Your first aid kit is probably not compliant — and nobody has checked it

What the law actually says about workplace first aid kits

The Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981 require every employer to make adequate first aid provision for their employees. That means having the right equipment available, and keeping it maintained.

The practical standard for what that equipment should look like is BS 8599-1 — the British Standard for workplace first aid kits. It's not technically a legal requirement to follow it to the letter, but it's the benchmark HSE inspectors use, and it's what you'd be measured against if something went wrong on site.

The standard splits kits into two categories based on your workplace risk level.

The number of kits you need depends on the number of employees and the size and layout of your site. A single small office might need one kit. A large warehouse with multiple floors and departments might need several, positioned so there's always one within reasonable reach.

What should actually be in a first aid kit?

This is where most workplaces fall short. People buy a kit, put it on the wall, and assume that's the job done. But contents get used up, expiry dates pass, and the wrong kit gets purchased in the first place. Here's what BS 8599-1 says a standard workplace kit should contain:

Higher-risk sites may also need additional items depending on the specific hazards — burns kits near hot work areas, eye wash stations in workshops with chemical or grinding dust exposure, sharps containers in care or catering environments, and so on.

Why expiry dates matter more than most people think

Sterile dressings, eye wash solutions, and adhesive plasters all have a shelf life. Once that date passes, the sterility of the item can no longer be guaranteed. That means using an expired dressing on a wound could introduce contamination rather than preventing it.

Most consumables in a workplace first aid kit are good for three to five years from manufacture. The problem is that kits often sit untouched on a wall for far longer than that, and nobody checks.

A regular inspection programme — even just twice a year — catches this before it becomes a problem. And because items are only replaced when they need to be, the cost is usually less than people expect.

What our first aid kit maintenance service covers

We visit your site on an agreed schedule — usually two to four times a year depending on kit usage. On each visit, we:

• Check every kit on site against BS 8599-1 for your workplace type
• Inspect expiry dates on all consumable items
• Restock anything that's missing, used, or out of date
• Check the kit container for damage and replace if needed
• Make sure location signage is in place and unobstructed
• Complete a written audit checklist for your records
• Attach a dated inspection label to each kit
• Leave a visit report and itemised invoice for your files

Because we carry the stock ourselves, there's no waiting around. We arrive, we check, we restock, and we leave you with paperwork that shows the job's been done properly.

If we spot anything else on site that needs attention — a missing location sign, a kit that's in the wrong place for the layout of your building, or additional items your site probably should have — we'll flag it and advise accordingly. No hard sell, just practical advice from people who know what they're looking at.

Who is this service for?

Small businesses and offices

If you're running a small team, first aid compliance is probably not something you think about often. But it only takes one HSE inspection or one incident to make you wish you'd kept on top of it. We make it simple — we handle it, you don't have to think about it.

Construction sites and site teams

Construction sites have specific requirements under the CDM Regulations on top of the standard first aid rules. High-risk kits, accessible locations, and regular checks are all expected. If you're running a site in Central Scotland and you need someone to come in and keep the kits in order, that's exactly what we do.

Warehouses, workshops, and manufacturing

Larger premises with multiple departments often need several kits positioned around the building. Keeping track of them all — and remembering to restock them — is one of those things that falls through the cracks. A scheduled maintenance visit means it doesn't have to.

Trades and sole traders

If you're a sole trader or a small trades business working in customers' premises, you still have a duty of care to anyone on your site including yourself. We can supply and maintain a portable kit appropriate for your work.

What does it cost?

There's no one-size-fits-all price because the cost depends on how many kits you have, how often you want us to visit, and what needs restocking each time. Businesses that run tidy, well-used kits will spend less per visit than those whose kits have been sitting untouched for three years and need a full restock on the first visit.

What we can tell you is that the consumables are charged at our standard trade prices, and as a workwear and PPE supplier with over 30 years in the trade, we're not a specialist medical firm with specialist markups. The items are straightforward, and the pricing reflects that.

To get a clear picture of what it would cost for your site, just get in touch and give us a few basic details — number of kits, type of premises, and how often you'd want us in. We'll come back to you with a straightforward figure.

Why Colbrook?

We're not a national compliance company sending someone you've never met with a van full of overpriced plasters. We're a local business based in Airdrie that has been supplying PPE, workwear, and safety equipment to businesses across Scotland for over 30 years.

We know the standards, we carry the stock, and we're not going anywhere. If you want someone to look after your first aid kits on a regular basis and deal with a real person when you need to, that's what we offer.