A List of Work and Safety Must-Have Kits

Having a safety kit is necessary in any workplace, as it reduces the frequency and severity of accidents that could happen. In this article I will talk about a list of work and safety must-have kits.

What are the essentials for work and safety kits?

• A comprehensive kit for the workplace must include bandages, scissors and gauze
• An ice pack is another important item that will be useful to have
• It’s best to always be prepared with skin cleaning wipes
• A wound closing agent will be needed when dealing with injuries
• Gloves are essential for hygiene too

What should be in work and safety kits?

First aid kits can be customized or made in any size, shape or type according to your workplace.
However, it should be large enough to contain the basic and necessary items, contain a list of contents for that kit and be made of material that will protect the contents, and be easily identifiable.

 The Survival Workplace First Aid KIT is compliant with the Safe Work Australia Workplace Health and Safety Code of Practice, and here are a couple of the items included:

• 4 x Eye pads, sterile
• 5 x Nitrile gloves
• 5 x Cotton swabs, 7.5cm x 7.5cm
• 1 x Ice pack
• 1 x Combine dressing
• 2 x Pressure bandage (1 SMART Bandage, 10cm x 2m, 1 medium weight, 10cm x 1.8m)

The quantity of items in a work and safety kit will depend on the number of employees in the company.

To know exactly what you will need in your safety kit, you will need to conduct an assessment on the first aid needs in the company.

Once this has been done, it will be easier to know what facilities and equipment are needed, as well as what will be in the kit.

A general safety kit for the workplace should include the following items:

• Tweezers
• Bandage shears
• Adhesive dressings
• Gloves
• An emergency blanket
• Gauze pads
• Roller bandages
• Triangular bandages
• Wound cleaning agents
• Resuscitation bag

How many ‘must-have’ safety kits should be in a workplace?

Every workplace should have at least one first aid kit that’s appropriate for the number of people.

According to Safe Work Australia Workplace Health and Safety Code of Practice, there are a couple of factors that will have to be thought about when considering the number of safety kits in a workplace:

• The Number of Employees
• The Nature of Work being carried out
• The Nature of Hazards

Let’s take a look at these points in detail.

• The Number of Employees

The size of your workplace will vary over time, but when it comes to deciding on how many safety kits will be needed, the number of employees needs to be considered.

If there are a small number of employees, one safety kit should be adequate, but if it is a larger workforce, more first aid resources will be required.

Larger workplaces mean bigger departments on different floors - and first aid kits will have to be placed in these departments for everyone to access.

• The Nature of Work being carried out

There are certain work environments where the nature of work is risky.

Due to the nature of work, there are many potential hazards that could happen.

In these cases, it is best to have more than one safety kit at hand as a backup.

• The Nature of Hazards

Construction sites have a very high risk of injury, and therefore need more immediate medical treatment compared to an office.

They will need different first aid arrangements since the line of work is far more dangerous, too.

Here are a list of potential hazards that could happen:

• Working from a height - trips, falls and slips can cause dislocations, bruises, lacerations and concussions
• Manual tasks - can cause muscle strain
• Machinery and equipment - being caught by moving parts of machinery, being hit by moving vehicles can cause amputations, fractures and bruises
• Hazardous chemicals - your skin or eyes coming into contact or inhaling toxic chemicals could cause irritation, poisoning and chemical burns
• Extreme temperatures - working with and exposure to hot surfaces and materials can cause fatigue and heat stress. Exposure to extreme cold can cause frostbite and hypothermia

Importance of having work and safety must-have kits

Work and safety kits are a must have because they maintain your employees safety and help with preserving life, preventing further injury and promoting recovery.

A kit will allow you to help someone in need temporarily until a medical professional arrives on the scene.

When it comes to the importance of work and safety kits, you must remember the following:

• We can’t foresee the future
• Your employees will be reassured of their safety
• It is a legal requirement
• It’s a response when there is no responder

Let’s talk about the significance of these points in detail.

• We can’t foresee the future

Any type of accidents can happen at a workplace, especially where there is high risk of injury at a factory or a construction site.

It has been proven effective to have first aid at industrial workplaces because of the frequency of dangerous accidents.

• Your employees will be reassured of their safety

Having the adequate supplies in your work and safety kit will reassure your employees that they are being taken care of during emergency situations.

They will appreciate an employer who cares about their wellbeing and it will have a positive psychological effect on them.

• It is a legal requirement

According to Safe Work Australia Workplace Health, it is required to have a work and safety kit in your workplace.

Your workplace will be investigated if you have not followed the guidelines in having safety kits for your employees.

• It’s a response when there is no responder

Since an accident can happen anywhere and anytime at a workplace, a safety kit is a response until a medical professional/first responder arrives at the scene.

It could potentially save someone's life and reduce the chance of the injury becoming more severe.

What are the requirements for work and safety must-have kits

• Safety glasses/goggles - These will protect the eyes from debris or splashes of hazardous materials
• Safety shoes or boots - These will protect the feet from falling objects or electrical hazards
• Earplugs/earmuffs - These will protect the ears from loud noises
• Respirator - If there is a risk of inhaling hazardous particles or gasses, a respirator can protect the lungs
• Gloves - Depending on the type of work being done, gloves can protect the hands from cuts, punctures or chemical exposure

To have a better understanding of these requirements, employers will need to conduct a hazard assessment to determine the specific needs of their employees.

The employers will have to ensure that everyone has the necessary equipment to work safely.

Workplace safety guidelines have been designed to ensure the safety and health of employees in the workplace.

Here are a couple of guidelines that employers and employees can follow:

• Conduct a hazard assessment - Identify any potential hazards in the workplace and take the appropriate steps to eliminate or control them
• Provide appropriate training - Make sure your employees are trained in the safe operation of equipment and machinery
• Use personal protective equipment - Provide employees with the necessary personal protective equipment, such as
  - Gloves
  - Safety glasses

• Report and investigate accidents - Encourage employees to report all incidents, even if they are minor. Investigate them and determine the cause to take action to prevent future incidents
• Promote a safety culture - Encourage a safety culture in the workplace by promoting safety as a top priority, rewarding safe behavior when recognizing them

Related Questions

Does the work and safety kit need to be maintained?

Yes, the work and safety kit needs to be maintained, by an employee who has been nominated.

They will have the responsibility of:
- Monitoring usage
- Replacing items used
- Ensuring sterile products remain sealed.
- Checking for required items - Make sure items are within their expiry dates

As long as these responsibilities have been taken care of, everything will be in order.

How often should a work and safety kit be replaced?

A work and safety kit will need to be replaced depending on the expiry date of the items in the kit.

It is recommended to check the expiry date on your first aid products when purchasing, write the dates down and then keep a reminder.

Conclusion

A work and safety kit is essential to have in any workplace, as this will establish a safe workplace for your employees.

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