First Aid Kit Requirements for Tilers and Plasterers in Australia

First Aid Kit Requirements for Tilers and Plasterers in Australia

Tiling and plastering come with a mix of hazards that can be easy to overlook when putting together a workplace first aid setup. Cutting tiles and stone can generate silica dust, plaster and adhesives can irritate the skin and eyes, and both trades involve plenty of sharp tools, repetitive movement and working in awkward positions.

There isn't one first aid kit that Australian law says every tiler or plasterer must carry. Instead, workplace first aid arrangements need to be appropriate for the hazards, size and location of the work being carried out. For mobile trades working between different jobs, that usually means making sure first aid is readily accessible wherever the work is happening.

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Why Tilers and Plasterers Need a Trade-Specific First Aid Setup

A first aid kit for a tiler or plasterer needs to reflect what actually happens on site.

Tilers regularly work with tile cutters, wet saws, grinders, drills, adhesives, grout and natural or manufactured stone. Cutting or grinding materials containing crystalline silica can generate respirable silica dust, which is a serious health hazard. Since September 2024, stronger WHS requirements have applied to work involving materials containing at least 1% crystalline silica, including common materials such as tiles, bricks and concrete. Whether particular processing work is considered high risk depends on the circumstances and the required risk assessment.

Plasterers face a different combination of hazards. Plasterboard cutting and sanding can create dust, while wet plaster, render, compounds and adhesives can cause skin or eye irritation depending on the product. There are also the more straightforward hazards of cuts, strains, falls and other injuries associated with physically demanding work.

That means your first aid setup should be based on the actual work you do, rather than simply buying the smallest generic kit available.

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What Does Australian WHS Law Require?

Australian workplace first aid requirements are generally risk-based. Safe Work Australia says workplaces must have at least one first aid kit and that the kit should be accessible, particularly where there is a higher risk of injury or illness. Where workers travel for their job, first aid kits should also be considered for work vehicles.

The exact arrangements depend on factors including:

• The hazards associated with the work
• The size and layout of the workplace
• How many people are working there
• Whether workers are working alone or in small crews
• How remote or accessible the worksite is
• The types of injuries or illnesses that could reasonably occur

For construction work, Safe Work Australia recommends using a first aid risk assessment to determine the equipment, facilities and trained first aiders needed for the particular workplace.

This is important for tilers and plasterers because your workplace might change every day. A first aid kit sitting at a workshop isn't much use if you're working three suburbs away at a renovation site.

Our full guide on silica dust and first aid for Australian tradies covers the first aid considerations around silica in more detail.

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Common Injuries and Hazards for Tilers and Plasterers

Silica and General Dust

Cutting, grinding or polishing tiles, stone and other silica-containing materials can generate respirable crystalline silica dust. Plasterboard and other building products can also generate airborne dust when cut or sanded.

First aid supplies such as saline can be useful for flushing dust and debris from the eyes, but they are not a substitute for proper dust controls. Safe Work Australia recommends measures such as wet cutting, on-tool dust extraction and local exhaust ventilation to minimise exposure at the source.

Skin and Eye Contact with Products

Plaster, render, tile adhesives, grouts and other construction products can cause irritation or injury if they come into contact with the skin or eyes. The exact risk depends on the product, so check the manufacturer's instructions and safety data sheet for the materials you use.

For a trade first aid kit, saline, wound dressings, gloves and appropriate burn dressings can provide useful first aid supplies for common minor injuries. Where a hazardous chemical presents a more serious exposure risk, additional emergency facilities or procedures may be required.

Cuts from Tile Cutters and Hand Tools

Tile cutters, nippers, trowels, knives and other hand tools create plenty of opportunities for cuts and puncture wounds. A kit should have enough adhesive dressings, gauze, non-adherent wound dressings and bandages to deal with the types of injuries that could reasonably occur.

Strains and Soft Tissue Injuries

Tiling involves a lot of kneeling, bending and repetitive hand and wrist movements. Plastering can involve prolonged overhead work, lifting and awkward positions.

A first aid kit won't prevent these injuries, but bandages and other basic first aid supplies can be useful when dealing with an acute strain or soft tissue injury. The longer-term solution is proper manual handling, task rotation, equipment and work practices.

Falls and Other Site Injuries

Working from ladders, platforms and other elevated positions introduces additional risks. Plasterers may also use stilts for certain tasks, depending on the worksite and equipment.

For this type of work, a properly stocked first aid kit should include supplies for bleeding, wounds, sprains and other injuries, with the overall first aid arrangement matched to the site's risk assessment.

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What Should Be in a Tiler's or Plasterer's First Aid Kit?

There isn't a single legally prescribed contents list specifically for tilers or plasterers. Instead, the kit should contain basic first aid supplies and be supplemented where the hazards of the work call for it. Safe Work Australia and state regulators recommend using the workplace risk assessment to determine what additional supplies are appropriate.

For a typical tiling or plastering business, useful supplies may include:

• Saline eyewash: for flushing dust and debris from the eyes
• Non-adherent wound dressings: for cuts and wounds
• Gauze and conforming bandages: for wound care and securing dressings
• Crepe bandage: for acute sprains and soft tissue injuries
• Burn dressings or hydrogel: where the work risk assessment identifies burns as a foreseeable hazard
• Triangular bandage and safety pins: for slings and supporting injured limbs
• Nitrile gloves: for hygienic treatment of wounds
• CPR face mask or shield: for resuscitation situations
• Adhesive dressings: for the cuts and minor wounds that commonly occur on site

For most solo tilers and plasterers, the Trade Aid Compact Kit is designed to be easy to carry between jobs and can fit in a glovebox, toolbag or on a tool belt.

For businesses with multiple workers, a ute, workshop or larger site setup, the Trade Aid Classic Kit provides a larger first aid setup with more comprehensive contents and additional space for site-specific supplies.

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Should Tilers and Plasterers Keep a First Aid Kit in the Work Vehicle?

For mobile trades, keeping first aid equipment in the work vehicle makes practical sense. Safe Work Australia specifically recommends considering first aid kits inside work vehicles where workers travel for their job.

This is particularly useful for tilers and plasterers because the workplace can change from one day to the next. If you're working alone at a residential renovation, the nearest first aid kit might otherwise be back at the workshop.

If you are a sole trader, our guide on whether sole traders need a first aid kit explains how first aid arrangements can apply to people working for themselves.

If you operate several work vehicles, our guide on first aid kit requirements for work vehicles in Australia looks at the practical considerations around keeping first aid equipment available in mobile workplaces.

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The Practical Answer for Tilers and Plasterers

If you're a tiler or plasterer, don't think about first aid as simply ticking a generic kit off a checklist.

Start with the hazards you actually face. Cuts, dust, eye contamination, burns, strains and other injuries should all be considered when deciding what first aid supplies you need. If you're cutting or grinding tiles, stone or other materials containing crystalline silica, make sure your business is also meeting the separate WHS requirements for managing silica dust. A first aid kit is only one part of that risk management process.

For a solo tradie, keeping a Compact Kit in the van or toolbag gives you a portable first aid setup that's easy to take from one job to the next. For a crew or business, the Classic Kit is better suited to a ute, workshop or main site setup.

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What About Tax Deductions?

If you're buying a first aid kit for your business, the cost may be deductible as a business expense where it is incurred in carrying on the business. The tax treatment depends on your individual circumstances, so keep your receipt and check with your accountant or tax adviser if you're unsure.

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