Carrying first aid equipment on a commercial fishing vessel is only part of the job. Where the kit is kept, how it is protected, how quickly crew can reach it and how clearly the location is identified can all matter.
For vessels required to carry a prescribed Scale F or Scale G first aid kit, AMSA specifies that the portable kit must be located adjacent to the Master's accommodation or in the wheelhouse. On small partly open vessels, it must be protected from incoming spray and weather. The kit must also be stored in a weather-tight portable case, securely fastened with quick-release closures and clearly identified.
On a commercial fishing vessel, it is not enough to simply have a first aid kit somewhere on board.
In an emergency, crew may need to locate and open the kit quickly while the vessel is moving, conditions are wet and someone is injured.
For vessels operating under prescribed Scale F or Scale G first aid arrangements, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority sets out specific requirements for the location, case, securing and identification of the portable first aid kit.
For other domestic commercial vessels, the exact first aid arrangement may instead be determined through the applicable vessel requirements and a first aid risk assessment.
Either way, first aid storage should be treated as part of the vessel's overall emergency preparedness rather than simply finding an empty cupboard for the kit.
Where Should a Scale F or Scale G First Aid Kit Be Stored?
AMSA's current Scale F and Scale G guidance states that the portable first aid kit must be located:
- adjacent to the Master's accommodation, or
- in the wheelhouse.
On a small partly open vessel, the kit also needs to be stowed so it is protected from incoming spray and weather.
This is an important distinction. The requirement is not simply that the kit be somewhere convenient on deck or somewhere crew members happen to prefer.
Where a prescribed Scale F or Scale G arrangement applies, the storage requirements form part of that arrangement.
Why Is the Wheelhouse a Logical First Aid Location?
The wheelhouse is generally a central and recognisable part of a commercial fishing vessel.
It is also an area crew are likely to know and where important operational and emergency equipment may already be located.
In a first aid situation, this can reduce the chance of someone having to search through cabins, storage lockers or fishing equipment to find medical supplies.
Accessibility still matters
A kit may be in the correct general location but still be difficult to access if it is buried behind equipment, blocked by stored gear or secured in a way that takes too long to release.
A practical first aid setup should allow crew to identify the location quickly and retrieve the portable kit without unnecessary delay.
What Type of Case Is Required for Scale F and Scale G Kits?
AMSA specifies more than just the contents of a Scale F or Scale G kit.
The portable first aid equipment must be stored in a weather-tight portable case made from non-corrosive material of suitable strength and size to accommodate the first aid stores.
That wording matters in a marine environment.
Fishing vessels can expose equipment to salt, spray, humidity, movement, fish products, fuel, cleaning chemicals and changing weather conditions. Medical supplies need protection from those conditions.
- Weather-tight portable case
- Non-corrosive material
- Suitable strength for the marine environment
- Enough room for the required first aid stores
- Portable rather than permanently inaccessible
- Suitable for secure fastening with quick-release closures
Weatherproof and weather-tight are not automatically the same claim
If a first aid bag is marketed as weatherproof, that does not by itself establish that it satisfies AMSA's specific requirement for a weather-tight portable case. Operators purchasing equipment for a prescribed Scale F or Scale G requirement should confirm that the complete setup satisfies the applicable marine requirements.
Should the First Aid Kit Be Secured?
Yes.
AMSA says the portable case should be fastened securely with quick-release closures.
There is a practical reason for both parts of that requirement.
A vessel can pitch, roll or experience sudden movement. A loose first aid case can shift around the wheelhouse, fall from a shelf or become difficult to locate after rough conditions.
At the same time, securing the case should not make it unnecessarily difficult to retrieve during an emergency.
The aim is to keep the kit secure during normal vessel movement while still allowing it to be released quickly when first aid is needed.
Why Quick-Release Access Matters
First aid may need to be provided somewhere other than where the kit is stored.
A deckhand may be injured near fishing machinery. Someone may suffer a cut on deck. A crew member may need treatment in accommodation or another part of the vessel.
A portable kit allows supplies to be taken to the casualty rather than forcing an injured person to move to the first aid storage location.
That portability is one reason the prescribed Scale F and Scale G setup uses a portable case rather than relying solely on a fixed cabinet.
Does the First Aid Kit Need to Be Labelled?
Yes.
AMSA's Scale F and Scale G requirements specify that the portable case must be labelled FIRST AID on:
- the lid, and
- at least two sides of the case.
The storage location itself must also be clearly identified with an appropriate sign or sticker.
This helps people find the equipment even if they are not the person who normally checks or manages the kit.
Why Should the Storage Location Be Clearly Marked?
Fishing crews may change. Contractors may come aboard. A person providing first aid may not be the same crew member who normally maintains the equipment.
During an incident, relying on one person to remember that the kit is "in the second cupboard under the chart table" introduces unnecessary uncertainty.
A clearly identified storage position makes the first aid system easier for everyone aboard to understand.
A Deck Injury During Fishing Operations
Imagine a crew member suffers a significant cut while working on deck.
