What type of first aid kit should a landscaping crew carry?
Short Answer: A landscaping crew should carry first aid kits that are portable and heavy-duty. This would allow the crew to keep the first-aid kits with them and protect the medical supplies from moisture, dust, and other debris. At the same time, the contents of the kit should be comprehensive enough to deal with a range of minor and major injuries.
To determine the best first aid kits for landscaping businesses, you also need to look into the following:
What cutting and machinery injuries should be anticipated?
Should every vehicle carry its own kit?
Are eyewash supplies necessary for outdoor work sites?
How can landscaping businesses standardise safety across teams?
What cutting and machinery injuries should be anticipated?
Landscaping is considered a high-risk industry where cutting and machinery-related injuries are frequent. They are often caused by not wearing the proper personal protective equipment (PPE), using improper tools, a lack of tool maintenance, and incorrect handling of tools and machinery.
Deep cuts, lacerations, and even amputations can be expected since landscaping involves the use of sharp equipment such as brush cutters, chainsaws, hedge trimmers, and lawnmowers. At the same time, crush injuries can occur when a person gets caught in the rollover of a heavy machine. The long-term use of vibrating machines can result in hand-arm vibration syndrome.
The flying debris generated during landscaping can cause eye injuries, bruises, and even broken bones. Electrical shocks and burn injuries can occur when the equipment cuts through underground power cords and electric cables.
Should every vehicle carry its own kit?
Yes, it is highly recommended that every vehicle carry its own first-aid kit. Landscaping is a high-risk industry where workers have to travel to remote locations and use heavy and dangerous equipment. As such, the injuries suffered by workers are often severe and life-threatening.
That being said, having a first-aid kit in the vehicle can ensure that a person has the supplies they need to immediately treat the injury and stabilise the situation until proper medical help arrives.
Are eyewash supplies necessary for outdoor work sites?
Yes, eyewash supplies will be necessary for outdoor worksites. In the landscaping business, the risk of eye injuries from dust, stones, twigs, and other flying debris is high. It is generally required that eyewash supplies be accessible within 10 seconds of the hazards, approximately 55 feet away from where the eye injury occurs. This is the so-called “10 Second Rule."
While wearing the proper protective gear can greatly reduce the risk of injury, it is nonetheless important to have eyewash supplies at hand. You can hold the eyewash supplies in your portable first aid kit, but installing portable eyewash stations is the preferred choice for large and remote workplaces.
How can landscaping businesses standardise safety across teams?
As a landscaping business, there are several key strategies you can implement to standardise safety across all your teams. They can include the following:
Developing a formal, written safety policy defines your company’s commitment to safety. Have your employees read it and sign as an acknowledgement.
Create standard operating procedures that need to be followed for specific types of emergencies. (e.g., how a team should respond during a machine crush injury)
Make sure that one or more of the team members have the necessary training and qualifications to administer first aid.
Mandate a pre-use inspection checklist of the worksite and the machinery before work begins
Introduce mandatory safety meetings before the commencement of activities for the day.
Enforce a strict and mandatory rule on the use of personal protective equipment.
Maintain consistent digital and physical records of safety equipment and first-aid supplies to make sure that no one in the team is using damaged or defective products.
Mandate incident reports after every accident. Have the documents reviewed and shared across teams to inform and prevent recurrences.
Encourage employees to stop work immediately if they feel that conditions are unsafe. Allow them to report hazards without fear of retribution.
Promote a safety-first culture by incentivising and rewarding safe behaviour.
Q: What supplies should a landscaping first aid kit include?
A landscaping first aid kit should include the following supplies:
Adhesive bandages and gauze
Antiseptic wipes and creams
Compression and trauma bandages
Eye wash solution and eye patches
Burn gels
Instant cold packs
Basic over-the-counter medication (e.g., paracetamol)
Q: Do landscaping businesses need snakebite kits?
Since crews often have to work in gardens, bushland, and other remote locations, there is a high chance of them encountering snakes. That being the case, having a snake bite kit will be a valuable addition, greatly improving the emergency response capacity.
Landscape work comes with plenty of hazards – from sharp tools, heavy machinery, flying debris, and even wildlife and harsh weather. That’s why having well-stocked first aid kits in the workplace is a must to keep your crew safe and effectively respond to any emergency. For landscaping businesses across Australia, preparation goes hand in hand with professionalism. Keep well-stocked first aid kits to help create a safer workplace for both workers and clients.
If you’re looking to equip your team with the best first-aid kits, then SURVIVAL has got you covered. Our kits are designed for the tough Australian outdoors and are designed to help you handle all sorts of real-world workplace injuries. Explore the SURVIVAL first aid kit collection and protect your team, no matter where the job takes them.