How Many First Aid Kits Do You Need?
Navigating the UAE\'s workplace safety regulations can be complex. The number of first aid kits required depends entirely on your total employee headcount, workplace layout, and the risk level of your industry.
The General Rule of Thumb in the UAE
According to federal guidelines (MOHAP) and local authorities like Dubai Municipality and OSHAD, businesses must provide adequate first aid supplies relative to the number of workers on site at any given time. A standard guideline is ensuring no employee is more than 100 meters or a 3-minute walk away from a fully stocked first aid kit.
Standard Capacity Breakdown
- 1 to 10 Employees: One 10-person kit (suitable for small shops, vehicles, and micro-offices).
- 11 to 25 Employees: One 25-person kit (ideal for standard corporate offices).
- 26 to 50 Employees: One 50-person kit, or two 25-person kits distributed across the floor.
- 51 to 100 Employees: One 100-person kit (common in warehouses and medium construction sites).
- 100+ Employees: Add an additional 50-person kit for every 50 extra employees, or scale up to 150-person industrial kits.
Multi-Story and Segregated Workplaces
If your office spans multiple floors, you cannot simply have one large kit on the ground floor. You must place at least one appropriately sized kit on every occupied floor. Similarly, if your site consists of a warehouse and a separate office block, each building must have its own dedicated first aid station.
Risk Level Considerations
The ratios mentioned above apply primarily to low-risk environments (like corporate offices and retail). If you operate in a high-risk sector such as construction, heavy manufacturing, or oil & gas, authorities like OSHAD require significantly more comprehensive coverage, including specialized trauma supplies, eye-wash stations, and AEDs.
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