Another crew member heads to retrieve the first aid kit.
If the case is clearly marked, the wheelhouse location is identified and the kit can be released quickly from its secure mounting point, the crew member can take the equipment directly to the casualty.
Now compare that with a kit stored loose underneath spare clothing, tools or fishing gear inside an unmarked cupboard.
The contents might be identical, but the practical response can be very different.
Good first aid storage is therefore partly about reducing the time and confusion between an injury occurring and appropriate equipment reaching the casualty.
Can You Keep a First Aid Kit on Deck?
You should not assume an exposed deck position satisfies the storage requirement for a prescribed Scale F or Scale G kit.
AMSA specifies the required portable kit location as adjacent to the Master's accommodation or in the wheelhouse, and small partly open vessels must protect it from incoming spray and weather.
An operator may choose to carry additional first aid equipment elsewhere on the vessel where the vessel's risk assessment supports it.
For example, additional trauma or general-purpose first aid supplies may be useful near a higher-risk work area.
Additional equipment does not replace the prescribed kit
Where a Scale F or Scale G kit is required, an extra kit kept on deck or near machinery should not automatically be treated as a substitute for the prescribed portable first aid arrangement.
Should You Keep More Than One First Aid Kit on a Fishing Vessel?
Depending on the vessel, crew size and risks, additional first aid equipment may be sensible.
AMSA states that owners and operators should consider whether the types or quantities of supplies need to be increased based on factors including:
- the level of risk during the voyage
- the length of the voyage
- access to medical facilities
- the cargo carried
- the number of people on board
A risk assessment might therefore identify value in keeping extra equipment near a particular work area, while still maintaining the prescribed portable kit in its required location where applicable.
The goal should be an overall first aid arrangement appropriate to the vessel rather than assuming the minimum configuration is automatically enough for every operation.
How Should First Aid Supplies Be Protected From Spray and Weather?
Protection from the marine environment is particularly important on smaller or partly open commercial fishing vessels.
Repeated exposure to moisture can damage packaging, labels and sterile products. Salt can also contribute to corrosion and deterioration of equipment.
Avoid storing first aid supplies where they are routinely exposed to:
- direct sea spray
- rain entering an open section of the vessel
- standing water
- fish waste or bait
- fuel or oils
- cleaning chemicals
- excessive contamination from normal vessel operations
The case and its location should work together to protect the medical supplies.
What About Heat and Expiry Dates?
Medical supplies carried aboard a vessel need to remain within the expiry date specified by the manufacturer or supplier.
Storage conditions matter as well because excessive heat, moisture or contamination can affect products even before the printed expiry date is reached.
Operators should follow any storage instructions supplied with medications and medical products and replace items that become damaged or unsuitable.
How Often Should the Kit and Storage Area Be Checked?
AMSA's prescribed Scale F and Scale G requirements state that the portable first aid kit must be cleaned and checked every three months.
That inspection should be more than a quick look at whether the case is still there.
- Confirm the kit remains in its required location
- Check that FIRST AID markings are clearly visible
- Check that the storage location sign or sticker remains visible
- Inspect the case for damage
- Make sure quick-release closures still operate correctly
- Confirm the kit remains securely fastened
- Check stock quantities against the applicable equipment scale
- Replace used, missing or contaminated supplies
- Check medical product expiry dates
- Look for evidence of water or weather exposure inside the case
The kit should also be replenished after use rather than waiting for the next three-month inspection.
Common Commercial Fishing Vessel First Aid Storage Mistakes
- Keeping the prescribed kit in an unmarked cupboard
- Leaving the kit loose where vessel movement can shift it
- Storing the kit somewhere crew cannot quickly access
- Exposing medical supplies to spray or weather
- Using a case without confirming it meets the applicable marine requirement
- Securing the kit in a way that makes emergency removal difficult
- Failing to label the portable case correctly
- Failing to mark the storage location
- Allowing expired or damaged medical supplies to remain in the kit
- Assuming an additional general-purpose kit replaces a prescribed Scale F or Scale G kit
Does Every Commercial Fishing Vessel Need the Same Storage Setup?
No.
The specific medical and first aid requirements can depend on whether the vessel is in survey, its vessel class, operational area and any applicable exemptions or equivalent solutions.
For surveyed Class 3 fishing vessels, Scale F or Scale G requirements commonly apply depending on operational area, with some vessels also requiring a medical cabinet.
You can read the broader requirements in our guide to first aid kit requirements for commercial fishing vessels.
If you are trying to understand the difference between the prescribed equipment scales, see our Scale F vs Scale G first aid kit guide.
What About Non-Survey Commercial Fishing Vessels?
Some domestic commercial vessels operate under non-survey arrangements rather than the prescribed Scale F and Scale G arrangements that apply to surveyed Class 1, 2 and 3 vessels.
AMSA states that non-survey vessels eligible under the applicable exemptions generally need to carry a first aid kit unless a specific exemption applies, and the kit carried should be informed by a risk assessment.
