First Aid Kit Requirements for Roofers in Australia

Roofing is one of the more hazardous trades in Australia, with falls from height, cuts from sheet metal, burns, eye injuries and heat exposure all creating serious risks on the job. If you run a roofing business or work as a roofer yourself, your first aid arrangements need to reflect those hazards.

Under Australian WHS laws, businesses must provide first aid arrangements that are appropriate to the work being carried out. For roofers, that means having the right first aid kit accessible where the work is actually happening — whether that is on a residential roof, commercial construction site or inside your work vehicle.

Here's what Australian WHS requirements mean for roofing businesses, what injuries your kit needs to cover, and how to set up first aid properly for roofing work.

Why Roofing Requires More Than a Basic First Aid Kit

Roofers work at height, often on pitched or uneven surfaces and in exposed outdoor conditions. Falls can result in serious injuries, while sheet metal, flashing and cutting tools create regular laceration risks.

Roofing work can also involve:

Falls from roofs, ladders and elevated work areas
Cuts from sheet metal, flashing and roofing tools
Heat exhaustion and heat stroke during hot weather
Eye injuries from drilling, cutting, grinding and insulation materials
Burns from hot surfaces, tools and roofing products
Sprains and strains from manual handling and working in awkward positions

Because the hazards are different from those found in a typical office, your first aid supplies should be selected based on the risks actually present at the workplace.

What Does Australian WHS Law Require for Roofers?

Under the model Work Health and Safety framework, a business must provide first aid equipment and facilities that are adequate and appropriate for the work being carried out and the hazards present.

For roofing businesses, this means considering:

The types of injuries and illnesses that could occur during roofing work
How many workers are on the job
The size and location of the worksite
How quickly emergency medical services can arrive
Whether workers are spread across different areas of the site
Whether workers regularly travel between different jobs

For mobile roofing businesses, first aid equipment should be readily accessible when travelling between jobs. A kit sitting back at the depot is of little practical use if an injury occurs on a roof several kilometres away.

For more information about mobile work vehicles, see our guide to first aid kit requirements for work vehicles in Australia.

Requirements can also vary between Australian states and territories. Our WHS first aid requirements guide by state explains the key differences.

Common Roofing Injuries and the First Aid Supplies You Need

Falls and Impact Injuries

Falls are one of the most serious hazards associated with roofing work. A fall can result in fractures, head injuries, spinal injuries, cuts or other significant trauma.

For any serious fall or suspected spinal injury:

Call 000 and request emergency medical assistance
Do not move the injured person unless they are in immediate danger
Monitor their breathing and level of responsiveness
If they become unresponsive and are not breathing normally, begin CPR
Control any significant external bleeding with direct pressure

The useful items in your first aid kit include gauze pads, conforming bandages, triangular bandages, a CPR mask and a thermal blanket.

Cuts and Lacerations

Sheet metal, flashing, roofing iron and cutting tools make lacerations one of the most common injuries on roofing jobs. Cuts to the hands and arms can range from minor wounds to significant injuries requiring medical treatment.

Use nitrile gloves when providing first aid
Apply firm, direct pressure with a gauze pad to control bleeding
Once bleeding is controlled, cover the wound with a suitable dressing
Use a conforming bandage to secure the dressing
Seek medical attention for deep, gaping or heavily bleeding wounds

The key items are nitrile gloves, gauze pads, non-adherent wound dressings, conforming bandages and adhesive tape.

Heat Illness

Working on a roof during an Australian summer can expose workers to intense heat and direct sunlight. Metal roofing can become particularly hot, increasing the risk of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

Move the person to a cool, shaded location
Remove excess clothing where appropriate
Cool the person with water and other available cooling measures
Give cool water to drink if they are conscious and able to swallow
Call 000 immediately if heat stroke is suspected, particularly if the person is confused, has altered consciousness or collapses

Heat illness cannot be managed by a first aid kit alone. Adequate drinking water, rest breaks, shade and a suitable heat management plan are equally important.

Eye Injuries

Cutting metal, drilling, grinding and working with insulation materials can send dust and particles into the eyes. Prompt irrigation can help reduce the risk of further injury.

