Workplace First Aid Kit Requirements UK: What the Law Says (BS 8599-1 Explained)

What Does UK Law Actually Require?

The Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 require every employer to provide, or ensure the provision of, equipment and facilities that are "adequate and appropriate" for administering first aid to employees who are injured or become ill at work. The Regulations apply to all workplaces regardless of size, sector, or number of staff.

The key word is "adequate and appropriate" — the law does not specify exactly what must be in a first aid kit or how large it must be. That determination is left to the employer, guided by a first aid needs assessment. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) provides guidance on what this assessment should consider, including the nature of the work, the number of employees, the location of the premises, and whether there are shift workers or lone workers who may need specific provision.

Where Does BS 8599-1 Come In?

BS 8599-1:2019 is the British Standard for workplace first aid kits. It is not a legal requirement — compliance with it does not guarantee legal compliance, and non-compliance does not mean you are automatically breaking the law. However, it is widely adopted as best practice and is the benchmark used by most first aid kit suppliers, HSE guidance documents, and safety auditors.

Following BS 8599-1 gives employers a recognised, evidence-based framework for selecting the right kit size and contents, and provides a degree of documented assurance that the provision is appropriate. In the event of an incident or HSE inspection, being able to demonstrate that you followed a published British Standard is a strong position to be in.

Kit Sizes Under BS 8599-1

BS 8599-1 defines four sizes of workplace first aid kit, matched to workforce size and risk level. The distinction between "lower risk" (formerly "low hazard") and "higher risk" workplaces reflects the nature of the work — office environments fall into lower risk; construction sites, workshops, and chemical processing facilities fall into higher risk.

Small Kit

• Lower risk: 1–25 employees
• Higher risk: 1–5 employees

Medium Kit

• Lower risk: 26–100 employees
• Higher risk: 6–25 employees

Large Kit

• Lower risk: 101–400 employees
• Higher risk: 26–100 employees

Travel Kit

The travel kit is designed for lone workers, field-based staff, and vehicles. It is a compact kit providing basic first aid provision for one person working away from a fixed workplace. Companies with mobile workers or delivery drivers should ensure each vehicle carries a travel kit as a minimum.

For larger workplaces with more than 400 lower-risk employees or more than 100 higher-risk employees, multiple large kits — or additional tailored provision — will be required. The first aid needs assessment will determine the appropriate number and positioning.

What Should a BS 8599-1 Kit Contain?

The contents of a BS 8599-1 compliant kit are specified in the standard and scale with kit size. A typical workplace first aid kit contains:

• Sterile plasters in assorted sizes
• Sterile eye pad dressings
• Sterile wound dressings (various sizes)
• Triangular bandages
• Conforming bandages
• Disposable gloves (nitrile)
• Resuscitation face shield
• Foil (emergency) blanket
• Adhesive tape
• Guidance leaflet for first aid

Notable omissions: BS 8599-1 kits do not include any medication — not even paracetamol or aspirin. Administering medication is outside the scope of standard workplace first aid provision. Similarly, some compliant kits omit scissors because their inclusion is left to workplace discretion based on the needs assessment. If your workplace requires scissors, burns dressings, or eye wash stations as separate provision, these should be identified in the needs assessment and supplied accordingly.

The Importance of the First Aid Needs Assessment

The first aid needs assessment is the foundation of compliant provision. It should be documented and reviewed whenever the workplace changes significantly — new premises, new processes, or changes in workforce size. The assessment should cover:

• The hazards and risks associated with the work activity
• The number of employees and their distribution across the site
• Shift patterns and whether lone workers require dedicated provision
• The location relative to emergency medical services
• Any specific hazards that require additional kit items (e.g. chemical burns, eye splash risks)
• Whether trained first aiders or appointed persons are required
• Whether an automated external defibrillator (AED) is appropriate given the site's risk profile and ambulance response times

First Aiders vs. Appointed Persons: What Do You Need?

The Regulations require employers to appoint an adequate number of suitable persons to administer first aid. The two roles are distinct:

• An appointed person is someone who takes charge in an emergency, calls for help, and looks after the first aid equipment. They are not trained to administer first aid beyond basic measures. This role may be sufficient in lower-risk workplaces with fewer than 25 employees where the risk assessment does not indicate a need for a trained first aider.
• A first aider holds a current first aid certificate from an HSE-approved training provider and is qualified to administer a range of first aid treatments. They are required in higher-risk workplaces, larger organisations, or wherever the needs assessment identifies the risk of serious injury or illness.

The needs assessment, not a fixed headcount formula, determines what is required. A small workshop with power tools may need a trained first aider even with five staff; a large open-plan office may manage with appointed persons across departments.

Inspection, Restocking, and Expiry

A first aid kit is only as useful as its contents. Kits should be checked regularly — a monthly visual inspection is good practice — and consumables must be replaced promptly after use or when they reach their expiry date. Common items with expiry dates include sterile dressings, plasters, gloves, and resuscitation shields.

After any first aid incident, the kit should be restocked before it is returned to service. A log of checks and restocking events provides useful evidence of compliance and helps identify when a full kit replacement is more practical than piecemeal restocking.

Kits should be stored in a clean, dry location that is easily accessible and clearly signed. Where possible, position kits near areas of elevated risk and ensure all staff know where they are located.

Browse Cocus's range of BS 8599-1 compliant first aid kits at our first aid kits collection, and restock individual items from our first aid consumables range. All kits supplied meet the current 2019 edition of the standard.