Looking for first aid kits in Perth? The right choice depends on much more than the size of the bag. WA businesses need first aid arrangements that suit their hazards, workforce, workplace layout and the way their employees actually work.
There is no single first aid kit that is automatically right for every Perth workplace. WA businesses need access to appropriate first aid equipment, and the number, location and contents of kits should reflect workplace risks, the number of workers, the workplace layout and access to medical assistance. A workshop, mobile trade business and multi-vehicle fleet may therefore need very different first aid setups.
Searching for first aid kits in Perth can quickly become confusing.
Some suppliers advertise kits by the number of people they supposedly cover. Others use terms such as workplace compliant, construction kit, vehicle kit or industrial kit.
But for a WA business, choosing an appropriate first aid kit should start with the workplace itself.
A two-person electrical business travelling between jobs does not have the same first aid needs as a fabrication workshop with machinery, a warehouse with twenty workers or a civil crew spread across a large site.
The better approach is to look at where your people work, what could injure them and how quickly they can access first aid equipment when something happens.
What Are the First Aid Kit Requirements in Western Australia?
Western Australian workplaces have duties to provide workers with access to appropriate first aid equipment and facilities.
WorkSafe WA's Code of Practice for first aid takes a risk-based approach. This means the first aid arrangements for a business should take into account the nature of the work, workplace hazards, the size and location of the workplace and the workers who may need first aid.
At least one first aid kit should be provided at a workplace, but that does not automatically mean one kit will be enough for every business.
Think beyond having a kit somewhere
First aid equipment needs to be accessible when workers need it. If employees are working in different buildings, separate areas of a large site or travelling around Perth in different vehicles, a single kit back at the office may not provide practical access to first aid.
There Isn't One Universal “WA Compliant First Aid Kit”
One of the most important things to understand when buying a first aid kit is that there is not one universal kit configuration that automatically makes every WA workplace compliant.
The contents need to be appropriate for the actual risks of the workplace.
A general office has different hazards from a mechanic's workshop. A plumbing business may have workers spread across Perth, while a manufacturing facility may have most workers concentrated in one building.
Even two businesses doing the same type of work can need different arrangements depending on their workforce, site layout and access to medical assistance.
- What injuries could realistically occur?
- How many people are working?
- How large or spread out is the workplace?
- Are workers travelling between jobs?
- Are employees working alone or remotely?
- How quickly can emergency medical assistance arrive?
- Are there particular hazards that require additional first aid supplies?
What Should a Perth Business Look for When Buying a First Aid Kit?
The amount of stock inside the bag is only one consideration.
A workplace kit also needs to be practical to store, easy to identify, straightforward to open and organised well enough that someone can find the required supplies quickly.
1. Appropriate first aid supplies
Start with the injuries that could reasonably happen in your workplace.
Common workplace kits generally include supplies for wounds, dressings, bandaging, eye injuries, burns, CPR and personal protection. Additional equipment may be required where there are specific hazards.
If you want to look more closely at typical workplace supplies, our first aid kit contents checklist explains the risk-based approach in more detail.
2. Organisation
A kit containing plenty of supplies is not especially useful if everything is piled into one compartment.
In a real first aid situation, workers should be able to identify dressings, eye care, gloves or other equipment without emptying the entire kit onto the floor.
3. Durability
Perth workplaces can be hard on equipment.
Dust, heat, vehicle storage, workshops, construction sites and constant movement can all affect a first aid kit. The bag or case needs to provide reasonable protection for the supplies and suit the environment in which it will be stored.
4. Portability
A large kit can make sense in a workshop or depot. The same kit may be unnecessarily bulky for an electrician moving between jobs or a technician carrying equipment around site.
In many businesses, using different sized kits in different locations works better than purchasing exactly the same kit for everyone.
5. Easy restocking
First aid supplies are consumable.
Dressings get used, packaging becomes damaged and medical products eventually expire. When choosing a kit, consider how easily the contents can be checked and replenished instead of treating the whole kit as a one-off purchase.
Workshop, Work Vehicle or Mobile Worker: The Right Kit Can Be Different
One of the most practical ways to plan workplace first aid is to match the kit format to where it will actually be used.
A Larger Main Kit
A larger shared kit can make sense in a workshop, depot, site office or other fixed workplace where multiple workers need access to a broader range of supplies.
