There is no mandatory list of first aid kit contents. For low-hazard work, HSE suggests a minimum of: a first aid guidance leaflet, 20 assorted sterile plasters, 2 sterile eye pads, 2 triangular bandages, 6 safety pins, 2 large and 6 medium sterile unmedicated dressings, and at least 3 pairs of disposable gloves. Higher-risk work needs more, based on your needs assessment.
Every employer must provide at least one suitably stocked first aid kit under the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981. What “suitably stocked” means depends on your work, so the right first aid kit contents for an office differ from those for a workshop. This guide sets out HSE’s suggested contents for workplace and travelling kits, where British Standard BS 8599-1 fits in, what to leave out, and how to keep a kit usable.
Workplace first aid kit contents: the HSE list
HSE’s guidance, L74 First aid at work, gives a suggested minimum stock for a kit where work activities involve low hazards. It stresses that this is a guide, and that your own first aid needs assessment decides the final contents.
| Item | Suggested quantity |
|---|---|
| Leaflet giving general guidance on first aid (for example HSE’s Basic advice on first aid at work) | 1 |
| Individually wrapped sterile plasters, assorted sizes (hypoallergenic if needed) | 20 |
| Sterile eye pads | 2 |
| Individually wrapped triangular bandages, preferably sterile | 2 |
| Safety pins | 6 |
| Large sterile individually wrapped unmedicated wound dressings | 2 |
| Medium sterile individually wrapped unmedicated wound dressings | 6 |
| Pairs of disposable gloves | At least 3 |
Source: HSE L74, First aid at work (third edition, 2024 amendment), Appendix 2.
That list suits an office or shop. It will not cover a workshop where cuts and crush injuries are likely, or a site handling chemicals. Your risk assessment should tell you which injuries you are planning for, and the kit should match them.
Do I need a BS 8599-1 first aid kit?
No. A BS 8599-1 kit is a sensible option but not a legal requirement. The current edition, BS 8599-1:2019, specifies the contents of small, medium and large workplace kits, travel kits, personal issue kits and critical injury packs. It also includes a table to help choose the right kit size for a workplace. BSI states that using it is not mandatory.
HSE says employers may refer to BS 8599 for further information. Whether you buy a BS 8599-1 kit or build your own, HSE’s position is the same: the contents should reflect the outcome of your needs assessment. A compliant label does not do the assessment for you.
Extra items your needs assessment may call for
L74 lists further materials that may be needed depending on the risks. They can go in the main kit if there is room, or be stored next to it:
- foil blankets
- haemostatic dressings, tourniquets and sterile gauze for wound packing, where life-threatening bleeding is a foreseeable risk
- disposable aprons and individually wrapped moist wipes
- hypoallergenic microporous tape, shears that can cut through clothing, and sterile disposable tweezers
Two items deserve a separate mention. If clean mains tap water is not readily available for washing wounds and eyes, HSE says to provide at least one litre of sterile water or sterile normal saline (0.9%) in sealed, disposable containers. Once a container is opened, do not keep it for reuse. Where hydrofluoric acid is used, calcium gluconate may be needed. Store specialist items like this securely near the kit, with access limited to people trained to use them.
Burns and eye injuries: water comes first
For most burns and eye injuries the most useful first aid supply is clean water. HSE’s leaflet Basic advice on first aid at work says to cool a burn with cold water until the pain is relieved, which may take 20 minutes or more, without delaying the trip to hospital. Chemical burns should be flooded with water for 20 minutes.
For a chemical in the eye, HSE advises flushing with water or sterile fluid for at least 10 minutes while holding the eyelids open, then sending the casualty to hospital. If your site uses hazardous substances, plan eyewash and water supplies through your COSHH assessment, not as an afterthought in the first aid box.
Should a first aid kit contain painkillers or medicines?
No. HSE says first aid at work does not include giving tablets or medicines to treat illness, and recommends that tablets and medicines are not kept in the first aid container. The one exception it names is aspirin given to a casualty with a suspected heart attack, in line with accepted first aid practice.