For those operations, factors to consider include distance and time to medical assistance, communications, operational hazards, voyage length, people aboard, environmental conditions, previous incidents and first aid training.
Operators should therefore confirm their vessel's particular requirements before applying the Scale F or Scale G storage rules to a different vessel arrangement.
A Practical Storage Checklist for Commercial Fishing Operators
Before deciding that your vessel's first aid setup is finished, work through the following:
- Confirm whether your vessel requires a Scale F, Scale G or another first aid arrangement
- Confirm the required location of the portable kit
- Check that the case meets the applicable marine requirement
- Protect the kit from incoming spray and weather where required
- Secure the case appropriately
- Make sure the kit can be released quickly
- Label the portable case correctly
- Clearly identify the storage location
- Make sure crew know where the first aid equipment is kept
- Check whether additional equipment is appropriate for higher-risk work areas
- Clean and check prescribed Scale F/G kits every three months
- Replace used, expired, damaged or contaminated supplies
So, Where Should a First Aid Kit Be Stored on a Commercial Fishing Vessel?
For vessels required to carry a Scale F or Scale G portable first aid kit, AMSA specifies that it must be located adjacent to the Master's accommodation or in the wheelhouse.
The kit must be stored in an appropriate weather-tight portable case, securely fastened with quick-release closures, clearly labelled and protected from incoming spray and weather on small partly open vessels.
The storage location also needs to be clearly identified.
For other commercial vessel arrangements, operators should first determine the requirements that apply to their vessel and use an appropriate first aid risk assessment to guide the setup.
Planning First Aid Equipment for a Commercial Vessel
Trade Aid Kits supplies portable general-purpose first aid kits for workplaces and mobile crews. These kits may be carried aboard commercial vessels as additional first aid equipment where appropriate to the vessel's operation and risk assessment.
Trade Aid Classic and Compact Kits are not currently represented as complete AMSA Scale F or Scale G first aid kits, and their standard bags should not automatically be assumed to satisfy AMSA's specific weather-tight case requirement.
Where your vessel requires a prescribed Scale F or Scale G arrangement, confirm that the complete contents, quantities, case, storage, identification and other requirements are satisfied before purchasing equipment for that compliance purpose.
For a broader overview, visit our Commercial Marine First Aid Kits Australia guide.
You can also read our commercial fishing vessel first aid requirements guide or our Scale F vs Scale G guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where should a first aid kit be stored on a commercial fishing vessel?
Where a prescribed Scale F or Scale G kit applies, AMSA requires the portable kit to be located adjacent to the Master's accommodation or in the wheelhouse. On small partly open vessels, it must also be protected from incoming spray and weather.
Does a marine first aid kit need to be waterproof?
For prescribed Scale F and Scale G arrangements, AMSA specifies a weather-tight portable case made from non-corrosive material of suitable strength and size. Operators should confirm that a particular case satisfies the applicable requirement rather than relying only on general terms such as weatherproof or water-resistant.
Does the first aid kit need to be secured?
AMSA's Scale F and Scale G guidance states that the portable case should be fastened securely with quick-release closures. This helps keep the kit secure while still allowing it to be removed quickly when needed.
Does a commercial fishing vessel first aid kit need signage?
For prescribed Scale F and Scale G kits, the case must be labelled FIRST AID on the lid and at least two sides. The storage location must also be clearly identified with an appropriate sign or sticker.
Can a first aid kit be stored on deck?
You should not assume an exposed deck location satisfies a prescribed Scale F or Scale G storage requirement. AMSA specifies the location of those kits as adjacent to the Master's accommodation or in the wheelhouse. Additional first aid equipment may be carried elsewhere where appropriate to the vessel's risk assessment.
Can a commercial fishing vessel carry more than one first aid kit?
Yes. Additional first aid supplies or kits may be appropriate depending on the vessel's risks, voyage length, people aboard and access to medical assistance. Additional equipment should not be assumed to replace a prescribed Scale F or Scale G kit where one is required.
How often should a commercial vessel first aid kit be checked?
Prescribed Scale F and Scale G portable first aid kits are to be cleaned and checked every three months. Used, damaged, expired or contaminated supplies should also be replaced when identified rather than waiting for the next scheduled check.
Can I use a Trade Aid Kit as my Scale F or Scale G kit?
Trade Aid Classic and Compact Kits are not currently represented as complete AMSA Scale F or Scale G kits. They may be carried as additional or general-purpose first aid equipment where appropriate, but operators should confirm the complete prescribed setup where Scale F or Scale G applies.
This article provides general information only and is not legal, medical or marine survey advice. Trade Aid Classic and Compact Kits are not currently represented as complete AMSA Scale F or Scale G first aid kits or as satisfying AMSA's specific weather-tight portable case requirement. Commercial vessel first aid requirements can vary according to vessel class, operational area, survey status, exemptions, equivalent solutions and the vessel's individual risk assessment. Always confirm the current requirements applying to your vessel with AMSA or an appropriately qualified adviser before purchasing equipment for a specific compliance requirement.