British Standards Institute (BSI) First Aid Kits

June 30, 2011 - PRLog -- THE CURRENT WORKPLACE FIRST AID KIT STANDARDS ARE BEING SUPERSEEDED BY A NEW ‘BRITISH STANDARD’ -  To be introduced from the 1st July 2011.

Following the last major update to the HSE Approved Code of Practice for First Aid at Work in 1997 the BHTA Member Companies developed the current 10, 20 and 50 person First Aid Kit contents that are currently recommended. Whilst these kits were appropriate 14 years ago the most common accidents in the workplace have changed. Therefore ‘new’ kits have been designed to more appropriately reflect the most common injuries in the workplace.


Why are the changes being made?

Contents of the first aid kits are no longer appropriate, for example
•   Triangular Bandages are included in the old kits and were intended to be used to immobilise lower limbs as well as for traditional sling use. The HSE no longer recommend using triangular bandages for lower limb immobilisation, therefore the number of Triangular Bandages is now inappropriate.
•   With the increase in improved disinfection and hygiene control, one pair of gloves is no longer appropriate.
•   Over the last 14 years new products such as burns dressings which provide better efficacy than running water are now included reflecting the need to have an appropriate dressing for this common injury.


What is the new standard?

•   New Contents Guidelines have been published by the British Standards Institute (BSI), these include a small, medium, large and travel kit standards (please see the attached). These kits will carry the BS8599-1 mark to show their compliance to the new guidelines.
•   The BHTA recommends the use of the new standard with immediate effect. It is expected that the old standard will be withdrawn on the 31st December 2011.


What should I do?

•   Phase out your current workplace first aid kits and ensure they are no longer for sale when the BHTA withdraws their current guidance.
•   Start stocking the new BSI Workplace First Aid Kits.
•   Increase stock levels of the components used to assemble the kits.
•   Educate your customers about the change.


Will this change make workplaces illegal overnight?

No, kit contents specifications are guidance, they’re not mandatory. The HSE Approved Code of Practice simply requires that employers perform a risk assessment of their workplace and buy suitable first-aid items. The ‘new’ BSI First Aid Kits are designed to aid the process of choosing the correct first aid kit for each workplace.



Resources:

http://www.firstaidwarehouse.co.uk/xpl-first_aid_kits.html
http://www.firstaidwarehouse.co.uk/xpl-burns_kits.html
http://www.firstaidwarehouse.co.uk/xpl-bsi_standard_first...