Do not rub the affected eye
Flush dust and loose particles with clean water or saline
Do not attempt to remove an embedded object
Cover the eye without applying pressure and seek medical attention for an embedded or penetrating injury

A saline eyewash and sterile eye pads are therefore useful inclusions in a roofing first aid kit.

Burns

Roofing materials, tools, metal surfaces and some roofing products can create burn hazards, particularly when working in direct sunlight or around hot equipment.

Cool the burn under cool running water for 20 minutes
Do not apply ice, butter, creams or other household remedies
Do not remove clothing that is stuck to the burn
Seek medical attention for serious or extensive burns

For minor burns, hydrogel burn dressings can be useful after the burn has been cooled.

What Should Be in a Roofer's First Aid Kit?

A first aid kit for roofing work should be selected around the hazards of the job rather than simply buying the cheapest general-purpose kit available.

Useful supplies include:

Conforming and crepe bandages: for supporting sprains and securing dressings
Non-adherent wound dressings: for cuts and lacerations
Saline eyewash: for dust and loose particles in the eyes
Hydrogel burn dressings: for minor burns after cooling
Thermal blanket: useful for managing shock while waiting for emergency services
Triangular bandage and safety pins: for slings and supporting injured limbs
CPR mask: for CPR and resuscitation situations
Nitrile gloves: for hygienic first aid treatment
Gauze pads: for controlling bleeding

The Trade Aid Classic Kit is designed for construction and trade environments and contains a comprehensive selection of wound care, burn treatment, eye care and emergency supplies.

For roofers who need something lighter and easier to carry between the vehicle and the roof, the Compact Kit provides a smaller option for everyday trade work.

Should You Keep a First Aid Kit on the Roof?

One of the most important considerations for roofers is accessibility. A first aid kit locked inside the ute does not help much if a worker is injured on the opposite side of the building.

For larger roofing jobs, consider keeping first aid supplies as close as reasonably practicable to the areas where work is being performed. On smaller residential jobs, a portable kit can be carried in a tool bag or taken onto the roof when appropriate.

The goal is simple: workers should be able to access first aid supplies quickly when an injury occurs.

First Aid Kits for Roofing Vehicles

Most roofing businesses travel between multiple jobs, which makes vehicle-based first aid provision particularly important.

If you have several work vehicles, consider equipping each vehicle with its own portable first aid kit rather than relying on a single kit that stays at the workshop.

For a smaller roofing business, a practical setup could be:

Compact Kit: one in each work vehicle for everyday job-site injuries
Classic Kit: at the workshop, depot or larger fixed worksite
Additional kits: on larger construction sites where workers are spread across multiple areas

For more information, read our guide to first aid kit requirements for work vehicles in Australia.

What Is the Best First Aid Kit for a Roofer?

Sole trader roofer: The Trade Aid Compact Kit is a practical option for keeping in the ute or carrying between jobs. It provides a compact selection of supplies for common roofing injuries without taking up much space.

Small roofing business: Keep a Compact Kit in each work vehicle and a Classic Kit at the workshop or larger worksite. This gives your team access to first aid supplies wherever the work is taking place.

Larger roofing contractor: Consider Classic Kits at fixed site locations and Compact Kits throughout your vehicle fleet. On larger sites, additional kits can help ensure first aid remains accessible as the work area changes.

Bulk buy discounts are available when purchasing multiple Trade Aid Kits.

Keep Your Roofing First Aid Kit Stocked

A first aid kit is only useful if the supplies inside it are available when you need them. After an injury, replace any products that have been used and regularly check the kit for expired or damaged items.

For businesses that regularly use their kits, a Complete Kit Refill provides a simple way to replace commonly used consumables without purchasing a new bag.

First Aid Training for Roofing Crews

Having the right equipment is only part of your first aid arrangements. Your business should also consider the number of workers, the risks involved, the location of the work and how quickly emergency medical assistance can arrive when determining first aid training requirements.

For roofing businesses, having workers with current first aid and CPR training can be particularly valuable given the potential severity of falls and other injuries.

If your training has expired, you can book a first aid or CPR refresher through Trade Aid.

Tax Deductible

First aid equipment purchased for legitimate business use may generally be deductible as a business expense. Keep your receipt and speak with your accountant or tax adviser about your specific circumstances.

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