Understanding First Aid Kit Standards and Approvals in the UK
What you need to know to stay compliant and protect your workforce
When it comes to workplace and vehicle safety, first aid kits are a vital component — but not all kits are created equal. Whether you’re operating a fleet of commercial vehicles, managing a construction site, or simply ensuring your team has the right equipment on hand, it's essential to understand the standards and approvals that govern first aid kits in the UK.
In this article, we’ll explain the key regulations and certifications, and help you choose the right kit for your business.
🔍 What Regulations Apply to First Aid Kits in the UK?
🏢 1. Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981
Under UK law, employers are required to provide adequate and appropriate first aid equipment, facilities, and personnel. However, the regulations don’t prescribe exact contents for a first aid kit — instead, they recommend a needs assessment to determine what’s suitable for your workplace.
For many businesses, following British Standard BS 8599 is considered best practice.
📏 What Is BS 8599?
BS 8599 is the British Standard for first aid kit contents, offering a more tailored approach depending on the environment or risk level. There are currently three relevant parts:
✅ BS 8599-1: Workplace First Aid Kits
- Designed for use in offices, warehouses, construction sites, and more.
- Kits are categorised as Small, Medium, or Large.
- The size is determined by:
- Number of employees
- Risk level of the workplace
- Contents include CE-marked essentials such as sterile dressings, plasters, gloves, and burn relief.
🚚 BS 8599-2: Vehicle First Aid Kits
- Ideal for cars, vans, and HGVs – especially fleets working in remote or high-risk environments.
- Also categorised by vehicle type/size.
- Includes accident reporting materials, foil blankets, and trauma dressings.
- Recommended for commercial drivers, logistics companies, and vehicle installers.
🩸 BS 8599-3: Critical Injury Packs (2023 Update)
- Designed for high-risk industries including utilities, agriculture, highways, and manufacturing.
- Covers catastrophic injuries like severe bleeding and crush injuries.
- Contents include:
- Tourniquets
- Trauma dressings
- Haemostatic dressings (e.g. Celox™)
- Large wound dressings
🏷️ Do First Aid Kits Need CE or UKCA Marking?
While first aid kits themselves are not classified as medical devices, the individual components inside must be CE or UKCA marked under the UK Medical Devices Regulations (UK MDR 2002) or the EU MDR (for Northern Ireland).
When sourcing kits, always check that:
- Bandages, plasters, gloves, etc. are correctly certified
- You’re purchasing from a reputable supplier (like us!)
🛠️ Sector-Specific Requirements
Depending on your industry, there may be additional requirements beyond the standard BS kits:
🚧 Construction, Utilities & Highways
- Organisations following National Highways’ Raising the Bar or NHSS schemes may require enhanced kits.
- Kits may need to include critical injury packs or trauma dressings.
🚛 Fleet Compliance (FORS, CLOCS, DVS)
- While FORS and CLOCS don’t mandate specific kits, having a BS 8599-2-compliant vehicle kit can help meet audit expectations and improve safety ratings.
💼 Choosing the Right Kit for Your Business
When selecting a kit, consider:
- How many people it's intended to support
- Whether it will be kept in a fixed location or in a vehicle
- The level of risk in your environment
At Dun-Bri Group, we stock a full range of BS 8599-compliant first aid kits suitable for:
- Fleet vehicles (vans, HGVs, plant)
- Site offices and depots
- High-risk operations requiring critical injury cover
We also supply refill kits, vehicle mountings, and additional items tailored to FORS, Raising the Bar, and DVS compliance.
📞 Get in Touch
Need help choosing the right first aid solution?
We’re here to advise on kit contents, industry requirements, and large-scale supply for fleets or branch networks.
👉 Contact us today or browse our First Aid Kits range online.