A Portable Kit
Workers travelling around Perth often benefit from a smaller kit that can remain accessible in a ute, van, toolbag or other mobile work location.
Some businesses use both approaches.
For example, a plumbing company might keep a larger kit at its workshop while equipping each service vehicle with a smaller portable kit. That gives workers access to first aid wherever the work is happening rather than relying on one central location.
What About High-Risk Perth Workplaces?
Businesses involved in construction, fabrication, mechanical work, civil construction, landscaping, electrical work, mining support and other higher-risk industries need to consider the hazards associated with their specific activities.
That can mean increasing the quantity of standard supplies or providing additional first aid equipment for particular risks.
For example, WorkSafe WA guidance identifies eye injuries as a consideration where workers are exposed to hazards such as chemicals, welding, cutting, machining or other activities that could damage the eyes.
Don't choose a kit by industry label alone
Two fabrication workshops may use different machinery and processes. Two construction businesses may perform completely different work. Your first aid assessment should look at the hazards actually present rather than assuming every business within an industry needs an identical kit.
Do Work Vehicles Need First Aid Kits in Perth?
Work vehicles need to be considered when employees travel as part of their job.
If a worker is carrying out a job in Joondalup while the only first aid kit is back at a workshop in Welshpool, that equipment is not practically accessible to the worker when an injury occurs.
For mobile businesses, keeping first aid equipment in work vehicles is often the most practical way to maintain access while workers move between jobs.
We cover this separately in our guide to first aid kits in work vehicles.
Once a kit is in the vehicle, location matters too. Our work vehicle first aid kit storage guide explains what to consider when choosing where it should be kept.
How Many First Aid Kits Does a Perth Business Need?
There is no single number that suits every business.
A small workshop may be adequately serviced by one appropriately located kit, while a larger site, business with multiple buildings or fleet of mobile workers may need several.
The practical question is:
Can every worker access appropriate first aid quickly?
If getting to the kit requires driving back to the depot, crossing a large worksite or finding the one vehicle carrying the company's first aid supplies, the arrangement may need to be reconsidered.
For many Perth businesses, this leads to a combination of central workplace kits and smaller vehicle or mobile-worker kits.
Where Should a Workplace First Aid Kit Be Kept?
First aid kits should be easy to identify and easily accessible.
Avoid putting the main workplace kit in a locked office that workers cannot access, underneath heavy equipment or in a cupboard that nobody knows contains first aid supplies.
- Choose a location workers can reach quickly
- Make sure staff know where the kit is
- Keep the location visible and clearly identified
- Protect supplies from damage and contamination
- Position equipment near higher-risk areas where appropriate
- Consider separate kits where workers are spread across the workplace
Don't Forget to Check and Restock the Kit
Buying the kit is only the beginning.
A first aid kit should remain ready to use, which means somebody needs to take responsibility for monitoring the contents.
If an injury occurs and several dressings, gloves and saline products are used, those items should be replaced rather than waiting for the next scheduled inspection.
Expiry dates should also be monitored and damaged or contaminated supplies removed.
Trade Aid's First Aid Kit Refill provides replacement supplies for businesses wanting to replenish used or ageing stock without replacing the entire kit.
Buying First Aid Kits for Multiple Perth Vehicles or Worksites
Once a business grows beyond one vehicle or one location, first aid purchasing becomes less about buying individual kits and more about creating a consistent system.
Imagine a Perth electrical contractor with:
- one workshop
- six service vehicles
- two installation crews
- workers regularly moving between commercial sites
Putting one first aid kit at reception is unlikely to be a particularly practical arrangement for that business.
A more useful setup might include a larger primary kit at the workshop, portable kits in service vehicles and a clear process for inspection and restocking.
Standardising kits can also make management easier because workers know where supplies are stored and the person responsible for inspections knows what each location should contain.
A Mobile Trade Business With Several Vehicles
Consider a plumbing or electrical business operating from a Perth workshop with five vans working across the metropolitan area.
The workshop has employees coming and going throughout the day, while technicians may spend most of their shift working remotely at customer sites.
One possible arrangement could be a larger primary first aid kit at the workshop and a portable kit in each work vehicle.
The business would then periodically review each kit, replace used or expired supplies and reassess the setup when new vehicles, workers or workplace hazards are introduced.
The appropriate setup still needs to be determined from that business's actual risks, but this approach illustrates why accessibility often matters more than simply owning one very large first aid kit.