Employees who carry their own prescribed medication, such as an asthma inhaler, take it themselves. The first aider’s role is to help them do so and call the emergency services if needed.
What should be in a travelling first aid kit?
HSE suggests employers consider issuing kits to mobile staff, or keeping one in each vehicle used for business. Its suggested contents for a travelling kit are:
- a leaflet giving general guidance on first aid
- 6 individually wrapped sterile plasters
- 2 individually wrapped triangular bandages, preferably sterile
- 2 safety pins
- 1 large sterile unmedicated dressing
- individually wrapped moist cleansing wipes
- 2 pairs of disposable gloves
Lone and remote workers also need a way to call for help. Our lone worker guide and driving for work guide cover the wider arrangements.
How many first aid kits do you need, and where should they go?
Provide at least one kit for each work site, and more on large sites if your needs assessment shows it. HSE says kits should be:
- easy to reach, and preferably near hand-washing facilities
- protected from dust and damp
- stocked only with items useful for first aid
- marked with a white cross on a green background
On a multi-storey or spread-out site, put kits where a first aider can reach a casualty quickly, which often means one per floor or building. Match the number of kits to the number of first aiders you need, so each has one close at hand.
How often should a first aid kit be checked?
HSE does not set a fixed interval. It says contents should be examined frequently and restocked soon after use, with enough spare supplies held on site, and expired items disposed of safely. Checking is usually the appointed person’s job. A simple routine:
- Check each kit against its contents list on a set date every month.
- Check again after every use, and restock the same day.
- Look at expiry dates on sterile items, wipes and sterile water.
- Replace anything with a damaged or opened wrapper.
- Remove anything that should not be there, especially tablets.
- Sign and date a check card kept inside the lid.
Monthly is our practical suggestion rather than an HSE rule. Busy or higher-risk sites may need weekly checks. If a kit is used for a reportable injury, check whether the incident needs reporting under RIDDOR.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a legal list of what must be in a first aid kit?
No. HSE says there is no mandatory list of items for a first aid container. Employers must provide a suitably stocked kit, and the contents should be based on their first aid needs assessment. HSE publishes a suggested minimum list for low-hazard work.
What does HSE recommend in a basic first aid kit?
For low-hazard work HSE suggests a first aid guidance leaflet, 20 assorted sterile plasters, 2 sterile eye pads, 2 triangular bandages, 6 safety pins, 2 large and 6 medium sterile unmedicated dressings, and at least 3 pairs of disposable gloves.
Is a BS 8599-1 first aid kit a legal requirement?
No. BS 8599-1:2019 is a British Standard for workplace kit contents, and BSI states that its use is not mandatory. HSE says employers may refer to it, but the contents should still reflect the needs assessment.
Can I keep paracetamol in a workplace first aid kit?
HSE recommends that tablets and medicines are not kept in the first aid container, because first aid at work does not include giving medicines to treat illness. The only exception HSE names is aspirin for a suspected heart attack.
Do first aid kit items expire?
Yes, many sterile items, wipes and sterile water carry expiry dates. HSE says expired items should be disposed of safely and kits restocked, so check dates as part of every inspection.
What colour should a first aid kit be?
HSE says first aid containers should be identified by a white cross on a green background. First aid rooms use the same green and white signage.
Where to learn more
- Emergency First Aid at Work: one-day course for lower-risk workplaces
- First Aid at Work: three-day course for workplaces that need full first aid cover
- How many first aiders do I need?: HSE’s suggested numbers explained
- COSHH regulations explained: planning for chemical splashes and exposure
- RIDDOR reporting explained: which workplace injuries must be reported
Train the people who use the kit
KeyOstas delivers Emergency First Aid at Work and First Aid at Work courses at your premises anywhere in the UK, for up to 12 delegates per course.
Send an enquiry or call +44 (0)330 056 9534.