First Aid Plasters for the Workplace: What Business Owners Need to Know
Plasters are one of the most commonly used workplace first-aid supplies. Offices, retail outlets, hospitality, commercial kitchens, warehouses, factories—there are so many places where a minor cut or graze can happen easily.
Putting on a plaster isn’t just a good way to protect your wound. It’s also a hygiene requirement in many instances. Here’s a quickfire guide on what business owners need to know about supplying plasters to staff on their premises.
An Overview of First Aid in the Workplace
What are the UK laws on workplace first aid? The Health and Safety Executive is the governing authority on all health and safety matters in the UK. The most vital things business owners need to know about first aid are:
- The Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 states that employers must “ provide adequate and appropriate equipment, facilities and personnel to ensure their employees receive immediate attention if they are injured or taken ill at work. These Regulations apply to all workplaces, including those with less than five employees and the self-employed.”
- Employers must carry out a first aid risk assessment to accurately determine the risks present on their premises and during business operations. First aid provisions must meet the needs uncovered in the risk assessment.
- The HSE requires the minimum level of first aid provision to be a fully stocked first aid kit.
- There should be at least one first aid kit in each workplace.
- The first aid kit's contents should meet the needs determined by the risk assessment. But at a minimum, it must contain the following:
- a leaflet with general guidance on first aid (for example, HSE's leaflet Basic advice on first aid at work
- individually wrapped sterile plasters of assorted sizes
- sterile eye pads
- individually wrapped triangular bandages, preferably sterile
- safety pins
- large and medium-sized sterile, individually wrapped, unmedicated wound dressings
- disposable gloves
The Steroplast HSE First Aid Kit meets the minimum requirements of first aid provision for a low-risk workplace as set out by the Health and Safety Executive. It is a cost-effective one-click way to make sure your business is compliant.
Read our comprehensive guide Workplace First Aid Kits: What are The UK Legal Requirements? We also cover what should go in a workplace first aid kit and where it needs to be installed.
Simplify Workplace First Aid
Interactive Online Guide & Downloadable Brochure
Simplify Workplace First Aid
Interactive Online Guide & Downloadable Brochure
Choose the format that works for you: check out our Workplace First Aid Interactive Online Guide or download our Workplace First Aid Brochure as an easy-to-save PDF. Both include a self-assessment, product details, pricing, and comprehensive training and support.
Business Owners’ Checklist for Workplace Plasters
The HSE requires that businesses supply “individually wrapped sterile plasters of assorted sizes” in first aid kits, but there are other factors to consider. Here’s a list of things business owners should check for when ordering plasters.
- Are they sterile?
- Are they individually wrapped?
- Is there an assortment of shapes and sizes in the box?
- Are the plasters CE marked?
- Does the product have a clear use-by date on it? Even better if the plasters have their use-by date on each individual wrapper.
- Do the plasters need to be hypoallergenic or latex-free? This is especially important if the plasters will be used by children.
- Are the plasters the correct colour? If your staff handle food, even in production lines or automated processing, you’re required to use blue plasters.
What different types of plasters are used for in the workplace?
| Types of Plaster | Use |
|---|---|
| Washproof plasters | More hygienic as they can be wiped and don’t soak up water. |
| Blue plasters | Compliant with HSE requirements for blue first aid supplies in food handling environments. |
| Hypoallergenic plasters | For sensitive skin and childrens’ skin. |
| Clear plasters | For discretion. |
| Cheap plasters | For tight budgets. |
| Super-sticky plasters | For durability during busy hand work. |
There are many different types of medical plasters available for first aid kits. What you choose depends on what your business operations entail. Find out about the different types of plasters and when they should be used. It’s also a good idea to know what the signs of plaster adhesive allergy look like in case any staff members have a reaction.
Visit our
Plasters & Dressing Strips Guide Page
Find the perfect plaster from our extensive range, tailored to meet everyone's needs.
Plaster Resources
Steroplast Healthcare is a leading UK supplier of plasters with over 25 years of experience creating premium, medical-grade plasters used in UK hospitals and numerous professional care facilities.
