What factors should businesses consider when selecting employee first aid kits?
Short Answer: Before you head to get the first aid kits for your employees, you need to have a proper understanding of the dangers and hazards they will have to deal with daily. You will also need to consider other factors, such as the number of employees, as well as the size and locations of your work area.
To answer the question of how to choose the right first aid kit for your employees, you need to look into:
● Assessing workplace risks and what your employees need,
● The OSHA guidelines for first aid kits,
● The customization of first aid kits for different job roles, and
● The best practices for workplace first aid training
Assessing Workplace Risks: What Your Employees Need
Every workplace, from your everyday office to busy construction sites, comes with its own unique challenges to health and safety. Therefore, before you invest in first aid kits and other safety equipment, the first step to promoting employee wellbeing and maintaining compliance with health and safety regulations is conducting a thorough risk assessment. Here are the steps you need to follow when conducting a workplace risk assessment:
● Review the nature of the work and identify any potential hazards
● Consider who might be harmed by the hazards, including employees, contractors, and visitors.
● Evaluate the likelihood of the hazards causing harm and the potential severity of the injury.
● Consider factors such as the size of the workforce per shift, site accident history, and the health conditions of your employees.
● Based on the risks, identify the types and number of first aid kits needed to account for all the potential accidents that can occur in the workplace.
● Arrange for the purchasing of supplies, facilitating training courses, and the posting of first aiders' contact information across the workplace.
OSHA Guidelines for Employee First Aid Kits
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is the main government body responsible for creating, overseeing, and implementing workplace health and safety guidelines across all industries. According to Appendix A to Section 1910.266, a workplace first aid kit that is adequate to cover a small worksite, consisting of two to three employees, must contain the following supplies:
● Gauze pads (at least 4 x 4 inches)
● Two large gauze pads (at least 8 x 10 inches)
● Box adhesive bandages (band-aids)
● One package of gauze roller bandage at least 2 inches wide
● Two triangular bandages
● Wound cleaning agent, such as sealed, moistened towelettes
● Scissors
● At least one blanket
● Tweezers
● Adhesive tape
● Latex gloves
● Resuscitation equipment such as a resuscitation bag, airway, or pocket mask
● Two elastic wraps
● Splint
● Directions for requesting emergency assistance
When it comes to large operations or multiple operations taking place in the same location, additional first aid kits must be provided at the worksite, or additional quantities of supplies must be readily available. 
Customizing First Aid Kits for Different Job Roles
When you perform a workplace assessment, you will gain a good understanding of the hazards that employees and visitors to the workplace will have to face regularly. Based on this understanding, you will also be keenly aware that first aid kits need to be customized to match the risks faced in different job roles. When deciding on how best to customize first aid kits, consider the following:
● Low-hazard workplaces (offices)- a first aid kit should be prepared to deal with minor cuts, sprains, bruises, headaches, and minor burns. A standard first aid kit with an emphasis on different types of bandages, over-the-counter medication, instant cold packs, and potentially eye pads would make the perfect choice.
● Construction/Industrial- Injuries such as major trauma, extreme bleeding, fractures, cuts, eye injuries, and burns are quite common. A first aid kit must include supplies such as trauma dressings, hemostatic dressings, burn gels, eyewash solutions, and larger bandages.
● Laboratory/Chemical Handling- Since the most common accidents are cuts, burns, and eye injuries, first aid kits in these workplaces need to come with specialized eyewash solutions, burn treatments, and an assortment of small plasters and bandages.
● Outdoor/Remote work- Since emergencies can be connected to environmental exposure, animal bites, and major trauma, any first aid kit covering these employees must contain supplies that help deal with trauma injuries, snake bites, insect bites, and foil emergency blankets to help regulate body temperature.
Best Practices for Workplace First Aid Training
No matter how advanced or well-equipped a workplace first aid kit may be, it will fall short of achieving its desired objective if it is not handled by the right people during an emergency. With a proper and carefully thought-out training regime, any person can jump into action, calmly and effectively responding to any type of emergency, no matter where and when it occurs.
When organizing first aid training for your workplace, here are the best practices you should follow:
● Partner with a nationally recognized training institute with the appropriate first aid and medical qualifications (e.g., the American Red Cross or St. John’s).
● Use blended learning, combining online learning with in-person hands-on experience to reinforce the learned knowledge and skills.
● Assign different roles to members of staff to address specific needs and risks during an emergency.
● Use realistic simulations and drills to help employees improve their response time, apply the knowledge and skills they have learned, and boost their confidence.
● Review performance after drills and simulations have been completed. Provide feedback and constructive criticism.
● Regularly engage in refresher courses to allow employees to keep their skills sharp and learn about new and improved methods and medications.
Related Question
Q: How many first aid kits does a workplace need?
The number of first aid kits needed depends on factors such as the size, location, layout, and risk level of your workplace, alongside the number of employees. The most common ratio is one kit for every 50 employees in a low-risk workplace, and one kit for every 10 - 25 employees in a high-risk workplace.
Conclusion
When it comes to picking the right first aid kit for your employees, it's not just about ticking off a box in a checklist-it’s about creating a safer and more confident workplace where, should an emergency ever take place, they can rest easy knowing that help and the right tools are always close at hand. Creating this environment requires you to have the best of the best in terms of first aid kits, and there is none better than SURVIVAL.
Our internationally recognized and critically acclaimed first aid kits made from high-quality, durable materials are trusted by adventurers, families, and workplaces all across the globe. Explore our range of first aid kits to find out what suits your workplace the best. When it comes to safety, SURVIVAL is always the right choice.