Look at two first aid kit contents lists and they might both say exactly the same thing: 1 × scissors. That single line doesn't tell you much about the tool you're actually getting.
Scissors are included in workplace first aid kits as a practical cutting tool, but not every pair is constructed the same way. When comparing first aid kits, look beyond whether scissors are simply included. Consider their construction, blade condition, handles, ease of use and whether they remain practical for the first aid tasks they may be needed for.
Scissors probably aren't the first thing you look at when buying a first aid kit.
Most people are more interested in how many dressings, bandages or bandaids are inside. Scissors appear somewhere near the bottom of the contents list, get counted as one piece and are largely forgotten about.
Until you actually need them.
At that point, the fact that the kit technically contains a pair of scissors matters less than whether they're practical to use.
Why Are Scissors Included in a First Aid Kit?
Scissors are one of the basic tools commonly included in workplace first aid kits.
Safe Work Australia's Model Code of Practice includes one pair of scissors in its example contents for a workplace first aid kit. The example list doesn't prescribe a particular brand, material or construction, and the overall contents of a workplace kit should still be based on the risks of the workplace.
In practical terms, scissors can be useful when working with first aid materials such as dressings, tape and bandaging, where cutting material cleanly and to the required size can make treatment easier.
Depending on the situation and the particular scissors, a first aider may also need a cutting tool while gaining access to an injury. The important point is that the tool should be appropriate for the task rather than assuming any small pair of scissors can do everything.
Scissors Being Listed Doesn't Tell You Their Quality
Safe Work Australia's example first aid kit contents simply lists “scissors”. It doesn't specify that every pair of first aid scissors is identical or that including any particular pair automatically makes a kit suitable for a workplace.
Two Kits Can Both Say “Scissors” and Give You Very Different Tools
This is where contents lists can make first aid kits difficult to compare.
Look at the image above. Both items can be described on a product list as a pair of scissors, but visually they are clearly different products.
The Trade Aid scissors shown are metal scissors with larger integrated handles. The other pair uses a visibly different, lighter construction with plastic handles.
Those are physical differences we can see. What we shouldn't do from a photograph alone is claim that one pair has been independently proven to cut a certain material faster, stay sharper for a particular period or withstand a specific amount of force.
But the comparison demonstrates something useful:
A contents list tells you that scissors are present. It doesn't necessarily tell you much about the scissors themselves.
What Should You Look for in First Aid Kit Scissors?
You don't need to turn buying a first aid kit into an engineering assessment of a pair of scissors.
There are, however, a few practical things worth checking.
- Are the scissors a practical size to hold and control?
- Do the blades open and close smoothly?
- Are the blades aligned and in good condition?
- Is there visible corrosion, damage or contamination?
- Do the handles provide enough room to use the scissors comfortably?
- Are they appropriate for the first aid materials you expect them to cut?
- Can they be stored securely and accessed easily inside the kit?
Some of these things are difficult to judge from an online contents list. That's exactly the point.
When you're comparing two first aid kits purely by piece count, a pair of scissors counts as one item in both kits regardless of how differently those two tools are made.
Why the Handles Matter
Scissors are a hand tool, so the handle is part of how useful they are.
A very small pair may be perfectly adequate for light cutting tasks, but size can affect how comfortably the tool can be held and controlled. That becomes more noticeable when somebody has larger hands or is trying to use the scissors quickly.
Look at the shape and size of the finger openings, the overall proportions of the scissors and how much of the tool you can actually grip.
Bigger isn't automatically better. A huge pair of scissors would make little sense in a compact portable kit. What you're looking for is a sensible balance between portability and usability.
Blade Condition Matters More Than Appearance
A pair of first aid scissors can spend years sitting inside a kit before being used.
During an inspection, don't just confirm that they're still there.
Pick them up and look at them.
- Check that the blades open and close properly
- Look for rust or corrosion
- Check for bent, damaged or loose components
- Make sure the cutting edges haven't been obviously damaged
- Check that the scissors are clean and suitable to remain in the kit
Unlike sterile dressings or saline, reusable scissors don't necessarily need replacing because a consumable expiry date has arrived. Their condition and function are what need attention.
