Do You Need a First Aid Kit in Every Work Vehicle? Australia WHS Guide

First Aid Kits in Work Vehicles — What Does the Law Actually Say?

It's one of those things most tradies assume is handled but have never actually checked. Do you need a first aid kit in every work vehicle? And if your workers travel between different jobs, is keeping one kit back at the workshop enough?

The practical answer is that first aid kits should be provided inside work vehicles when workers travel for their job. Safe Work Australia's current first aid guidance specifically recommends this for mobile workers, while the exact first aid arrangements should be based on the hazards, size and location of the work.

So while it is too broad to say Australian WHS law automatically requires an identical kit in every vehicle, if your workers regularly travel to jobs in separate vehicles, giving each vehicle its own first aid kit is the sensible way to make sure first aid remains accessible when it is actually needed.

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The Legal Position

Under the model WHS framework, businesses must provide workers with access to first aid equipment, facilities and trained first aiders. The first aid arrangements should be based on a risk assessment that considers the hazards, size and location of the workplace, as well as the number and type of people working there.

Safe Work Australia's current guidance specifically says first aid kits should be kept inside work vehicles if workers travel for their job. This is particularly relevant to tradies who spend much of their working day travelling between construction sites, homes and other workplaces.

The model Code of Practice also recommends portable first aid kits in vehicles where the vehicle is the mobile worker's workplace. It notes that kits should be securely located so they don't become a projectile in a collision.

There is an important distinction here: Safe Work Australia's model WHS material provides national guidance, but WHS laws are regulated by individual states and territories. A model Code of Practice only has legal effect in a particular jurisdiction if it has been approved there.

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What Type of First Aid Kit Should Go in a Work Vehicle?

There isn't one nationally prescribed vehicle kit that every Australian business has to buy. Your first aid kit should contain basic first aid equipment and be appropriate for the hazards your workers are likely to encounter.

For a typical tradie working from a ute or van, useful supplies include:

• Bandaids and adhesive dressings in various sizes
• Gauze and wound dressings for covering injuries
• Conforming and pressure bandages
• Triangular bandage for slings and limb support
• Saline eyewash for flushing dust and debris
• CPR mask or face shield
• Disposable nitrile gloves
• Wound closure strips
• Scissors and tweezers
• First aid instructions

The exact contents should be adjusted for the work being carried out. For example, a construction crew using cutting equipment, chemicals or other higher-risk equipment may need additional supplies based on its first aid risk assessment. Safe Work Australia recommends considering the hazards of the particular workplace when deciding what should be included.

The Trade Aid Compact Kit is designed as a portable option for tradies and mobile workers, making it practical for a ute, van, toolbox or other work vehicle.

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Does Every Work Vehicle Need Its Own Kit?

This is where the practical side of the question matters.

If five workers leave the workshop in five different vehicles and travel to five different jobs, keeping one first aid kit at the workshop doesn't provide the same level of access as having a kit available in each vehicle.

Safe Work Australia's guidance specifically recommends first aid kits inside work vehicles when workers travel for their job. For businesses with genuinely mobile workers, providing a kit for each vehicle is therefore a sensible way to meet the requirement for accessible first aid and avoid relying on a kit that may be kilometres away.

For fleet operators running 5, 10 or 20 work vehicles, buying multiple kits can also be more cost-effective through bulk buy discounts.

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What About Company Cars and Sales Vehicles?

Not every work vehicle has the same level of risk. A plumber carrying tools and working on construction sites has a very different hazard profile to a sales representative travelling between offices.

That's why Australian first aid arrangements are risk-based rather than built around one universal kit for every vehicle.

However, if an employee regularly travels for work and the vehicle forms part of their mobile workplace, having a first aid kit readily available can help ensure they have access to basic first aid when they are away from the main workplace. Safe Work Australia's guidance specifically identifies work vehicles used by mobile workers as an appropriate location for first aid kits.

For a lower-risk company vehicle, a compact kit stored securely in the cabin can be a simple way to provide that access without taking up much space.

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What About Different States and Territories?

Australia does not have one single WHS regulator that applies the same legislation to every workplace. WHS laws are administered by the states and territories, so businesses should check the requirements that apply in the jurisdiction where their workers operate.

The national Safe Work Australia guidance provides a useful starting point, but businesses should also check their local regulator's requirements, particularly where work is carried out in remote or isolated locations. Remote work can require additional consideration of communication, emergency response, first aid training and the time it may take to reach medical assistance.

For example, WorkSafe WA's first aid Code of Practice provides practical guidance for PCBUs covered by Western Australia's WHS legislation.

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How to Store a First Aid Kit in a Work Vehicle

Having a kit in the vehicle is only useful if workers can actually find and access it quickly.

For utes, vans and work vehicles, consider locations such as:

• Glovebox or cabin storage: ideal for a compact kit where there is enough room
• Centre console: another convenient in-cab option
• Behind the seat: useful in some utes and vans where the kit can remain visible and accessible
• Ute tray or toolbox: practical for larger kits, provided it remains accessible and isn't buried underneath equipment
• Secure vehicle mounting: useful where the kit needs to remain fixed in position and protected from becoming loose during vehicle movement

The important thing is that the kit is quick to locate, accessible and securely stored. Safe Work Australia's model Code specifically recommends securing vehicle first aid kits so they don't become a projectile in a collision.

Make sure every worker who uses the vehicle knows exactly where the kit is kept. An emergency is not the time to start searching through the back of the ute.

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Don't Forget to Check and Restock the Kit

A first aid kit in a vehicle needs to be maintained just like a kit kept in a workshop or site office.

Check it regularly and replace items that have been used, damaged, contaminated or have passed their expiry date. Safe Work Australia's model Code recommends checking kits after use and, where they haven't been used, at least every 12 months.

This is particularly important in work vehicles, where kits can be exposed to dust, moisture, heat and general wear and tear.

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What Should You Do If Your Work Vehicles Don't Have First Aid Kits?

If your workers are regularly travelling between jobs and your vehicles don't currently have first aid kits, it's worth reviewing your first aid risk assessment and fixing the gap.

The goal isn't simply to buy a box and call the job done. You need to make sure your workers can access appropriate first aid equipment when they need it, wherever they're working.

For most tradies and mobile workers, putting a dedicated first aid kit in each work vehicle is a simple way to achieve that.

The Trade Aid Compact Kit ($85) is designed specifically for mobile workers and work vehicles. If you're fitting out several utes, vans or work vehicles, bulk buy discounts are available when ordering multiple kits.

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What About Tax Deductions?

If you're buying first aid equipment for use in your business, the expense may be deductible depending on your circumstances and how the equipment is used. Keep your receipt and business records, and speak with your accountant or tax adviser if you're unsure about the tax treatment of your purchase.

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