The short answer
- Construction is a high-risk workplace under the first aid Code of Practice: plan for about 1 trained first aider per 25 workers, or 1 per 10 on remote sites.
- Every worker must be able to reach a kit quickly: in the site office, on each floor or work zone, in site vehicles and with crews working away from the main site.
- Add equipment for site hazards: large wound dressings, burn dressings for hot work, eye wash where there is dust or chemicals, and consider a defibrillator (AED).
- On shared sites every business has a first aid duty; the principal contractor usually coordinates first aid for the whole site.
- Check kits after each use and at least every 12 months; busy site kits are usually checked weekly or monthly.
Who is responsible for first aid on a construction site?
Every person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) on site, including the builder, each subcontractor and any labour hire company, has a duty under the WHS Regulations (regulation 42) to provide first aid for its workers. Where those duties overlap, the businesses must consult, cooperate and coordinate with each other (WHS Act section 46).
In practice, the principal contractor (on construction projects worth $250,000 or more) usually sets up first aid for the whole site: kits, first aiders on every shift and the emergency plan, and explains them at site induction. Subcontractors should confirm in writing whose first aiders and kits their workers will use, and carry their own kit for small jobs and work away from the main site.
How many first aiders does a construction site need?
| Site | Suggested first aiders | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Construction site | 1 for every 25 workers | High risk under the Code of Practice |
| Remote construction site | 1 for every 10 workers | Far from medical help or ambulance |
| Small crews and mobile work | At least 1 per crew | Or a plan for quick access to a trained first aider |
Cover every shift, including early starts, weekends and night works, and plan for first aiders who are on leave. First aiders should hold HLTAID011 Provide First Aid (renewed every 3 years) and refresh CPR every year. Work out your numbers with the first aid calculator.
What should be in a construction site first aid kit?
Start with the Code of Practice's suggested workplace kit (see what should be in a first aid kit), then add for the hazards on your site:
- Large wound and trauma dressings, extra combine pads and crepe bandages for deep cuts and crush injuries
- Eye pads and sterile saline for dust, grinding and concrete splashes
- Burn dressings (the Code's burn module) for welding, cutting and other hot work
- Outdoor items (the Code's outdoor module) for sun, heat, insect and plant stings and snake bites
- Remote module supplies for sites a long way from medical help
Use a tough container that keeps out dust and water, and soft packs for vehicles and crews. Browse ready-made construction first aid kit templates.
Where to keep first aid kits on site
- In the site office or crib room, on each floor or work zone of multi-storey builds, in site vehicles and plant, and with crews working away from the main site
- Marked with a white cross on a green background, with first aid signs to AS 1319 (see our free first aid signs)
- First aiders' names and how to reach them on the site board, and covered at induction
- Moved as the site changes, and never locked away or behind barricades
Other first aid equipment for construction sites
Eye wash and showers
Provide eye wash where dust, cement or chemicals could get into eyes, and an emergency shower where hazardous chemicals could contaminate skin.
Defibrillator (AED)
The Code says to consider an AED where there is a risk of electrocution or an ambulance would be delayed, which applies to many sites.
Rescue from height
If workers use fall arrest harnesses, you must have emergency and rescue procedures, and test them (WHS Regulations r.80). Calling 000 is not a rescue plan.
First aid room
Large sites with 100 or more workers should consider a first aid room, as for any high-risk workplace.
Emergency plan and ambulance access
Every workplace needs an emergency plan (WHS Regulations r.43). On a construction site it should cover how to call for help, the site address and the gate ambulances should use, who meets the ambulance, and how to get an injured worker down from height or out of an excavation. Keep the site address and nearest hospital on the site board.
Incidents and records
- Serious injuries and dangerous incidents, such as a structure collapsing or a serious fall, must be notified to the regulator straight away and the site preserved (WHS Act sections 38 and 39). See notifiable incidents explained.
- Record first aid given, and check kits after each use and at least every 12 months, with each check signed and dated.
- Keep a training register so first aid certificates don't lapse between projects.
FirstAidLog puts a QR label on every kit so anyone on site can see what's in it, lets supervisors check kits on their phone, and sends alerts before items or first aid certificates expire. See how it works.
Frequently asked questions
Is construction a high-risk workplace for first aid?
Yes. The first aid Code of Practice treats construction as high risk because workers face hazards that can cause serious injury. It suggests about one trained first aider for every 25 workers, or one for every 10 on remote sites.
How many first aid kits does a construction site need?
There is no fixed number. Every worker must be able to reach a kit quickly, so most sites have a kit in the site office or crib room, one on each floor or work zone, one in every site vehicle, and one with each crew working away from the main site.
Who provides first aid on a construction site, the builder or the subcontractor?
Both have the duty. Every business on site must provide first aid for its own workers, and they must consult, cooperate and coordinate with each other. In practice the principal contractor usually sets up first aid for the whole site and subcontractors confirm their workers are covered.
Do construction sites need a defibrillator (AED)?
The law does not require one on every site, but the first aid Code of Practice says to consider an AED where there is a risk of electrocution or where an ambulance would be delayed. That applies to many construction sites.
How often should construction site first aid kits be checked?
After each use and at least once every 12 months, which is the Code minimum. Site kits get heavy use and rough handling, so most builders check them weekly or monthly.
Sources: Safe Work Australia first aid Code · which Code applies in your state.
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