How many first aid kits should a business have, and where should they be placed?
Short Answer: In Australia, the Safe Work Australia guidelines mandate that all workplaces need to have at least one first aid kit. However, the number of kits that are needed for a particular business will depend on factors that are taken into account by a safety audit, such as the size of the workplace, the number of employees, and the nature of the work etc.
Depending on the nature of your business, you can have first aid kits in the following areas:
● Kitchens and break rooms
● Common hallways
● Near high-risk areas or equipment
Benefits of Placing First Aid Kits in Multiple Locations
When it comes to responding to emergencies, every second counts, and one of the best time savers is strategically placing first aid kits in multiple locations. Here are the major benefits of placing first aid kits in multiple locations:
● Rapid emergency response—As we said before, in an emergency, every second counts, and having only one kit for the entire workplace can cost valuable time. Having multiple kits means that the time between the injury occurring and first aid being administered is significantly reduced, thus reducing the risk of further complications.
● Compliance with safety standards—In Australia, under the Safe Work Australia guidelines, workplaces need to have at least one first aid kit. However, the exact number needed depends on the risk assessment of your workplace. Long story short, the more first aid kits you have, the easier it will be to fulfil safety standards.
● Reduce the risk of incomplete kits—If one kit has not been properly restocked or if the supplies have expired, you can use the supplies from the other kit to make do during the emergency. However, make sure that your first aid kits are properly stocked at all times.
How to Determine How Many First Aid Kits Your Business Needs?
Since businesses come in all shapes and sizes, determining whether a workplace is adhering to the proper health and safety standards and the number of first aid kits needed as part of the compliance depends on the factors considered in determining the risk level of a workplace. They are:
● Size of the workplace—If the workplace is spread across multiple floors or buildings, then you need to have a first aid kit for every floor or building.
● Number of shifts—If the business has multiple shifts (e.g., day shift and night shift), first aid supplies must be readily available to cover the number of shifts.
● The nature of the work—If it is a high-risk work environment, such as a factory or construction site, then you will definitely need more than one first aid kit. Additionally, you may also require specialised kits designed to treat other conditions, such as burn kits and bleeding control kits.
Based on these factors, your workplace can be considered low-risk or high-risk. As such, the number of employees that can be covered by one first aid kit is as follows:
● Low-risk: 50 employees
● High-risk: Between 10 and 25 employees
Emergency Response: How Accessible Should Your First Aid Kit Be?
When it comes to selecting the right spots to place your first aid kits, accessibility must be at the forefront of your thinking. This is because being able to reduce the time between the injury and the administering of first aid is crucial to prevent further complications and even save the person’s life.
● The first aid kit should be stored in a cool and dry location to reduce the degradation of its contents.
● The kit should be marked and clearly visible. Use a signpost or mark the location with the green and white cross.
● Place the kit at a height that can be easily reached by all employees. Make sure that new employees and visitors also know where the first aid kits are situated.
● In large-scale workplaces, have multiple first aid kits to cover different zones.
Training Employees to Use First Aid Kits Effectively
Having a well-stocked first aid kit is a good start, but it is only half the equation. This is because the effectiveness of first aid also depends on how well the person applies it to the injury. By training a group or all of your employees on first aid, you can ensure that in the event of an injury, the proper care is administered before they are taken for further treatment.
Therefore, our recommendation on this is to get in touch with an accredited first aid training course centre and arrange a programme. Afterwards, make sure to conduct practical drills and regular refresher courses to keep the skills and knowledge from fading over time.
Related Questions
Q: What happens if there aren’t enough first aid kits in a business?
Inadequate coverage can result in delayed treatment and the manifestation of injury complications. When there aren’t enough first aid kits, it can expose a business to legal and compliance risks for failure to comply with workplace safety standards.
Q: Do different work environments require different first aid kits?
Yes – and they should. There is a significant disparity between the injuries that a person may suffer in an office versus the injuries they may suffer on a construction site or in a factory. Customising the first aid kit to the location means that the right treatment and equipment are always available.
Conclusion
In Australia, all workplaces must have at least one first aid kit, but having multiple first aid kits across your business means better coverage, rapid response times, and greater peace of mind. If you are looking for high-end first aid kits to cover your office or workplace, then invest in SURVIVAL first aid kits. Our kits are purpose-built to help you stay calm and react fast during an emergency, and we’ve got tonnes of first aid kit varieties perfect for all sorts of workplaces. Protect your people, protect your business, and choose SURVIVAL today.