First Aid Kit Requirements for Construction Sites in Australia

WHS & Compliance

Running a construction site in Australia means having first aid arrangements that match the risks of the work. That means more than simply keeping a first aid kit somewhere on site. You need appropriate equipment, access to trained first aiders and arrangements that workers can actually use in an emergency.

So what are the first aid kit requirements for construction sites in Australia? How many first aiders do you need? Does every site need a first aid room? And what actually needs to be inside the kit?

This guide explains the Safe Work Australia model guidance in plain English and, importantly, explains where your workplace needs to make its own risk-based decisions.

Do Construction Sites Need a First Aid Kit?

Yes. Safe Work Australia's guidance states that all workplaces, including construction workplaces, must have access to first aid.

This includes access to:

At least one first aid kit
Appropriate first aid facilities
Trained first aiders

The important distinction is that simply owning a first aid kit is not the whole requirement. Workers must be able to access first aid equipment and facilities when they need them.

For a construction business, the number of kits, their contents and where they are located should be determined by the hazards, size and location of the workplace and the number and types of people working there.

Having a first aid kit is only the starting point. Your first aid arrangements need to be practical for the actual construction environment, including how quickly workers can reach the equipment and trained first aiders in an emergency.

Is Construction Considered a High-Risk Workplace?

Safe Work Australia's first aid guidance uses construction sites as an example of a high-risk workplace when providing guidance on the number of trained first aiders.

This is important because the first aid needs of a construction site are generally very different from those of a low-risk office or retail environment.

Construction work can involve hazards such as:

Cuts and lacerations
Eye injuries from dust, particles and tools
Burns and contact with hot materials
Crush and impact injuries
Falls and fractures
Manual handling injuries
Exposure to hazardous substances
Snake bites on regional or outdoor sites
Remote or isolated work

Your first aid provisions should therefore reflect the hazards actually present rather than relying on a generic workplace checklist.

How Many First Aiders Does a Construction Site Need?

One of the most commonly searched construction first aid questions is how many trained first aiders a site needs.

Safe Work Australia's model guidance recommends the following ratios:

Low-risk workplaces: one first aider for every 50 workers
High-risk workplaces, such as construction sites: one first aider for every 25 workers
Remote high-risk workplaces: one first aider for every 10 workers

These figures should be treated as recommended ratios within the model Code of Practice, rather than assuming they are an automatic legal headcount formula that applies identically to every Australian workplace.

Your first aid risk assessment should also consider factors such as shift work, overtime, worker locations, isolated work, the number of people on site at one time and how quickly emergency medical assistance can reach the workplace.

For example, a construction site with 20 workers located close to an ambulance station may have different first aid needs from a 20-person crew working several hours from the nearest medical facility.

Our guide on CPR and first aid training requirements for Australian businesses covers the training and refresher side of these requirements in more detail.

Do First Aiders Need to Be Available on Every Shift?

Your workers need access to first aid at all times they are working, including situations such as night shifts and overtime.

This means businesses should not simply count how many people have completed first aid training across the entire company. You need to consider whether appropriately trained first aiders will actually be available when workers are on site.

For businesses operating multiple shifts, this can mean having additional trained workers so that first aid coverage remains available when people are absent, on leave or working different hours.

The model Code also recognises that some workers, including tradespeople and construction workers who move between locations, may not always have a first aider physically beside them. In those situations, workers still need an effective way to access emergency assistance along with appropriate information, instruction and training.

What Should Be in a Construction Site First Aid Kit?

There is not one universal Australian law that says every construction site must contain exactly the same number and type of first aid items.

Instead, the contents should be determined by the workplace's first aid risk assessment and the injuries and illnesses that could reasonably occur.

As a practical starting point, a construction first aid kit may include:

Adhesive dressings in a range of sizes
Sterile wound dressings and gauze
Non-adherent wound dressings
Conforming and triangular bandages
Pressure bandages
Medical adhesive tape
Saline or suitable eye irrigation supplies
Sterile eye pads
Burn treatment supplies where appropriate
Disposable gloves
CPR face shield or resuscitation mask
Scissors and tweezers
Wound closure strips
Emergency blanket
First aid instructions

Additional supplies may be appropriate depending on the work being performed. For example, sites with a genuine snake bite risk may need suitable pressure immobilisation bandages, while workplaces involving particular chemicals, machinery or burn hazards may require additional first aid provisions.

For a more detailed breakdown, see our construction site first aid kit checklist.

Does Every Construction Site Need a First Aid Room?

No. A first aid room is not automatically required on every construction site.

Safe Work Australia's guidance recommends considering a first aid room where providing first aid at the workplace would otherwise be difficult. For high-risk workplaces such as construction sites, the guidance recommends a first aid room where there are 100 or more workers.

However, this should still be considered alongside the workplace's actual risk assessment and circumstances.

The location of the site, access to emergency services, the type of construction work and the number of workers can all influence what first aid facilities are appropriate.

100 workers isn't a magic number. It is a Safe Work Australia recommendation for high-risk workplaces. Your first aid risk assessment should consider whether a first aid room or additional facilities are needed for your particular site.

Where Should First Aid Kits Be Kept on a Construction Site?

