How often do First Aid Kits need to be checked?
Access to a First Aid Kit can quite literally mean the difference between life and death. That’s why it’s a legal obligation for all businesses in Australia to have at least one working First Aid Kit in their workplaces.
As per the guidelines provided by Safe Work Australia, any person conducting a business or undertaking has a primary duty to ensure that workers and other persons are not exposed to health and safety risks arising from that specific business or undertaking.
What does this mean? It means that business owners and employers in Australia have specific legal obligations with regards to the provision of first aid in the workplace. There are three key things that they must do in order to be compliant with national standards.
Businesses and workplaces in Australia must:
- Provide first aid equipment and ensure each worker at the workplace has access to the equipment;
- Ensure proper access to facilities for the administration of first aid;
- Ensure that an adequate number of workers are trained to administer first aid at the workplace.
Unfortunately, many workplaces in Australia are ill-prepared or underprepared when it comes to first aid. St John Ambulance Australia estimates that 87% of Australian businesses are failing to meet first aid requirements. This has significant consequences on the outcomes of first aid incidents, and means that individuals in need of first aid may not receive adequate care in those initial, critical moments. That’s why it is extremely important to have your First Aid Kits checked and tested regularly. Doing so will ensure that you are fulfilling your duty of care to your employees, customers, and visitors.
So, how often should you be checking your First Aid Kit?
Having a First Aid Kit is no good if the kit is not well-equipped. Safe Work Australia recommends that First Aid Kits should be checked after each use to ensure that items are being replaced as soon as they are used. Even if the kit has not been used, it should still be inspected once every 12 months to ensure that all the items are there and that all the items are in good working condition.
So, how do you check a First Aid Kit? Safe Work Australia suggests that workplaces should nominate a person in the workplace to be responsible for the maintenance and regular inspection of the First Aid Kits. Ideally, this person should be one of the workplace’s qualified first aiders. To conduct a kit inspection, the inspector should print out an inventory list and cross-check all the items in the kit against this list. This inventory list should be kept inside the kit with the inspectors’ signature and the date of inspection noted somewhere on the document.
At Jim’s Test & Tag, we supply and install high quality First Aid Kits to businesses across Australia. When new supplies are needed, all you have to do is give us a call and a member of our team will come and replenish your kit as soon as possible.
What are the requirements for a First Aid Kit?
Every workplace needs to have at least one First Aid Kit in the space. All workers must be able to access this kit. The contents of the kit can vary slightly depending on the specific risks of the given workplace. For example, in workplaces where there is a risk of flying particles or objects (eg. a woodworking or carpentry workshop), the First Aid Kit should include eye pads as a result of the higher risk of eye injury.
However, there are some basic items that every First Aid Kit must have. Every kit should provide basic equipment for administering first aid for injuries including:
- Cuts, scratches, punctures, grazes, and splinters;
- Sprains and strains;
- Minor burns;
- Amputations or major bleeding wounds;
- Broken bones;
- Eye injuries;
- Shock.
First Aid Kits should also be easily identifiable. Displaying well-recognised, standardised first aid signs (eg. a white cross) will mean that these kits can quickly be located in moments of emergency and panic. Alongside our kits, Jim’s Test & Tag also supply and install essential first aid signage. Don’t underestimate how essential this signage is; when time is of the essence, you simply can’t afford to waste time searching for a First Aid Kit.
Do First Aid Kits expire?
First Aid Kits don’t expire, but the products and items contained in these kits do. Everything in a First Aid Kit can and will expire eventually. Items like antiseptic gels, sprays, Band-Aids, and even gloves have use-by dates, and it’s best to be aware of them to ensure that your kits are up-to-date and in good working condition.
Just because you can use expired first aid items doesn’t mean you should. Expired first aid items lose their efficacy, meaning that they simply won’t be as effective as their newer counterparts. If a First Aid Kit is not up-to-date, the first aider may struggle to perform basic first aid, which in turn, could seriously jeopardise the patient’s outcome in cases of emergency.
That’s why it’s important to nominate a person in the workplace to regularly check and maintain the workplace’s First Aid Kits. When products have been used or when products have expired, it’s critical that you call someone in to replenish these items immediately. Doing so will ensure that your business is meeting all of its workplace requirements and that your business is fulfilling its duty of care to its employees, customers, and visitors.
At Jim’s Test & Tag, we do so much more than electrical testing and tagging. One of the essential services that we provide to businesses and workplaces on a regular basis is supplying and installing First Aid Kits.
First aid events are unpredictable. Even in the safest of workplaces, there is always a chance that there may be a first aid incident. That’s why it’s critical for workplaces to be prepared for these scenarios. Ready to get your new First Aid Kit? Get in touch with us today on 131 546 and receive your free quote on our range of first aid services.
Related Jim’s Group News
– Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week: Everything You Need to Know About This Silent Killer.
– Act Now, Save Lives: 5 Household Appliances You Should Test at The Same Time as Your Smoke Alarms.
– What’s the Difference Between Pre-Made Meal Kits and DIY Produce Kits?
– 10 Common Workplace Safety Hazards.
– 5 Dangers to Watch Out For in Your Office.
