Choosing a Good First Aid Kit For The Lab

First Aid Kit

Choosing a Good First Aid Kit For The Lab

Posted on the 9th of May 2018 by Westlab

Every lab should have a compliant, up to date first aid kit as the laboratory can be somewhat more dangerous than a standard workplace office. It is imperative that you equip your lab with a first aid kit that not only provides the necessary items to deal with emergencies but also is large enough to cater for the number of workers in the laboratory. In this article, we’ll go through some key considerations in selecting the most appropriate First Aid Kit.

Quality and Compliance


There are a lot of first aid kits available on the market and it can often be an overwhelming task to try and determine which kit is most suitable. When looking at first aid kits, ensure that the kit is compliant to both Australian Standards AS 2675-1983 (Portable first aid kits for use by consumers), as well as compliance to the general Work Health and Safety (WHS) laws regarding first aid (see FAQs about WHS and first aid). It should be well stated when purchasing a first aid kit if it complies to Australian Standards and WHS. If not, it is worth a phone call to the supplier to confirm the kits compliance.

Size and Application


It is important that you first conduct a first aid risk assessment for your workplace to determine all potential hazards in the lab. After this assessment, you’ll be able to identify what first aid you’ll need. Before you can classify the size of the first aid kit required, you’ll need to determine whether your laboratory is a low-risk or high-risk environment:

  • Low-risk: an environment where potential hazards won’t result in serious injury (i.e. cuts, sprains, broken bones, wound etc.)
  • High-risk: an environment where potential hazards could result in serious injury or illness (i.e. death, dismemberment, permanent impairment etc.)

Once you understand the risk, identify how many workers are in your laboratory and purchase a kit that will accommodate. For example, if you have 80 workers in your laboratory, you’ll require a kit that is suitable for up to 100 people. First aid kits generally specify how many people it will accommodate for both low-risk and high-risk workplaces. Ensure you get a kit that fits your size and risk level and allow a buffer for visitors, new employees etc.

Specialty Kits


Do you require a specialty kit to accompany the first aid kit? In the laboratory, you should also be considered first aid for burns and eye washing. Consider purchasing both these types of kits to accompany your first aid kit so to handle these kinds of incidents in the lab. While you may already have an eyewash station in the lab, you’ll also need an eyewash kit to treat the eye after it has been washed (eye patches, bandages etc.). A burns kit should also be considered as these types of kits provide specialty gel and bandages to treat burns. You may also need to consider whether you require a portable kit should you be doing fieldwork, etc.

An accident can happen at any time and it is vital that you have the tools to be able to treat a victim both quickly and with the appropriate care. To ensure you get the proper kits required, ensure you look for kits that are compliant with Scientific Supplies Australia Standards and large enough to accommodate the number of lab staff.

2018-05-09 23:51:00
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