If you’re choosing a first aid kit for work, you’ll probably come across two labels: HSE and BSI.
They can sound like competing rules, but they refer to different things. Understanding the distinction makes it easier to choose a kit that suits your workplace.
What is an HSE first aid kit?
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) says employers should provide a suitably stocked first aid kit. It offers a suggested list of contents for lower risk workplaces, including plasters, dressings, eye pads and disposable gloves.
An HSE first aid kit generally follows this traditional suggested contents list. It can be a practical starting point, especially for a workplace with straightforward first aid needs. However, there is no single kit that the HSE approves for every workplace, and buying one does not automatically mean you have met your responsibilities.
What is a BSI first aid kit?
A BSI first aid kit is assembled to a British Standard for workplace kits: BS 8599-1. The standard specifies kit contents and covers different sizes of workplace kit, as well as travel and personal issue kits.
This gives buyers a defined specification to compare. A BSI kit may include a broader mix of supplies than a traditional HSE style kit, but the label alone cannot tell you whether it is the right choice for your team.
Which one does your workplace need?
Start with your first aid needs assessment. Think about the work people do, the injuries that could happen, how many people are on site, and whether staff work across several areas or travel for their jobs.
The law does not require you to buy a BS 8599-1 kit. You can choose a kit that meets the standard or another kit, provided its contents reflect the needs you have identified. You may also need additional supplies for particular hazards: a general workplace kit will not necessarily cover every task.
It is worth checking the contents before buying, rather than choosing by the number of people printed on the case alone. Once the kit is in place, check it regularly and replace anything used or past its expiry date.
What about specialist first aid kits?
A general workplace kit may not cover every situation. Depending on your first aid needs assessment, you may also want to consider catering first aid kits for food preparation areas, burn first aid kits where burns are a relevant risk, or travel first aid kits for people working away from a fixed site.
The simple answer
An HSE style kit follows suggested first aid guidance; a BSI kit follows a defined British Standard for kit contents. Neither removes the need to assess your workplace and make sure the supplies you provide are suitable.
If you’re comparing options, you can browse our HSE first aid kits and BSI first aid kits.
Our first aid kit range starts from £5.50, so getting the basics in place needn’t be expensive.
The best value is the kit that has what your people are likely to need when it matters.