How Many First Aid Kits Does Your Business Need? Australia WHS Guide

First aid kits for businesses with multiple work vehicles and sites

How Many First Aid Kits Does Your Business Need?

If your business runs more than one vehicle, more than one site, or a workforce that moves between locations, working out how many first aid kits you actually need isn't always straightforward.

A single kit sitting in the site office isn't much use to a worker who's 30 minutes away in a work ute. At the same time, there isn't a simple Australian WHS rule that says every business must have a certain number of kits based purely on headcount.

So how do you work it out?

The answer is to look at where your workers are, the hazards they face, and whether they can access first aid quickly when they need it. This guide explains how Safe Work Australia's guidance applies to businesses operating across multiple vehicles, sites and work locations.

What Does Safe Work Australia Actually Say?

Safe Work Australia's current guidance says every workplace must have access to at least one first aid kit. The kit should be located where workers can see and access it quickly, particularly in areas where there is a higher risk of injury or illness. If the workplace is spread out, you should consider having additional kits so first aid remains easily accessible.

Safe Work Australia also specifically recommends keeping first aid kits inside work vehicles when workers travel for their job.

This means there isn't one universal formula such as "one kit for every 10 workers" that you can apply to every Australian business.

Your first aid arrangements should be based on a risk assessment that considers:

The hazards associated with the work
The size of the workplace
The location of the workplace
How many workers, contractors and other people are present
Whether workers are spread across different areas
Whether workers travel or work away from the main workplace
How quickly emergency services can be accessed

Safe Work Australia recommends consulting workers as part of this risk assessment and reviewing the arrangements as the workplace changes.

Don't Confuse First Aid Kit Numbers with First Aider Numbers

This is an easy mistake to make when researching Australian first aid requirements.

The commonly quoted numbers of 50 workers, 25 workers and 10 workers relate to recommended numbers of trained first aiders, not a universal formula for calculating how many first aid kits a business needs.

Safe Work Australia's current guidance recommends one first aider for every 50 workers in a low-risk workplace, one for every 25 workers in a high-risk workplace and one for every 10 workers in a remote high-risk workplace.

Kit numbers work differently. You need enough kits in appropriate locations so workers can actually access first aid when they need it.

That distinction is important for a business with multiple worksites or mobile workers.

Why Headcount Alone Doesn't Answer the Question

Imagine a construction business with 20 workers.

If all 20 workers are working together at one reasonably compact site, one appropriately located kit may be a starting point, subject to the site's risk assessment.

Now split those same 20 workers across five separate residential construction sites.

Suddenly, the headcount hasn't changed, but the first aid arrangement needs to change because workers are no longer in the same location. A kit at Site A isn't readily accessible to someone working at Site E.

This is why the better question isn't simply "How many workers do we have?"

It is:

"Where are our workers working, and can they access first aid quickly wherever they are?"

How Many Kits Do You Need for Multiple Work Vehicles?

If your business has workers travelling between jobs, vehicles become an important part of your first aid arrangement.

Safe Work Australia's guidance specifically says first aid kits should be kept inside work vehicles when workers travel for their job.

For a mobile trade business, that could mean having a kit in each work ute or van rather than relying on a single kit at the depot.

For example:

2 work utes: consider providing a kit in each vehicle
5 mobile workers in 5 vehicles: each worker should have access to first aid equipment in their vehicle where that vehicle forms part of their mobile workplace
10-vehicle fleet: review each vehicle as part of your overall first aid risk assessment and provide kits where workers travel for work

Our guide on first aid kit requirements for work vehicles in Australia covers mobile workers and vehicle-based first aid in more detail.

How Many Kits Do You Need for Multiple Sites?

For businesses operating across multiple fixed sites, each workplace needs appropriate access to first aid.

That doesn't necessarily mean you need exactly one kit per site. A small office with a handful of workers may have very different needs from a large construction project spread across several buildings or work areas.

Consider:

How many workers are at each site?
What hazards are present?
How large and spread out is the site?
Can workers reach the kit quickly from different areas?
Are there multiple floors, buildings or work zones?
Are different shifts operating?
Is the site remote or isolated?