We cover the difference between expiry and physical condition in our guide to first aid kit expiry dates.
Do First Aid Scissors Need a Blunt Tip?
Many scissors designed for first aid use incorporate rounded or blunt-ended features because the tool may be used close to a casualty or around dressings and clothing.
But it is worth being careful with blanket statements here. Safe Work Australia's example workplace kit contents specifies scissors without prescribing a particular tip design.
So rather than treating one blade shape as a universal Australian workplace requirement, look at whether the scissors are suitable for the first aid tasks and environment in which they are expected to be used.
Can First Aid Scissors Be Used to Cut Clothing?
This depends on the scissors and the material involved.
Some purpose-designed medical shears are specifically made for cutting clothing and heavier materials. A small pair of general first aid scissors shouldn't automatically be assumed to have the same capability.
That's an important distinction because marketing can sometimes turn “first aid scissors” into “these will cut anything”.
If your workplace has identified a need for more substantial cutting equipment as part of its first aid arrangements, choose equipment that is specifically suited to that need rather than assuming the basic scissors supplied in every first aid kit will be enough.
One Pair of Scissors = One Piece
Imagine two first aid kits.
Kit A contains a small lightweight pair of scissors. Kit B contains a more substantial metal pair.
On the front of the packaging, both manufacturers can still write exactly the same thing:
1 × Scissors.
That's why piece count alone is such a limited way to compare first aid kits. It tells you how many individual items are present, not necessarily what those individual items are like.
Metal vs Plastic Handled First Aid Scissors
The comparison in our hero image makes this difference easy to see.
Metal Scissors
The scissors supplied in the Trade Aid Classic and Compact Kits use metal construction, including the handles. Their larger shape is also clearly visible when compared side by side with the smaller pair in the image.
Lighter Scissors
Smaller scissors with plastic handles are common in basic first aid kits. That construction doesn't automatically make them unsuitable, but it is a different product despite appearing as the same single line on a contents list.
We haven't independently tested the two pairs in the image for cutting force, longevity or blade retention, so we're not going to invent a performance result.
What the photo allows you to do is compare the construction yourself.
That is something we'd encourage people to do with the rest of a first aid kit too.
Cheap Doesn't Automatically Mean Useless
A smaller, inexpensive pair of scissors isn't automatically a bad product.
If the scissors perform the tasks they're needed for, remain in good condition and suit the intended environment, they may be perfectly adequate.
The same principle applies to first aid kits generally.
The goal isn't to find the most expensive version of every single component. It's to make sure the equipment is practical enough to perform the job it is there for.
Our cheap vs quality first aid kit comparison looks at this across the entire kit, including supplies, organisation, the bag and long-term value.
Why Small Components Matter in a Workplace First Aid Kit
This is really the bigger lesson.
First aid kits are often compared as complete products, but complete kits are made up of dozens of individual decisions.
Which bandaids were used? What type of tweezers are inside? What sort of scissors? How is the tape packaged? How substantial is the bag? How is everything organised?
None of those details necessarily makes a kit good or bad by itself.
Together, though, they can create a noticeable difference between two products that initially look very similar on a spreadsheet.
We recently looked at exactly the same issue with bandaids for worksites. Two kits can both contain adhesive dressings while supplying products with visibly different materials and construction.
Scissors Should Be Checked During Kit Inspections
Workplace first aid kits should be maintained and checked regularly. Safe Work Australia recommends maintaining and checking workplace first aid kits, with the actual first aid arrangements based on the hazards and circumstances of the workplace.
When you inspect the kit, reusable equipment deserves attention alongside the consumables.
It's easy to focus entirely on bandaid quantities and expiry dates because those are obvious things to record. But a pair of damaged scissors can sit unnoticed in the same compartment for years if nobody actually picks them up.
