How to Set Up First Aid Kits Across a Mining Site

Mining

A mine site can cover a huge area, with workers spread between workshops, processing areas, crib rooms, underground workings, vehicles and remote work locations. That means providing one well-stocked first aid kit somewhere on site may not provide practical access when an injury occurs. Setting up first aid kits across a mining site should be based on where people work, the hazards they face and how quickly suitable equipment can be reached.

Why First Aid Kit Location Matters on a Mine Site

In a workplace injury, having first aid supplies somewhere on the property is not the same as being able to access them quickly.

Safe Work Australia says workers must be able to access first aid equipment and facilities at all times. It also recommends considering additional kits where a workplace is spread out so equipment remains easily accessible.

This is particularly relevant to mining operations.

A mine may have workers separated by significant distances, different work areas, multiple levels, mobile equipment and locations that take time to reach.

The practical question: if someone is injured in this part of the mine, where is the nearest suitable first aid kit and how quickly can someone get to it?

For the broader first aid requirements applying to mining operations, read our First Aid Kit Requirements for Mining Sites in Australia guide.

Does a Mining Site Need More Than One First Aid Kit?

Potentially, yes.

Australian WHS guidance does not provide a simple formula stating that a mine needs one first aid kit for every certain number of workers or every certain number of square metres.

Instead, first aid arrangements should reflect the workplace's hazards, size, location and workforce.

Safe Work Australia specifically says businesses should consider having more first aid kits if the workplace is spread out, to make sure kits are easily accessible when needed.

On a large mining operation, that may mean distributing first aid equipment across several work areas rather than relying on one central location.

The number and location of kits should come from the site's risk assessment.

Start by Mapping Where People Actually Work

Before deciding where first aid kits should go, look at how workers move around the operation during a normal shift.

Consider:

Where crews spend most of their time
Where higher-risk tasks are performed
How far work areas are from each other
How long it takes to travel between locations
Which areas operate on night shift
Where contractors and visitors work
Which crews are mobile
Which workers operate remotely or in isolation
How quickly trained first aiders can reach each area

This creates a much more useful picture than simply placing kits in offices or crib rooms because those locations are convenient.

Place Kits Close to Higher-Risk Work Areas

Safe Work Australia's first aid guidance says kits should be located close to areas where there is a higher risk of injury or illness.

On a mine site, the risk assessment may identify areas where injuries are more likely or where immediate access to appropriate supplies is particularly important.

Depending on the operation, these could include:

Mechanical workshops
Maintenance areas
Processing areas
Fabrication and welding areas
Drill and blast work areas
Underground work areas
Remote field work locations
Other areas identified through the site's risk assessment

The appropriate first aid supplies may also differ between these locations because the hazards are not necessarily the same.

Workshops and Maintenance Areas

Mine workshops can involve mechanical work, sharp tools, hot work, heavy equipment, oils, chemicals and other hazards.

A first aid kit serving a workshop should be somewhere workers can identify and reach quickly without needing to search through cupboards, offices or storage areas.

Its contents should also reflect the hazards identified for that particular work area.

If a workshop is physically separated from other facilities on site, relying on a kit located elsewhere may not provide suitable access.

Clear identification and a consistent location can also help contractors and workers who do not normally work in that workshop find the equipment quickly.

Processing Plants and Fixed Work Areas

Processing plants and other fixed facilities may contain several distinct work areas spread across a large footprint.

When planning kit locations, consider how workers actually access different parts of the plant.

A kit may appear close on a site map but still require workers to travel between levels, around restricted areas or through controlled access points.

Safe Work Australia's model Code emphasises that quick access to first aid equipment is vital and that all workers must have access, including in security-controlled workplaces.

Kit placement should therefore consider practical access routes rather than distance alone.

Crib Rooms and Common Areas

Crib rooms can be useful first aid locations because workers generally know where they are and use them throughout a shift.

However, a crib room should not automatically become the only first aid location simply because it is central.

If workers are operating a significant distance away, the site should consider whether they can realistically reach that equipment quickly during an incident.

A central kit can form part of the site's overall first aid system while additional kits provide coverage closer to work areas.

First Aid Kits Underground

Underground operations require particular attention because distance and access can significantly affect response times.

Workers may be spread between levels, headings, workshops, crib rooms and mobile work areas.

Depending on the operation and its risk assessment, first aid equipment may need to be distributed across suitable underground locations rather than relying solely on equipment at the surface.

Communication, trained first aiders and emergency response arrangements also need to work alongside the physical kit locations.

We cover this in more detail in our First Aid Requirements for Underground Mining in Australia guide.

Mining Vehicles and Mobile Equipment

Not every worker stays close to a fixed first aid station during a shift.

Supervisors, maintenance crews, field workers and other mobile teams may spend significant periods travelling around the operation.

Safe Work Australia says first aid kits should be kept inside work vehicles where workers travel for their job.

For mining operations, vehicle-based first aid can form an important part of the site's overall distribution strategy, particularly where crews move between distant work areas.

Vehicle kits should be easy to identify and access while also being safely secured.

Read our First Aid Kits for Mining Vehicles and Heavy Equipment guide for more detail.

Remote Areas of the Mine

Some mining operations extend well beyond the main processing plant, workshop or camp.

Exploration areas, remote infrastructure, pumping locations, field work and other isolated tasks can place workers a significant distance from central first aid facilities.

For these areas, consider not only where the nearest kit is located but how long it would actually take to access it.

Safe Work Australia says emergencies can become more serious where workers are remote or isolated and there is no one nearby to provide first aid or call for help.

Workers in these locations also need a reliable way to access emergency assistance.

