On any site where 5 or more persons are employed a first aid box or boxes the content of which is regulated in terms of minimums for both offices and factories must be made available and kept up to standard and be accessible in terms of the Occupational Health and Safety Act of 1993 general safety regulations (sec 3).

1 First Aid Box for every 20 staff members.

There are many types of containers to house your contents available on the market. Choose the best one to suite your needs/ purposes and type of business. Fixed location wall mounted units are best for factory environments. Portable units are best for areas such as offices/ schools/vehicles etc.

All first Aid kits should have a element of portability so as to take a kit to a patient if necessary.

All first aid kits should be easily accessible throughout all working hours without any hindrances around the location of the kit. In larger factory areas, kits should be placed in all high risk areas.

The regulation contents for a First aid Kit as set out on the last page are the MINIMUM requirements for a first aid kit. You cannot have less than the required regulation items. The law also states that you are required to have additional items depending on the nature of your business. Extra burn precautions where staff might be exposed to getting burnt. Eye wash stations for staff working with chemicals etc.

If you are in a industry where you are working with food, the law requires that you only use Blue Detectable Plaster strips instead of flesh coloured plasters. Items for burn injuries/ Rescue Blanket / Antiseptic ointment and eye wash bottle or station where chemicals are involved.

No form of oral or topical scheduled medications are allowed to be kept in your First Aid Station.

This includes all pain killers in any form or type. As you do not know the history of your patient, you are not allowed to dispense any form of medication for any particular ailment. You can be held liable for any adverse effects your patient may encounter and can be involved in unnecessary law suites. Rather suggest your staff get the necessary medication from a pharmacist.

An incident report book can be used to not only monitor injuries on the premises, but also to monitor items used for the specific injury signed off by the First Aider in charge.

First Aid Stations are NOT allowed to be locked, you can however use cable ties or similar devices to control use. Using a combination lock is allowed – as long as the combination code is readily available by First Aiders in charge of the station or by management. This option will at least prevent keys from being lost or misplaced. But remember- time is of the essence when you need to use your kit in a emergency.

The location of all First Aid Stations must be sign posted with the regulation luminescent First Aid cross sign together with arrow sign placed above head height either above the first aid kit or room depicting where the first aid kit is located.

A qualified First aider with a valid certificate should take charge of the First Aid station. The First aider can monitor any injuries and administer the correct procedure for the incident. By making a First Aider responsible for their First Aid stations will minimise abuse of contents. The name of the First Aider on duty should appear on the outside of the first aid box for quick response.

Shops and Offices – one first aider for every 100 employees. Other work places – one first aider for every 50 employees. A first aider must be available during all working hours for the provision of prompt first aid to injured staff as legislated by the act.

Just like fire extinguishers- First Aid kits should be checked on regular basis to ensure items have not expired and that the required regulation items are still in the kit. This should be done on monthly basis where kits are used more often. Clinical Dynamics offers a FREE service whereby we will do the servicing for you. Please contact us.

If your staff are conducting or operating your continued business from the vehicle- such as plumbers/electricians/ contractors/ builders etc., a regulation kit will be required to be kept in the vehicle that will serve the staff members working on site. Contractors should depict by means of the First Aid cross sign that such a kit is available on the vehicle.

In the case of shops and offices – at least one health & safety representative for every 100 employees or part thereof. In other work places – one health & safety representative for every 50 employees or part thereof.

* Occupational Health and Safety Act poster.

* Basic conditions of employments poster.

* Employment equity poster.

The above needs to be displayed for all staff to read and is available from CLINICAL DYNAMICS.