First Aid Kit and Defibrillator sales Durham Newcastle Gateshead Sunderland

Complying with BS 8599-1, Workplace First Aid Kits

In recognising the need to ensure that current workplace first aid provision is adequate and appropriate The British Healthcare Trade Association has been working with the British Standards Institute (BSI), to create a new British Standard for first aid kits in the workplace.

These enhanced kits are based upon the minimum requirements set out by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) in their approved code of practice L74. The contents of these new kits take into account more modern and functional products encompassing a wider range of common workplace risks and are therefore more comprehensive than the previous HSE compliant kits.

BS 8599-1 is the standard that sets the new minimum level that workplace first aid kits conform to.

Although the HSE has not yet published a revisi to the L74 guidelines, it has undertaken to do so the earliest opportunity and this will refer to the n British Standard BS 8599-1.

The new standard like the previous L74 code of practice gives recommendations on the amount and size of the first aid kits necessary for the different workplace environments based on the category of risk and number of employees in the workplace.

Should the risk or numbers of employee deem it necessary the minimum contents as set out in

the standard can be supplemented by additional items appropriate to the hazards identified by risk assessment. This may result for example in increasing the number of burn dressings where significant risk of a burn injury is likely.

What has changed ?

Introduction of an eyewash bottle

Decreased number of Triangular for travel kits, ideal for drivers where

Bandages, as they are no longer dust or pollen gets in the eyes or in

used for the immobilisation of limb the event of a chemical splash where

injuries. access to running water is not readily

available.

Introduction of smaller absorbent

wound dressings for finger injuries, Introduction of a resuscitation face

where a plaster just will not cope. shield, providing a protective barrier for cpr .

Introduction of tearable non woven,

hypoallergenic adhesive tape to Introduction of a heat reflecting

secure bandages without using safety foil survival blanket, designed to

pins. keep the casualty warm in cases of

clinical shock or exposure to cold

temperatures.

Introduction of water based sterile gel burn dressings which do not require

any pre-cooling with water and a Introduction of sterile saline wipes

conforming bandage to secure it. replacing the alcohol free wipes.

These can now be used on broken

skin.