How to Set Up a First Aid Station in a Workshop or Shed

Does Your Workshop Have a Proper First Aid Setup?

Most workshops have a first aid kit somewhere. Usually it's a generic green box in a drawer, half-empty, with contents that haven't been checked since it was purchased. If a WHS inspector walked in tomorrow, would your setup hold up?

This guide covers exactly how to set up a first aid station in a workshop that's genuinely compliant, actually useful in an emergency, and doesn't take more than an hour to sort out.

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What the Law Requires for Workshops

Under Safe Work Australia's model WHS Regulations, every workplace must provide first aid equipment appropriate to the hazards present. For workshops — which are classified as high-risk workplaces — this means:

• A first aid kit stocked with supplies suitable for the injuries most likely to occur
• The kit must be clearly marked and easily accessible to all workers
• At least one trained first aider must be available when workers are on site (for workplaces with more than a handful of staff)
• The kit must be regularly checked and restocked

Workshops present specific hazards: angle grinders, lathes, welding equipment, power tools, chemicals, and heavy lifting. Your first aid setup needs to reflect these, not just cover paper cuts.

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Step 1 — Choose the Right Kit

For a workshop or depot, the Trade Aid Classic Kit is the right choice. It includes over 40 items covering the injuries most common in workshop environments — wound care, burns, eye injuries, pressure bandages, and more. It's also built from 5mm rip-stop material that handles the dust and grime of a real working environment, not the inside of a corporate breakroom.

If your workshop also has mobile workers who head out to sites in vehicles, add a Compact Kit to each vehicle so you're covered both in the workshop and on the road.

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Step 2 — Mount It Properly

The most important thing about a first aid kit in a workshop is that everyone knows exactly where it is and can get to it immediately. A kit in a drawer under the workbench is not a first aid station — it's a box that happens to exist.

Mount your kit on the wall at eye level in a location that:

• Is visible from most of the workshop floor
• Is not blocked by equipment, vehicles, or storage
• Is near a wash station or water source if possible (for chemical splashes and eye irrigation)
• Is away from any area where it might be covered in grinding dust, oil spray, or welding spatter

A good rule of thumb: if you were in pain and disoriented, could you find the kit in 10 seconds? If not, move it.

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Step 3 — Add a Location Sign

Under WHS regulations, every first aid kit must be clearly marked with a first aid sign. This isn't optional — it's a compliance requirement and one of the first things an inspector looks for.

The sign should be the green and white cross design compliant with AS 4600. Put it directly above or beside the kit on the wall. If your workshop is large, add secondary signs pointing toward the first aid station from the main entry points.

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Step 4 — Set Up a Basic Emergency Station

A proper workshop first aid station goes beyond just the kit. Consider grouping the following together:

• First aid kit — mounted at eye level, clearly signed
• Eye wash station — essential for any workshop with grinding, welding, or chemical use
• Burns treatment — cool running water access and burn gel sachets
• Emergency contact list — local hospital, nearest ambulance, workplace emergency contact, site manager's number
• Incident log book — to record any first aid treatment given (a legal requirement in most states)

This doesn't need to be elaborate. A wall-mounted board with the kit, a printed emergency contact sheet, and an incident log book covers the basics and looks professional when an inspector visits.

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Step 5 — Assign a Responsible Person

Someone in your workshop needs to own the first aid setup. This means:

• Checking the kit monthly — noting any used or expired items
• Restocking promptly when items are used
• Keeping the incident log up to date
• Ensuring the location sign is visible and undamaged
• Ideally, holding a current First Aid certificate (HLTAID011 Provide First Aid, valid 3 years)

This doesn't need to be a full-time safety officer. In a small workshop it's usually the owner or the most senior person on the floor. The important thing is that one person has clear ownership.

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Step 6 — Keep It Restocked

A first aid kit that's been raided for bandaids and never restocked is a compliance risk and a genuine safety hazard. Build a restock into your annual safety review — or better yet, set a reminder every 6 months.

Our Complete Kit Refill ($69) covers all the commonly used items so you don't have to hunt down individual supplies or replace the whole kit. Order one, restock, done.

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Quick Setup Checklist

• ☐ Classic Kit purchased and mounted at eye level
• ☐ First aid location sign displayed directly above kit
• ☐ Emergency contacts printed and displayed nearby
• ☐ Eye wash station accessible
• ☐ Incident log book stored with or near the kit
• ☐ Responsible person assigned
• ☐ Monthly inspection reminder set
• ☐ Restock schedule in place

If you can tick all of those, your workshop first aid setup will hold up to any WHS inspection — and more importantly, it'll actually work when you need it.

Shop the Trade Aid Classic Kit →