Workplace safety is always adapting, and it's important to stay up to date and make changes when necessary.

The updated BS8599-1:A1:2026 standard introduces important changes designed to make safer workplaces and modernise first aid, moving beyond basic compliance to ensure businesses have comprehensive supplies to handle real-world hazards, e.g. cardiac arrest and burns. 

What you need to know

First Aid Categories

The standard includes additional recommendations to include the following first aid kits alongside your main kits:

  • Travel and Motoring Kits

Designed to be portable and used on the go in company vehicles, ensuring that employers have access to a first aid kit when working elsewhere.

  • Personal Issue First Aid Kits

A compact, individual kit, intended for off-site staff and lone workers.

  • Critical Injury Packs

Providing life-saving equipment for high-risk environments to serve bleeding. Essential kit for environments such as construction, forestry and heavy machinery.

  • Burn Kits

Designed with heavy supplies of cold treatments and hydrogel dressings, Mandatory to be located where there is a high risk of burn injuries e.g. kitchen, weld stations etc.

  • Eyewash Kits

Dedicated stations containing sterile eye pads, sterile water, etc. Mandatory to be located where there is a high risk of eye injury, e.g. chemicals or airborne debris.

Emphasis on Risk Assessment

Risk Assessments are now at the centre of the first aid process, rather than being a check box. Reinforcing the importance of assessing the workplace first, and selecting the appropriate type, placement and quantity of first aid kits based on the number of employees, workplace size, presence of lone workers and level of risk.

Accessibility to Automated External Defibrillators

The update reinforces that AEDs should be available in workplaces within 2 minutes. 1 minute to locate, 1 minute to deliver treatment.

Updated Kit Content

The new content in the kits reflects modern care and trauma products. Content changes include:

  • Nitrile gloves only to avoid latex allergy.
  • Safety pins have been removed to reduce the risk of unnecessary injuries.
  • Conforming Bandages added to replace safety pins
  • Microporous material added to replace safety pins
  • Resuscitation shields to provide mouth-to-mouth protection for first aiders
  • Foil blankets to reduce the danger of trauma—induced shock and hypothermia
  • Burn dressings
  • Tough-Cut Shears for first aiders to remove clothing quickly.

For more information on First Aid courses, contact us on 01978 757524 or email [email protected]

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