Top Reasons to Keep a First Aid Kit on a Construction Site

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​Having a first aid kit at a construction site is compulsory. Construction is a high-risk job and injuries happen often. While not always serious, they do need immediate attention. If you haven’t already added a first aid kit to your construction site office, let us convince you.

Why Should You Keep a First Aid Kit on a Construction Site?

​Here are the top reasons why keeping or carrying a first aid kit on a construction site is important:
1.    Treat Injuries Fast
​A construction site is not the safest place on earth. The constant movement, heavy machinery, and labor-intensiveness of the job make it a high-risk job. There are plenty of injuries one can get on a day-to-day basis and a lot more risks for freaky accidents. Someone can tear a nail out, crush a toe, hit their head, or fall

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"Being able to treat any injuries that happen quickly can be a lifesaver"

​Being able to treat any injuries that happen quickly can be a lifesaver. You can disinfect wounds, bandage them, check their temperature, and sometimes even offer antibiotics. These options offer relief but they can also save lives.
​
2.    Lessen Risk of Litigation
​The OSHA requires that workplaces make first aid kits and medical services available to workers. The law was put in place to help people getting injured at work. Failure to comply with this law puts any company at risk of fines.
 
If a construction worker was to get injured and they could not receive life-saving treatment because they had no first-aid kit, your company could be facing serious fines. Additionally, the person or their family could sue the company. Whether or not the injury was serious is irrelevant because the company is somewhat liable for not complying with regulations.
 
To avoid getting fined when safety inspectors come around or sued when an employee can’t receive first aid, it is better to just keep a first aid kit on site.

3.    Relieve Pain Quickly
Having immediate pain relief at a construction site is a major advantage. The job is physically taxing and puts the body through intense movement. Construction workers should have access to pain medication as fast as they need it. Be it for headaches, backaches, skin irritations, or a sprained ankle.

4.    Prevent Discomfort and Further Injury
​When you treat injuries fast, you help take away the discomfort. It could be rubbing a soothing balm on a rash from coming in contact with irritating plants or animals. Or, you may administer antiseptics and treat a wound, preventing sepsis and bacterial infection. 

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"Having a first aid kit ensures that minor injuries and discomforts remain minor."

Whatever the case, having a first aid kit ensures that minor injuries and discomforts remain minor. It also ensures that serious injuries receive fast and urgent care to prevent fatalities.
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5.    Compact and Mobile Package
A first aid kit is a compact package you can carry everywhere. Keeping it in the construction site's main office is great but you can move it if needed. You can help neighboring businesses or others in the area when they have a medical emergency. It gives you peace of mind that you can respond in case of emergency.

What Should You Include in a Construction Site First Aid Kit?

​There are two categories of first aid kits: Class A and Class B.

1. Class A First Aid Kit: This is a basic first aid kit that holds all items an office would need. It is common in offices and most houses.

 

1. Class B First Aid Kit: A first aid kit with basic items and additional supplies for server injuries. It is common in kitchens and high-risk job sites. One of the most significant differences is the inclusion of a defibrillator.

 
For a construction site, it is advisable to have a class B first aid kit. Here is what your kit should contain:

• 2 triangular bandages
• 4 trauma pads
• (1) 4 by 4-inch sterile pad
• (1) 5-yard roll of adhesive tape
• (1) 3 by 3-inch sterile pad
• 4 pairs of medical gloves
• 2 sterile eye pads
• (50) 1 by 3-inch adhesive bandages
• (1) 4-inch by 4.1-yard roller gauze
• (2) 2-inch by 4.1-yard roller gauze
• (2) 4 by 4-inch gel-soaked burn dressing
• 50 safety pins
• 2 cold packs
• 50 antibiotic treatments
• 50 antiseptic treatments
• 25 burn treatments
• 10 hand sanitizers
• 2 splints
• 1 tourniquet
• 4 fl ounces of eye/skin wash
• 3 packs cold&flu tablets
• 3 packs of painkillers
• 1 CPR barrier
• 1 defibrillator
• A first-aid guide

 
The numbers of each item are the minimum amount recommended for a 10-person team. Depending on how many people work at a construction site, you may choose to add more of each.

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First Aid Kit General Guidelines for a Construction Projects

​First aid kits at construction sites should be placed in prominent positions. The best place would be near fire points as this is where most people will congregate during an emergency. You can also have one in the main office if it is easy to find and well arranged. Most minor or individual injuries can be attended to in the main office where the person can sit down.
 
However, depending on the size of the project and the number of workers on a site, you may have to have one in different locations. Completed levels of construction the main office, fire assembly points, and the bathroom can all have a first aid kit. 

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"All construction projects should have at least one qualified first aider during every shift."

​All construction projects should have at least one qualified first aider during every shift. Aim to provide general first aid training at the start of every construction job. This ensures the entire team can help in event of an emergency. Also, offer certification training or hire a person already certified for every shift. In case of an emergency, this person can give life-saving treatment until emergency responders arrive.

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"Ensure the first aid kit remains restocked and check for the expiry date on the items"

​Keep a list of the first aid kit contents available at all times. This list should be updated whenever anything is taken out, even painkillers. Ensure the first aid kit remains restocked and check for the expiry date on the items. Once they are close to expiry, discard and replace them.

What Size Should a Construction Site First Aid Kit Be?

When deciding the size of your first aid kit, consider how many workers are around the construction project site daily. Also, consider the overall size of the construction site. If working on a large construction site or a high-rise building, it may be better to get several, well-equipped but small first aid kits and scatter them across the site.
 
The size of the first aid kit is not about the size of the bag. Rather, it is the number of items in the kit and how many people it could comfortably treat. Construction sites with more workers need bigger first aid kits. There are four main sizes of first aid kits available:
 

• Travel size or one-person kit
• Small or 10-person kit
• Medium or 20-person kit
• Large or 50-person kit

 
Here is our guide for first aid kit sizes for construction sites:
 
Low Hazard Sites

• If you have less than 25 workers have a small kit
• If you have 25 to 100 workers use a single medium kit or two small kits in different places
• For more than 100 workers, a large kit, 2 medium kits on opposite ends of the site, or four small kits spread over the construction site

 
High Hazard Sites

• For five or fewer workers, a small kit
• For five to 25 workers, a medium kit or two small kits
• For more than 25 workers but less than 50, a large kit or two medium kits

For 50 to 100 workers, two large kits or four medium kits

Final Word

​Keeping a first aid kit on a construction site is vital and required by law. It can help prevent further injury and save someone’s life.

Author

This article was written by the Medshop Editor - Medshop is a leading medical supplier, servicing the Australasian region with an unbeatable range of medical supplies and a drive to exceed consumer needs.

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