Never underestimate the power of a fully stocked first aid kit and its contribution to workplace safety. The kits are so important that WorksafeBC mandates they are made prominent in every work environment. But simply having a kit around is not always good enough.

First aid kits must be routinely stocked and stored in a visible location and easily accessible by all people working within the shop. But, that’s not to say they have to contain all elements of an entire doctor’s office. Keeping the basics around will do just fine.

Check and make sure you have a first aid kit onsite that contains at minimum three sizes of woven adhesive bandages for general use, fingertips, and knuckles; a bandage and an absorbent compress; gauze pads and adhesive tape; a triangular bandage with pins; a tube of burn cream, several antiseptic and iodine wipes, a cold pack, a splint remover, and an eye dressing mini kit containing eye wash and dressings.

Additional items are recommended for the most basic of first aid kits and should not be overlooked: antibiotic cream (triple-antibiotic ointment), antiseptic solution (like hydrogen peroxide), acetaminophen, and ibuprofen. And don’t forget the right tools for the job such as tweezers, sharp scissors, safety pins, gloves, and a mouthpiece for administering CPR (this can be obtained from your local Red Cross).

First aid kits can be bought fully assembled and then items replaced as needed. All items should be contained in a durable, lightweight, and water and dust proof casing. Products should be checked for expiration dates since some medications like ibuprofen have a shelf life of three years, and adhesive items can lose their stick after time. Don’t be caught with ineffective tools. The cost of replacing dull items is minimal in comparison.

A first aid kit designed specifically for a mechanic’s shop is also the most basic. You won’t be needing a fancy kit containing items you would need on a camping adventure. Such items as flares, blankets, flashlights, and bottled water, aren’t necessary in the shop and could create clutter. Make sure your first aid kit contains items only needed in closed quarters—unless your shop is out in the boonies, which we hope it isn’t.

An important item to have in a prominent place in or near the first aid kit is a list of basic emergency contacts for the fire department, poison control unit, and the hospital. We also suggest going a step further by having a handy list of personal emergency contact numbers nearby, so in extreme cases, a person’s family can be alerted to any drastic emergencies that can occur. A worker’s family will want to know if their loved one has been hurt. Everyone in the shop should know where these emergency contacts are located.

To serve as a reminder, information about how to apply first aid techniques should also be easy to find. Most everyone already knows how adhesive bandages work, but other items in the kit will have more specific purposes, and knowing when to use other items in the kit shouldn’t just been in the hands of the shop manager. Taking the time to brief all shop workers of the contents of the first aid kit will save time when it is needed the most. Find out what level of training the people of your team have and aim for at minimum, basic first aid training for all workers. This includes knowing the treatments for cuts and bleeding, muscle pulls and sprains, burns, broken bones, shock, and artificial respiration and CPR. Consciousness isn’t lost in the shop too often, but if it were to happen, who knows what to do?

When accidents happen, they can be remedied with basic first aid treatments a lot of the time. The key is having the right person and the right equipment around to help fix the bumps and bruises so work can continue. Preventing accidents in the workplace is always the most important thing to focus on when dealing with safety issues, but knowing what to do when preventative measures fail is just as important.

To upgrade or replenish the first aid kit we are hoping you already have, check out <www.firstaidco.ca> or <www.e-firstaidsupplies.com>. CPT