HSA First Aid Kit Requirements Explained
What the HSA's December 2024 Guidelines require inside a workplace first aid kit, by headcount — plus how many first-aiders you need and how to keep a kit compliant.
AT A GLANCE
- Kit contents: set out in HSA Table 1, scaled by headcount — Travel Kit, 1–10, 11–25, 26–50 persons, pro-rata above that.
- Legal basis: S.I. No. 299 of 2007 is the law; the HSA's December 2024 Guidelines are how the HSA currently interprets the practical detail.
- First-aiders: numbers required depend on workplace type and headcount — see HSA Table 2.
- Never store: drugs or medication in a first-aid box (aspirin is the one narrow exception, for suspected cardiac chest pain).
- VAT: not stated on this page — confirm current treatment with us before ordering.
CONTENTS
This page covers what those Guidelines say about kit contents specifically. For the fuller legal picture — first-aider numbers, training standard, AEDs and eye wash — see our Irish Workplace First Aid Regulations guide.
↑ Back to topTable 1 of the HSA's December 2024 Guidelines sets out minimum contents by headcount. These are minimums — a workplace can always provide more.
| Item | Travel Kit | 1–10 persons | 11–25 persons | 26–50 persons |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Individually wrapped sterile plasters (assorted) | 20 | 20 | 20 | 40 |
| Sterile Eye Pads No. 16 (bandage attached) | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Individually Wrapped Triangular Bandage | 2 | 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Sterile Wound Dressing Medium No. 8 (10×8cm) | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Sterile Wound Dressing Large No. 9 (13×9cm) | 1 | 2 | 6 | 8 |
| Sterile Wound Dressing Extra Large No. 3 (28×17.5cm) | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| Individually Wrapped Disinfectant Wipes | 10 | 10 | 20 | 40 |
| Paramedic Shears | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Disposable Examination Gloves (latex-free pairs) | 3 | 5 | 10 | 10 |
| Sterile water (where no clear running water) | 2×20ml | 1×500ml | 2×500ml | 2×500ml |
| Water Based Burns Dressing Small (10×10cm) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Water Based Burns Dressing Large | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Crepe Bandage (7cm) | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Foil Blanket | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Vomit Bag | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Hazardous Waste Bag | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Mouth Shield for CPR (pocket mask or flat face shield) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Pen Torch | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
The four size bands in Table 1 — Travel Kit, 1–10, 11–25 and 26–50 persons — are built around how many people the kit needs to cover, not the size of the premises. For more than 50 people, provision scales pro-rata.
Browse our range at First Aid Kits, and check each product's own listed contents against the table in Section 02 above before you buy.
↑ Back to topTable 2 of the Guidelines sets minimum first-aider numbers by workplace type and headcount — factory/construction/quarry workplaces are scaled differently to offices, shops and schools. Employee numbers are only one factor; the HSA also expects consideration of workplace hazards, shift working, access to medical services, and lone, remote or dispersed working.
See the full Table 2 breakdown in our Irish Workplace First Aid Regulations guide.
↑ Back to topSterile items must be checked for expiry regularly. Eye baths, cups or refillable containers should not be used for eye irrigation because of infection risk — use sealed, single-use, CE-marked containers instead.
↑ Back to top- Check expiry dates regularly — sterile items have a shelf life and need periodic review.
- Restock as you use items — a kit missing items from Table 1 isn't compliant, even if it started out that way.
- Review after a headcount change — moving from, say, 10 to 15 people means a different contents band.
- Keep it accessible — where lighting is poor, the HSA suggests considering a high-vis marker and torch near the kit location.
What must be in a workplace first aid kit in Ireland?
The HSA's December 2024 Guidelines on First-Aid at Places of Work set out minimum contents in Table 1, scaled by how many people the kit covers — Travel Kit, 1-10 persons, 11-25 persons, and 26-50 persons, with pro-rata provision above 50.
How many first-aiders does my workplace need?
It depends on workplace type and headcount, per HSA Table 2, plus other risk factors like shift working, hazards and remote or dispersed employees. See our full Irish Workplace First Aid Regulations guide for the complete table.
Can I store medication in a first aid kit?
No. Drugs and medications must not be stored in first-aid boxes, with one exception: aspirin, which may be stored separately or with an AED, for suspected cardiac chest pain only, and only as covered by training.
Is this the same as the S.I. No. 299 of 2007 requirements?
Yes. S.I. No. 299 of 2007 is the underlying law; the HSA's December 2024 Guidelines are how the HSA currently interprets and updates the practical detail, including kit contents, without a new statutory instrument.
↑ Back to topFor help choosing a compliant first aid kit for your workplace:
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