First aid risk assessment template

Under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011, a PCBU must provide first aid equipment, facilities and trained people appropriate to the workplace. There is no single formula, so the accepted approach is a needs assessment: look at your hazards, your workforce and your distance from help, then decide and record what you will provide.

Who it's for: WHS managers and office or site managers deciding first aid provisions for a site, and reviewing them annually.

Free to use and adapt · Last updated 2026-07-27 · No email required

Assessment details

Assessor name and role

Site or workplace covered One assessment per site. Vehicles and field work count as workplaces too

Date of assessment

Scheduled review date At least annually, or after an incident that tested your first aid response

Workplace hazards affecting first aid needs

Tick everything present. Each tick increases the level of provision needed, and specific hazards call for specific equipment, such as eye wash where chemicals are used or burns modules near hot work.

Machinery, tools or equipment that could cause cuts, crush injuries or amputation
Hazardous chemicals in use or storage
Hot work, hot surfaces or burn risk, including commercial kitchens
Work at height or risk of falls
Vehicles, mobile plant or traffic exposure
Electrical work or high-voltage equipment
Manual handling with strain or sprain risk
Biological hazards: sharps, bodily fluids, animal contact
Work-related violence or aggression risk
Remote or lone work away from immediate help
Extreme heat, cold or sun exposure
Known workforce medical factors, such as allergies or conditions workers have chosen to disclose

Workforce and site factors

Maximum number of people on site at once Include contractors, visitors, customers and clients

Shifts and hours worked First aid coverage must span every shift, including nights and weekends

Workers who are remote, mobile or alone Roles, typical locations, and how they call for help, e.g. phone, monitored safety device or app

Site spread Multiple floors, buildings or a large footprint may each need their own kit and first aider

Distance and time to the nearest emergency department Longer response times mean more on-site capability. Call 000 in any serious emergency regardless

First aid kits and equipment

Record every kit and item of equipment. A kit no one can find, or with expired contents, is not provision.

Kit locations signed and known to all workers
Contents match the hazards identified above, e.g. eye wash, burns module, snake bite bandages where relevant
Vehicle kits provided for mobile and field workers
Automated external defibrillator (AED) considered, given workforce size, age profile and distance from help
Restock check scheduled at least quarterly, with one named owner

Kit or equipment	Location	Contents checked (date)	Restock owner

Trained first aiders

Plan numbers against your shifts and leave, not the headcount on a good day. Every worker should be able to name a first aider on their shift.

Coverage gaps identified Shifts, days or locations with no trained first aider present

Refresher training due First aid certificates expire. Book renewals before the expiry date, not after

Name	Role and usual location	Qualification	Expiry date

Decisions and sign off

Based on this assessment, the workplace will provide: [number] first aid kits at the locations listed, [number] trained first aiders providing coverage across all shifts, and the additional equipment listed above. Gaps identified will be closed by the dates in the tables.

Assessed by [assessor], approved by [manager] on [date]. Review by [review date], or sooner if the workforce, hazards or site layout change, or an incident shows the current provision was not enough.

How to use it

Getting the most out of this template

Assess one site at a time, and treat vehicles and field work as part of the site they operate from.
Match kit contents to your actual hazards rather than buying a generic kit and assuming it covers you.
Count first aider coverage per shift, allowing for leave and turnover. Two qualified people who work the same three days is one point of failure.
Diarise the quarterly kit check and certificate expiry dates when you sign off, and name an owner for each.

This template is general information, not legal advice. Requirements differ by jurisdiction and industry; check the guidance published by Safe Work Australia and your state WHS regulator and seek advice for your specific circumstances.

Questions

Frequently asked

How many first aiders do we need?

There is no universal ratio. Safe Work Australia and your state WHS regulator publishes guidance, and common practice ranges from roughly one first aider per 25 workers in higher-risk settings to one per 50 in low-risk ones. What matters is that trained help is available on every shift and at every location, which is exactly what this assessment works out.

Do we need a defibrillator?

Rarely mandatory, but worth serious consideration. Survival from cardiac arrest falls quickly with every minute before defibrillation, so sites far from emergency services, with large numbers of people, or with an older workforce or public visitors get the most benefit. Record your reasoning either way in the decisions section.

What first aid provision do remote and lone workers need?

Each remote or mobile worker needs access to a kit suited to their work, usually a vehicle or personal kit, a reliable way to call for help such as a phone or monitored safety device or app, and clarity on who responds if they cannot speak. Their longest realistic time to help should drive what goes in the kit and what training they get themselves.

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The template covers the paperwork. Duress covers the response.

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