorised as High or Low Risk. This is determined by the type of work environment and the type of activities performed and the type of injuries possible to sustain. Some common injuries include sprains, cuts, and strains, bruises, grazes, fractures, overexposure to heat or cold, burns, allergies, bleeding, bruises, internal injuries, eye injuries, and bites & stings. Some industries, like the Food Industry for example, Restaurants, Cafes or food manufacturers need Blue Visual Dressings.
Special Considerations: Think about whether you will need additional modules for your workplaces, such as Burns Modules, Eye Modules or Trauma Modules Are the employees exposed to harmful chemicals, particles or flammable liquids?
Here is a guide to identify Risk Levels in the workplace:
Low Risk Workplaces: applies to workplaces where the nature of the work implies a low probability of serious injury that would require first aid treatment. For example, city offices, shops, retail, co-working spaces on suburban hubs, etc.
Moderate Risk Workplaces: is defined by a workplace where there’s a mild risk of an accident. For example, workplaces where machinery is used, such as warehouses with pallet racking and a forklift, etc.
High Risk Workplaces: applies to workplaces where accidents are certain unless employees are protected correctly. This requires additional cover for the type of work being performed, for example, burns, eye injuries, fractures, and cuts. These workplaces may need extra items for each assessed risk. If you work with chemicals, heavy machinery, cutting tools, or welding equipment then your business is high risk.
Remote area – Farms – Mine Sites all need separate assessments but the distance from a hospital or medical assistance is a key factor that increases risk. Because access to medical services is often limited, First Aid Training and First Aid Rooms are often needed.