Safe Work Australia's guidance specifically recommends considering additional kits where a workplace is spread out, so workers can access them easily when needed.

Our guide on how many first aiders you need on a construction site covers the trained personnel side of the equation as well.

When Might One Site Need More Than One Kit?

A large workplace may need more than one first aid kit even if all workers technically belong to the same site.

For example, imagine a large construction project with workers spread between a main building, a separate workshop and an external work area.

Putting one kit inside the site office might technically give the site a kit, but it may not provide the level of accessibility the risk assessment requires.

In a large or high-risk workplace, additional kits can be positioned closer to areas where injuries are more likely to occur. The objective is simple: don't make an injured worker travel across the site to find the first aid equipment.

WorkSafe WA similarly states that first aid arrangements should take into account the nature of the work, hazards, workplace size and location, and the number of people at the workplace.

A Simple Way to Work Out Your Business's Kit Count

There isn't a single calculator that works for every business, but this process will give most trade, construction and field-service businesses a sensible starting point.

1. List your fixed workplaces. Include workshops, depots, offices and ongoing project sites.
2. List your mobile workplaces. Identify the vehicles your workers use when travelling between jobs.
3. Record the workers at each location. Look at where people actually work rather than simply using your total company headcount.
4. Assess the risks. Construction, manufacturing and other higher-risk workplaces may require more comprehensive first aid arrangements than a low-risk office.
5. Check accessibility. If workers are spread over a large area, consider additional kits so first aid can be reached quickly.
6. Consider remote or isolated work. Longer emergency response times may require additional equipment, training or emergency arrangements.
7. Review your vehicle arrangements. Where workers travel for work, make sure appropriate first aid equipment is available in the vehicles they use.
8. Review the arrangement whenever the business changes. Adding a vehicle, opening another site, increasing the workforce or changing the type of work can change your first aid requirements.

This approach is more reliable than simply buying one kit for every fixed number of employees because it takes the actual layout and working arrangements of your business into account.

What About Remote and High-Risk Work?

Remote and isolated work requires additional consideration because emergency medical assistance may take longer to reach the worker.

Safe Work Australia's guidance recommends additional first aid training for workers where work is remote or isolated, and the model Code of Practice provides specific recommendations for remote high-risk workplaces.

For example, the model Code identifies additional equipment for remote high-risk workplaces, including a heavy-duty crepe bandage for snake bites, large clean sheeting for burns, a thermal blanket, a whistle and a torch, alongside equipment identified through the site's risk assessment.

If your business operates in mining, remote construction or other isolated environments, don't rely on a standard trade kit alone. Your first aid arrangements should be based on the specific risks and emergency response times at the workplace.

Our guide on first aid kit requirements for mining sites in Australia goes into this in more detail.

Buying First Aid Kits for Multiple Vehicles or Sites

Once you've worked out how many kits your business needs, buying them in one go can make the whole process easier.

For businesses with multiple vehicles, sites or workers, standardising on the same kit across the operation can simplify training, checking and restocking. Your workers know where the supplies are, and whoever manages WHS doesn't have to deal with five different kit types and contents lists.

If you need a combination of larger workplace kits and smaller kits for individual workers, our Combo Kits can provide a practical option.

For larger orders, our business and bulk supply page provides information for businesses looking to equip larger workforces, while our guides for construction companies and mobile workforces cover the different setups in more detail.

The Practical Answer

There isn't one number of first aid kits that applies to every Australian business.

Instead, start by mapping out where your workers actually work. Look at your fixed sites, work vehicles, workforce distribution, hazards and how quickly workers can access first aid.

A business with one small workplace may only need one kit. A mobile trade business may need a kit in each work vehicle. A construction company operating across several large sites may need multiple kits at different locations and work areas.

The important thing is that your first aid equipment is accessible when and where your workers need it. Safe Work Australia's guidance makes accessibility a central part of the first aid risk assessment.

Review your arrangements whenever you add a vehicle, open a new site, increase your workforce or change the type of work being performed.

What About Tax Deductions?

If your business purchases first aid kits for use in carrying on the business, the expense may be deductible depending on your circumstances. Keep your receipts and business records, and speak with your accountant or tax adviser if you're unsure about the tax treatment.

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