Accessibility is one of the easiest parts of first aid compliance to overlook.

Safe Work Australia recommends keeping first aid kits in locations where workers can see and access them quickly, particularly near areas where there is a higher risk of injury or illness.

For a large construction site, this may mean that one first aid kit is not enough. If the site is spread out, workers may be too far from the main first aid station for a single kit to be practical.

You should also consider vehicles. Safe Work Australia's first aid guidance specifically recommends having first aid kits inside work vehicles where workers travel as part of their job.

For mobile crews, this means the kit should not simply be present in the vehicle. Workers should know exactly where it is and be able to reach it without having to move tools or other equipment first.

Our guide on where to keep a first aid kit in a work vehicle looks at this issue in more detail.

How Often Should Construction First Aid Kits Be Checked?

A first aid kit should not be treated as something you purchase once and forget about.

Safe Work Australia's guidance recommends that first aid kits are maintained and checked regularly. Supplies should be replaced when they have been used, damaged or are no longer suitable.

How often you need to inspect your kits depends on the workplace. A busy construction crew using the kit regularly may need much more frequent checks than a small workshop.

It is also sensible to check a kit after a significant incident or whenever workers have used a substantial amount of its contents.

For a practical checklist, see our first aid kit contents checklist for Australian workplaces.

What About Remote Construction Sites?

Location can significantly change your first aid requirements.

A construction site that is remote or has limited access to ambulance and medical services may need additional first aid equipment, training and facilities compared with a similar-sized site located close to emergency services.

Safe Work Australia's model guidance recommends a ratio of one first aider for every 10 workers in remote high-risk workplaces.

Remote sites may also need additional planning around:

Emergency communication
Travel time for emergency services
Worker transport
Additional first aid equipment
First aid facilities
Remote or isolated work
Site-specific medical risks

The further your workplace is from professional medical assistance, the more important it becomes to consider what can realistically happen during the time between an injury occurring and medical help arriving.

Don't Forget the Emergency Plan

First aid equipment is only one part of your construction site's emergency arrangements.

Safe Work Australia's construction guidance states that a PCBU must have an emergency plan in place before construction work starts. The plan should address how the workplace will respond to emergencies, including medical emergencies, and should cover communication, notifying emergency services, medical treatment and assistance.

Workers should know what to do, who to contact and how to access first aid equipment when an incident occurs.

A first aid kit sitting in a site office is not much use if nobody knows where it is or how to get to it during an emergency.

What About CPR and First Aid Training?

First aid equipment and trained people go together.

Safe Work Australia's guidance recommends that first aiders hold a nationally recognised statement of attainment from a registered training organisation and attend training regularly to keep their knowledge and skills current.

CPR skills should also be refreshed regularly. The model Code recommends annual CPR refresher training and renewal of first aid qualifications every three years.

If you are working out whether your construction business has enough trained people, don't just look at the total number of employees who have completed training. Consider who is actually present on each shift and where workers are located.

Read our full guide to CPR and first aid training requirements for Australian businesses.

What About State and Territory Differences?

This is an important point for anyone searching for a definitive answer to "what does Australian law require?"

Safe Work Australia develops national model WHS laws and Codes of Practice, but it is not a WHS regulator. The Commonwealth, states and territories regulate and enforce WHS laws in their respective jurisdictions.

A model Code of Practice only has legal effect in a jurisdiction when it has been approved there. This means businesses should check the requirements that apply in their particular state or territory rather than assuming the model guidance is identical to the legislation applying to them.

If you're operating in Western Australia, Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria or another jurisdiction, check with the relevant WHS regulator for requirements specific to your workplace.

Construction First Aid Requirements: Quick Checklist

Before you call your site compliant, check:

At least one appropriate first aid kit is available
Additional kits are provided where the site is large or spread out
Kits are visible and can be accessed quickly
Work vehicles have first aid kits where workers travel for work
Kit contents reflect the actual hazards of the workplace
First aid kits are checked and restocked regularly
Enough trained first aiders are available for the workforce and work arrangements
Remote sites have considered the additional challenges of delayed medical assistance
The emergency plan explains how workers access medical assistance
Workers know where first aid equipment and trained first aiders can be found
Your arrangements have been reviewed against the WHS requirements applying in your state or territory

The Bottom Line

There isn't one magic first aid kit or one universal checklist that makes every Australian construction site compliant.

The right approach is to start with a first aid risk assessment and consider the hazards, size and location of your workplace, the number of people working there, access to emergency services and how the work is actually carried out.

For most construction businesses, that means providing appropriate first aid equipment, keeping it accessible, having suitably trained first aiders available and making sure workers know how to access help when something goes wrong.

If you're reviewing an old kit or setting up first aid equipment for a new construction project, our range of construction first aid kits is designed around the practical needs of Australian tradies and worksite environments.

Need to upgrade your construction site first aid equipment?

Shop Construction First Aid Kits →

This article provides general information based primarily on Safe Work Australia's model WHS guidance. It is not legal or professional WHS advice. WHS laws and approved Codes of Practice can differ between Australian states and territories. Always check the requirements that apply in your jurisdiction and complete a workplace-specific first aid risk assessment.