Compact vs Classic: Which Trade Aid Kit Suits Your Setup?
Trade Aid currently offers two main kit formats for businesses that want different levels of portability.
Compact Trade Aid Kit
The Compact Trade Aid Kit measures approximately 180 × 130 × 80mm and weighs 0.47kg. Its smaller format makes it particularly practical for work vehicles, mobile workers, toolbags and businesses needing first aid equipment across several locations.
Classic Trade Aid Kit
The Classic Trade Aid Kit is the larger option, with a more comprehensive range of first aid supplies. It can be better suited as a primary kit for many workshops, worksites, depots and main work vehicles.
Neither kit should be selected purely on size. Businesses still need to consider whether the contents, number of kits and locations are appropriate for their workplace risks and applicable WA first aid requirements.
A Practical First Aid Kit Buying Checklist for Perth Businesses
Before ordering workplace first aid equipment, work through these questions:
- What injuries and illnesses could reasonably occur in our work?
- Are there additional risks such as burns, eye injuries or remote work?
- How many workers need access to first aid?
- Are workers spread across different buildings, areas or sites?
- Do employees travel in separate work vehicles?
- Can workers reach an appropriate kit quickly?
- Is the kit easy to identify and use?
- Will the bag or case suit the environment where it is stored?
- Who will check and restock the equipment?
- Does the business need a combination of larger and portable kits?
If your business changes significantly, for example by adding workers, vehicles, machinery or new work activities, review your first aid arrangements again rather than assuming the original setup is still suitable.
Setting Up First Aid Across Your Business
Trade Aid Kits is an Australian first aid business supplying kits for worksites, workshops, work vehicles and mobile crews.
Businesses can use different kit formats across their operation, such as a larger Classic Kit for a central workplace and Compact Kits for vehicles or workers who need a more portable option.
If you are fitting out several vehicles, sites or crews, visit our Business & Bulk First Aid Kit Supply page for information on larger orders and workplace setups.
Workplace first aid requirements vary. Before purchasing equipment for a specific compliance need, make sure the type, contents, number and location of kits are appropriate for your workplace risks and the requirements applying to your business.
Frequently Asked Questions
What first aid kit does a Perth business need?
There is no single kit that suits every Perth business. The appropriate first aid equipment should be based on factors such as workplace hazards, workforce size, workplace location and layout, how workers move between jobs and access to medical assistance.
Are workplace first aid kits required in Western Australia?
WA workplaces need to provide access to appropriate first aid equipment and facilities. At least one first aid kit should be provided at a workplace, with the overall first aid arrangement determined by the risks and circumstances of the workplace.
How many first aid kits should a Perth business have?
There is not one fixed number that applies to every workplace. The number and location of kits should allow workers to access appropriate first aid quickly. Large workplaces, mobile workforces and businesses operating multiple vehicles or locations may need more than one.
Should a Perth work vehicle have a first aid kit?
Work vehicles should be considered as part of the business's first aid arrangements where employees travel for work. For mobile workers, keeping appropriate first aid equipment in the vehicle can help ensure supplies remain accessible while they are away from a fixed workplace.
Where should a workplace first aid kit be kept?
A workplace first aid kit should be easy for workers to identify and access quickly. It should also be stored so its contents are protected from damage and contamination. Additional kits may be appropriate where the workplace is large or workers are spread across different locations.
What is the best first aid kit for a Perth tradie?
It depends on how the tradie works. A mobile sole trader may prefer a smaller portable kit, while a larger business may use a main workplace kit together with portable kits in its work vehicles. The contents still need to suit the actual workplace hazards.
Can Perth businesses buy first aid kits in bulk?
Yes. Businesses fitting out multiple vehicles, worksites or crews can purchase multiple Trade Aid Kits, with different kit formats available depending on whether a larger central kit or smaller portable option is more appropriate.
How often should workplace first aid kits be restocked?
Used supplies should be replaced after use and kits should be checked regularly so missing, damaged or expired products can be identified. The person responsible for checking the kit should also review whether the existing stock remains appropriate for the workplace.
This article provides general information only and is not legal, medical or workplace safety advice. First aid requirements vary according to workplace hazards, workforce, location and applicable legislation. Businesses should assess their own first aid needs and refer to current WorkSafe WA guidance and other requirements that apply to their workplace.