What should a workplace emergency response or first aid kit contain? A checklist for employers

Every first aid kit shares a common core, but the ideal contents depend on what can go wrong in your workplace.

The basics every kit should contain

• Sterile compresses and gauze dressings in various sizes
• Plasters (various sizes, preferably water-resistant)
• Disinfectant
• Disposable gloves (several pairs)
• Scissors and tweezers
• An emergency blanket
• A triangular bandage
• Cold packs (instant, no fridge needed)

What you add depends on your sector

• Hospitality: extra burn dressings (hot surfaces, deep-frying), supplies for cuts (knives)
• Construction & logistics: larger dressings for severe bleeding, eye irrigation supplies (dust, splinters), attention to electrocution and falls from height
• Offices: supplies focused on evacuation/fainting, and sufficient attention to cardiovascular conditions among an often older workforce
• Schools & youth work: extra attention to insect bites, minor playground accidents, and a clear procedure for communicating with parents

The step that is often forgotten: how do you use it?

A full kit containing supplies that nobody recognises is almost useless in a stressful situation. That is why Actibox adds a visual action card for each topic — step by step, in clear language, so even a colleague without training immediately knows what to do, from “ensure safety” to “call 112”.

Checks: not a “one-off”, but recurring

Schedule a regular check (e.g. every quarter) to replenish expired or used supplies. A first aid kit is not a one-off purchase, but something you maintain like a fire extinguisher.

Curious about the cost of a kit tailored to your sector? View our sector ActiBoxes or request a tailored quote.