For more information, see our First Aid for Remote Mining Sites in Australia guide.

Make Every Kit Easy to Identify

Workers should not have to search for first aid equipment during an emergency.

Safe Work Australia's model Code recommends keeping first aid kits in prominent, accessible locations and says recognised first aid signs can help people locate first aid equipment and facilities.

Across a mining operation, consistency can help.

Where practical, consider using:

Clearly identifiable first aid kits
Recognised first aid signage
Consistent kit locations within similar work areas
Clear identification on site plans or emergency information where appropriate
Worker inductions that explain where first aid equipment is located

This is particularly useful on sites with contractors, new starters and workers who regularly move between different areas.

Don't Hide First Aid Kits Behind Equipment

A kit may technically be in a work area but still be difficult to access.

Avoid locations where the kit can become:

Blocked by tools or equipment
Buried behind stored materials
Locked away from workers who may need it
Moved from its designated location
Difficult to see
Accessible only to certain crews or shifts

The test should be whether a worker unfamiliar with that particular area could identify and retrieve the kit quickly.

Protect Kits From Mining Conditions

Where a kit is located also affects how well its contents survive.

Mining environments can expose first aid equipment to dust, moisture, heat, vibration and contamination.

Safe Work Australia's model Code recommends first aid kits be made from material that protects the contents from dust, moisture and contamination.

A convenient location is therefore not necessarily a good location if the kit is constantly being exposed to conditions that could damage the supplies inside.

The aim is to balance quick access with suitable protection.

Our guide on how to protect a first aid kit from dust, water and heat explains this in more detail.

Should Every Area Have the Same First Aid Kit?

Not necessarily.

Standardisation can make first aid equipment easier to recognise, inspect and restock, but different areas may have different hazards.

A useful approach can be to establish a consistent baseline first aid kit across the operation and then add equipment where the risk assessment identifies specific needs.

For example, additional supplies may be appropriate where workers face particular risks from burns, eye injuries, remote work or other site-specific hazards.

The important point is that kit selection should follow the risk assessment rather than simply placing identical kits everywhere without considering the work being performed.

Include Contractors, Visitors and Different Shifts

First aid planning should not only consider the permanent day-shift workforce.

Safe Work Australia says first aid needs may depend on who is in the workplace, including workers, contractors, subcontractors, volunteers and visitors.

On a mine site, also consider what happens during:

Night shift
Shutdowns
Major maintenance periods
Contractor projects
Exploration work
Reduced staffing periods

A kit location that works during normal day operations should still be accessible when different crews or working arrangements are in place.

Create a Site-Wide Inspection and Restocking System

Distributing more first aid kits across a mine also creates more equipment to manage.

Each kit should be included in the site's inspection and restocking system so supplies do not quietly disappear, expire or deteriorate.

Safe Work Australia's model Code recommends nominating a person to maintain first aid kits, replacing used items as soon as practicable and carrying out regular checks. Where a kit has not been used, the model Code recommends checking it at least once every 12 months.

Mining operations may choose more frequent inspection intervals based on site conditions, use and risk.

A site-wide system could record:

Kit identification number
Exact location
Responsible person or department
Last inspection date
Next inspection date
Missing or used items
Expiry dates
Damage or contamination
Restocking completed

This becomes increasingly valuable when an operation has dozens of kits spread across fixed facilities, vehicles and remote work areas.

Review Locations When the Mine Changes

Mining operations are not static.

Work fronts move, underground development progresses, workshops relocate, new infrastructure is commissioned and crews change.

A first aid layout that worked twelve months ago may no longer provide the best coverage.

Review kit locations when there are meaningful changes to:

Work areas
Workforce numbers
Site layout
Underground development
Vehicle fleets
Hazards or work activities
Emergency response arrangements

Worker feedback can also be valuable. The people using each work area often know whether first aid equipment is genuinely easy to access.

Mining Site First Aid Kit Location Checklist

Questions to Ask Across Your Operation

Can every worker access suitable first aid equipment quickly?
Is the operation too spread out to rely on one central kit?
Are kits located close to higher-risk work areas?
Have workshops and processing areas been assessed separately?
Do underground workers have practical access to first aid equipment?
Have mining vehicles and mobile crews been considered?
Do remote and isolated workers have suitable first aid access?
Are kits prominent and easy to identify?
Are any kits routinely blocked, locked away or moved?
Are kits protected from dust, moisture and contamination?
Do specific work areas need additional first aid supplies?
Are contractors and night-shift workers covered?
Is every kit included in an inspection and restocking system?
Are kit locations reviewed when the operation changes?

Setting Up First Aid Kits Across a Mining Site: The Bottom Line

There is no universal map showing exactly where every Australian mine must place its first aid kits.

The right setup depends on the size and layout of the operation, where people work, the hazards they face and how quickly first aid equipment can be reached.

For a large or remote mine, that will often mean thinking beyond one central first aid station and creating a coordinated network of accessible kits across relevant work areas.

Workshops, processing areas, underground locations, vehicles and remote crews should all be considered through the site's first aid risk assessment.

Most importantly, the system needs to work in practice. Workers should know where the nearest kit is, be able to reach it quickly and find it stocked and ready when it is needed.

For the broader requirements behind this setup, read our First Aid Kit Requirements for Mining Sites in Australia guide.

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This article provides general information only and is not a substitute for workplace-specific WHS, mining safety or medical advice. Requirements vary according to workplace risks and the legislation applying in each Australian state or territory. Safe Work Australia is not a regulator, and its model Codes of Practice only have legal effect where approved in a jurisdiction. Mining operators should check the requirements of their relevant WHS and mining safety regulator and conduct a site-specific risk assessment.