Our knowledge hub is filled with useful guidance on UK laws and advice for business owners on ensuring they remain health and safety compliant with all the right first aid supplies, including plasters. Take a look at some of our articles.
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Plasters are one of the most commonly used workplace first-aid supplies. Offices, retail outlets, hospitality, commercial kitchens, warehouses, factories—there are so many places where a minor cut or graze can happen easily.
Putting on a plaster isn’t just a good way to protect your wound. It’s also a hygiene requirement in many instances. Here’s a quickfire guide on what business owners need to know about supplying plasters to staff on their premises.
An Overview of First Aid in the Workplace
What are the UK laws on workplace first aid? The Health and Safety Executive is the governing authority on all health and safety matters in the UK. The most vital things business owners need to know about first aid are:
- The Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 states that employers must “ provide adequate and appropriate equipment, facilities and personnel to ensure their employees receive immediate attention if they are injured or taken ill at work. These Regulations apply to all workplaces, including those with less than five employees and the self-employed.”
- Employers must carry out a first aid risk assessment to accurately determine the risks present on their premises and during business operations. First aid provisions must meet the needs uncovered in the risk assessment.
- The HSE requires the minimum level of first aid provision to be a fully stocked first aid kit.
- There should be at least one first aid kit in each workplace.
- The first aid kit's contents should meet the needs determined by the risk assessment. But at a minimum, it must contain the following:
- a leaflet with general guidance on first aid (for example, HSE's leaflet Basic advice on first aid at work
- individually wrapped sterile plasters of assorted sizes
- sterile eye pads
- individually wrapped triangular bandages, preferably sterile
- safety pins
- large and medium-sized sterile, individually wrapped, unmedicated wound dressings
- disposable gloves
The Steroplast HSE First Aid Kit meets the minimum requirements of first aid provision for a low-risk workplace as set out by the Health and Safety Executive. It is a cost-effective one-click way to make sure your business is compliant.
Read our comprehensive guide Workplace First Aid Kits: What are The UK Legal Requirements? We also cover what should go in a workplace first aid kit and where it needs to be installed.
Business Owners’ Checklist for Workplace Plasters
The HSE requires that businesses supply “individually wrapped sterile plasters of assorted sizes” in first aid kits, but there are other factors to consider. Here’s a list of things business owners should check for when ordering plasters.
- Are they sterile?
- Are they individually wrapped?
- Is there an assortment of shapes and sizes in the box?
- Are the plasters CE marked?
- Does the product have a clear use-by date on it? Even better if the plasters have their use-by date on each individual wrapper.
- Do the plasters need to be hypoallergenic or latex-free? This is especially important if the plasters will be used by children.
- Are the plasters the correct colour? If your staff handle food, even in production lines or automated processing, you’re required to use blue plasters.
What different types of plasters are used for in the workplace?
| Types of Plaster | Use |
|---|---|
| Washproof plasters | More hygienic as they can be wiped and don’t soak up water. |
| Blue plasters | Compliant with HSE requirements for blue first aid supplies in food handling environments. |
| Hypoallergenic plasters | For sensitive skin and childrens’ skin. |
| Clear plasters | For discretion. |
| Cheap plasters | For tight budgets. |
| Super-sticky plasters | For durability during busy hand work. |
There are many different types of medical plasters available for first aid kits. What you choose depends on what your business operations entail. Find out about the different types of plasters and when they should be used. It’s also a good idea to know what the signs of plaster adhesive allergy look like in case any staff members have a reaction.
Plaster Resources
Steroplast Healthcare is a leading UK supplier of plasters with over 25 years of experience creating premium, medical-grade plasters used in NHS hospitals and numerous professional care facilities.
Our knowledge hub is filled with useful guidance on UK laws and advice for business owners on ensuring they remain health and safety compliant with all the right first aid supplies, including plasters. Take a look at some of our articles.
Please enter your details into the form below along with any questions or comments and a member of our team will be happy to provide you with more information:
