Mediq Essential Workplace Response first aid kit, 1-25 persons

National workplace first aid compliance for low-risk sites of up to 25 people.

Compliant workplace first aid for low-risk sites

The Mediq Essential First Aid Kit Workplace Response (FAEWT) is a national workplace first aid kit built for low-risk environments such as offices, retail spaces, light commercial premises and similar settings with up to 25 workers. The FAEWT packs 309 individually selected first aid components into a portable plastic tackle box, giving first aid officers fast, organised access to wound care, dressings and eye care when minutes matter.

The kit is designed in line with Safe Work Australia's model Code of Practice First aid in the workplace (July 2019), so it helps a low-risk PCBU (person conducting a business or undertaking) meet its duty to provide first aid that is appropriate to the work being carried out. The same Essential Workplace Response range is also offered as a wall-mountable metal cabinet and a soft pack, with a complete refill module available separately.

The FAEWT holds 309 components organised so a first aider can find what they need quickly during an incident. The contents cover the common low-risk workplace injuries (minor cuts, abrasions, burns, sprains and eye irritation) and include:

• Adhesive strips (plasters) and a range of sterile wound dressings
• Conforming, crepe and triangular bandages for support and immobilisation
• Sterile eye wash / saline for flushing the eyes and wounds
• Antiseptic skin cleansing items and wound cleaning wipes
• Instruments and accessories such as scissors, tweezers, safety pins and gloves
• A first aid guidance booklet and a contents register to track usage

Because the kit is supplied as a complete, ready-to-use response kit, it removes the guesswork of assembling individual modules and gives a consistent baseline across multiple sites or vehicles.

Safe Work Australia compliance explained

Under the model Work Health and Safety laws, every PCBU must ensure first aid equipment is provided, that workers have access to it, and that an adequate number of trained first aiders are available. Safe Work Australia's model Code of Practice First aid in the workplace is the practical guidance most Australian regulators point to when assessing whether those duties are met.

The Code separates workplaces into low-risk (for example offices, retail, libraries) and high-risk (for example construction, manufacturing, workshops). A low-risk workplace of 1-25 workers is the exact scenario this kit is sized for. Choosing a kit that matches your risk rating and worker numbers is the simplest way to demonstrate that your first aid provision is "appropriate" rather than arbitrary.

Choosing your case: tackle box, cabinet or soft pack

The Essential Workplace Response kit is available in three case formats so you can match the kit to where it lives:

• Plastic tackle box (FAEWT): the format reviewed here. Rigid, portable and easy to grab-and-go for mobile teams, vehicles and shared spaces.
• Metal cabinet (FAEWM): wall-mountable for a fixed, highly visible first aid point in a lunchroom or reception area.
• Soft pack (FAEWS): lightweight and compact for tight storage or carrying between locations.

All three share the same compliant contents, so the decision comes down to mounting, portability and visibility rather than first aid capability.

Is a low-risk 1-25 person kit right for you?

This kit suits a single low-risk workplace with up to 25 workers. You should step up to a high-risk kit, add modules, or provide additional kits if any of the following apply:

• Your work involves machinery, hazardous substances, hot work or working at height (high-risk).
• You have more than 25 workers, multiple floors, or workers spread across a large or remote site.
• A risk assessment identifies specific hazards (for example burns or eye injury) that warrant supplementary supplies.

As a rule of thumb, kits should be located so any worker can reach first aid quickly, which often means more than one kit even in a low-risk setting.

Maintenance and refills

A first aid kit is only compliant if its contents are in date and complete. Nominate someone to check the kit regularly, restock used items promptly, and replace anything that has reached its expiry. Rather than buying loose items, the matching FAEWR complete refill module restores the kit to its full 309-piece specification in one purchase, keeping your contents consistent with the original kit.