Does your first aid kit have everything you need? To comply with first aid related legislation in the workplace, you need to be fully compliant with both documentation and equipment. Read on to find out how Safe Industrial can help you to keep a complete first aid kit.
Check the suitability of your first aid kit
There is no one size fits all answer to what the right first aid kit is – the important thing is to choose the correct products for your workplace. Depending on where you work, you will require different items in differing quantities.
For example, if you happen to work in an office environment, you will require a standard first aid kit in most cases. This means a kit that simply contains the basics (such as plasters, bandages and burn gel, as well as some other essentials) as you are most likely to encounter very minor accidents such as small trips and falls, scaldings with a kettle, or cuts using office equipment.
However, if you work in an environment with chemicals such as a lab, you will require a higher level of first aid kit which contains not only the standard kit essentials, but a high-quality burn kit and eyewashes in case employees come into contact with chemicals. Since the likelihood of this happening is much higher than in an office or school, this is an essential bit of kit for your space.
Making sure you have a complete first aid kit
A standard first aid kit is a requirement for all schools and workplaces, no matter how common or uncommon minor accidents are. But how exactly do you go about completing your kit and making sure you have the appropriate supplies for your workplace setting?
Covering the basics first is your best bet. The Evolution Workplace First Aid Kit complies fully with British Standards of all the equipment required to be compliant with HSE.
Available in small, medium, and large to suit your workplace, this first aid kit contains the key elements you need to make your own unique workplace fully compliant easily.
Including plasters for those small cuts, a range of dressings and scissors to cut them to size, and equipment for minor burns, it also comes with basic first aid advice. It is perfect for both those trained in first aid and those who are not.
It can even be wall mounted for convenient use, which is especially essential for busy workplaces where your kit needs high visibility, such as industrial and warehouse settings, hospitals or labs.
This is the ideal way to get the basics covered – and you can order extras that you may need depending on the type of accidents that are most likely to happen in your workplace.
Complete your first aid kit with an accident book
Every workplace should seek to complete their first aid kit with an accident book where you will detail any accidents that take place on-site. This is an essential part of your kit, as it is required in order for you to be fully compliant with current health and safety legislation.
The style of accident book you need may change depending on your workplace. You may require both an accident book and a near-miss book – these should be clearly displayed so that every single accident or “near miss” can be written down – this not only means you are compliant with HSE but also with the requirements of your insurance.
The accident book can also help you to keep track of equipment used out of your kit so that you know when it’s time to restock.
As you can see, it is vital to ensure that your workplace has a complete first aid kit to make sure you are prepared for any accidents. Whatever area you work within, you can choose the correct size of first aid kit for you, with the essential items that work for the kind of environment you are in.
Even if you currently have a fully stocked first aid kit, be certain to regularly check that all the products are compliant with current guidance and have not become out of date since you last purchased them.
With this guide, we hope you feel like you can keep your workplace safe and healthy – all with a little help from Safe Industrial.