- Confirm the scissors are still in the kit
- Check their physical condition
- Open and close them to confirm normal movement
- Look for corrosion or contamination
- Replace them if damaged or no longer suitable for use
- Return them to a location where they can be found easily
If you're unsure who should be carrying out those checks, our guide to who is responsible for checking workplace first aid kits explains the maintenance side in more detail.
Don't Buy a First Aid Kit From the Contents List Alone
Contents lists are useful. You absolutely should read them.
They help you understand the types and quantities of supplies you're buying and compare those supplies with the needs of your workplace.
But a contents list is the beginning of the comparison, not the end.
If one kit says:
1 × Scissors
and another kit says:
1 × Scissors
don't automatically assume that component is identical.
The same applies to tweezers, adhesive dressings, bandages, tape, the bag and almost everything else inside.
Our broader guide to choosing a first aid kit explains the other things worth comparing before buying.
“Includes Scissors” Isn't the Whole Story
The scissors may only account for one line on a first aid kit contents list, but they're still a tool someone may need to rely on.
Look at their construction. Pick them up if you can. Open them. Check the handles, blades and overall condition.
The smallest components are often where the difference between two first aid kits becomes easiest to see.
What Scissors Do Trade Aid Kits Use?
Both the Trade Aid Classic Kit and Trade Aid Compact Kit include a pair of metal scissors.
We chose a more substantial metal design because we wanted the reusable tools inside the kit to receive the same attention as the consumable supplies.
That doesn't mean we're going to claim they can cut through anything you put in front of them. Their job is to provide a practical cutting tool as part of the broader first aid setup.
It's a small detail, but that's really what this series of articles is about. A first aid kit isn't one product. It's a collection of individual products that all need to make sense together.
Look Beyond the Piece Count
Trade Aid Kits are built around useful workplace first aid supplies, reusable tools and organised storage rather than simply trying to make the piece count as large as possible.
The Classic Trade Aid Kit provides a broader first aid setup for worksites, workshops and work vehicles, while the Compact Trade Aid Kit puts practical first aid equipment into a smaller format for utes, toolbags and mobile workers.
Already have a kit? Consumable supplies can be replenished separately with the Trade Aid First Aid Kit Refill rather than replacing reusable equipment that remains in good condition.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should a workplace first aid kit contain scissors?
Safe Work Australia's Model Code of Practice includes one pair of scissors in its example contents for a workplace first aid kit. Actual workplace first aid equipment should be based on the hazards, workers, location and nature of the work.
What are scissors used for in a first aid kit?
Scissors can provide a practical cutting tool for first aid materials such as dressings, tape and bandaging. The exact tasks a particular pair is suitable for depend on its design and construction.
Can first aid scissors cut clothing?
It depends on the scissors and the clothing material. Some medical shears are specifically designed for cutting clothing and heavier materials. Do not assume every small pair of general first aid scissors has the same capability.
Do first aid scissors need to have a blunt tip?
Many scissors designed for first aid use incorporate rounded or blunt-ended features, but Safe Work Australia's example workplace first aid kit contents simply specifies scissors rather than prescribing one universal blade or tip design.
Do first aid scissors expire?
Reusable scissors do not necessarily expire in the same way as sterile consumables. They should instead be inspected for condition and function, including corrosion, contamination, damage and whether they continue to open and close properly.
Are metal first aid scissors better than plastic handled scissors?
Material alone does not prove that one pair will perform better than another. Construction, blade condition, ergonomics and suitability for the intended task all matter. Metal and plastic handled scissors can also vary significantly between individual products.
What scissors are included in Trade Aid Kits?
The current Trade Aid Classic Kit and Compact Kit both include one pair of metal scissors as part of their first aid equipment.
This article provides general information only and is not workplace-specific WHS or medical advice. Workplace first aid equipment should reflect the hazards, workers, location and nature of the work, along with the WHS laws and guidance applying in the relevant Australian jurisdiction. Safe Work Australia develops national policy and model guidance but is not a workplace health and safety regulator. Follow appropriate first aid procedures and training when treating an injury.