First Aid Kit Guidance

British Standard First Aid Kits - Complies with BS 8599-1:2011.

In recognising the need to ensure that workplace first aid provision is adequate and appropriate The British Healthcare Trade Association has been working with the British Standards Institute (BSI), to create a new British standard for first aid kits in the workplace.

These enhanced kits are based upon the minimum requirements set out by the Health & Safety Executive in their approved code of practice. The contents of the kits take into account more modern and functional products encompassing a wider range of common workplace risks and are therefore more comprehensive than the current HSE kits.

What are the key changes?

• Increased number of disposable gloves which are required to be nitrile.

• Decreased number of Triangular Bandages as they are no longer used for the immobilisation of limb injuries.

• Introduction of smaller dressings for finger injuries that are too large for plasters.

• Introduction of adhesive tape to secure bandages without using safety pins.

• Introduction of gel burn dressings and a conforming bandage to secure it.

• Introduction of clothing cutters.

• Introduction of an eyewash bottle for travel kits.

• Introduction of a resuscitation face shield to provide protection for first aiders.

• Introduction of the foil survival blanket to keep the casualty warm in cases of clinical shock.

• The new British Standard kits will therefore represent best practice in workplace first aid provision whilst still being compliant with HSE guidelines.

What size kit do I need?

The size of the kit required is dependent on a combination of the level of risk and the number of employees in the workplace.

This table is for guidance only and each workplace needs to evaluate its own level of risk. Special circumstances also need to be considered such as remoteness from medical services and sites with several buildings. In these situations there may need to be more first aid kits than set out in the table.

The BSI guide can be purchase here if you require further detail - BSI Guide

The current HSE guide which should be update soon can be found here (correct at time written 21/07/11) - HSE Guide

Please contact us if you require any assistance.