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First aid requirements for residential construction sites

First aid on Australian construction sites: first aider ratios, kit contents, first aid room thresholds, and HLTAID011 qualification rules under WHS Regulations s 42.

By Dan Waring. Last updated 10 May 2026. Verified 10 May 2026.

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In plain English

Construction is a high-risk workplace under the model WHS Regulations. That classification drives three hard obligations for every PCBU on site: an adequate first aid kit, access to a trained first aider, and (above 100 workers) a dedicated first aid room. The principal contractor coordinates these duties when multiple PCBUs share a site, but each PCBU retains their own duty under s 42 of the model WHS Regulations (verified 2026-05-10).

TL;DR

Construction sites are high-risk workplaces: one trained first aider per 25 workers on site, a compliant first aid kit accessible at all times, and a first aid room once the site hits 100 workers. First aiders must hold HLTAID011 from a registered RTO, renewed every three years with annual CPR top-up. Failing to provide this is a breach of your PCBU duty under WHS Regulations s 42. The principal contractor usually coordinates across trades, but each PCBU holds their own obligation.

What it requires

High-risk classification

Residential construction sites are classified as high-risk workplaces by the Safe Work Australia Model Code of Practice: First Aid in the Workplace (July 2019, verified 2026-05-10). Triggers include:

  • Work at height with fall risk
  • Unguarded or mobile plant and machinery
  • Hazardous manual tasks
  • Electrical exposure
  • Confined spaces
  • Demolition or structural work
  • Exposure to hazardous substances

First aider ratios

Workplace typeExampleRatio
Low riskOffice, retail, library1 first aider per 50 workers
High riskConstruction, factory, forestry1 first aider per 25 workers
Remote high riskIsolated sites with no near emergency services1 first aider per 10 workers

Source: Safe Work Australia Model Code of Practice: First Aid in the Workplace, July 2019 (verified 2026-05-10).

On a residential site the ratio applies to workers present at any one time, not total project headcount. If you have three trades on simultaneously and the total is 26 people, you need at least two first aiders rostered on (verified 2026-05-10).

First aid room

A dedicated first aid room is recommended where a high-risk workplace has 100 or more workers. Below that threshold, a clearly signed, accessible first aid kit area meets the code. Source: Safe Work Australia Model Code of Practice: First Aid in the Workplace, July 2019 (verified 2026-05-10).

The room needs: a sink with running water, a bed or examination table, a chair, and space for treatment. Requirements are more detailed in state-specific codes where they differ from the model code.

First aid kit contents

The code does not prescribe a fixed list; instead it requires contents adequate for the injuries that could reasonably occur at your workplace. For construction sites the Safe Work Australia Model Code of Practice (2019) recommends kits address (verified 2026-05-10):

  • Cuts, lacerations, punctures and splinters
  • Sprains and strains
  • Minor and major burns
  • Amputations and severe bleeding
  • Fractures and crush injuries
  • Eye injuries (including eye wash solution)
  • Shock

Practical minimum for a small residential site (under 10 workers):

  • Assorted adhesive dressings
  • Sterile gauze swabs and wound dressings (several sizes)
  • Triangular bandages (x2)
  • Roller bandages
  • Non-woven wound closure strips
  • Disposable gloves (multiple pairs)
  • Resuscitation mask (CPR face shield)
  • Burn gel or burn dressings
  • Eye pads and saline eye wash
  • Emergency thermal blanket
  • Scissors and tweezers
  • First aid instruction card or booklet
  • Waterproof case or bag

Larger sites and sites with specific hazards (silica cutting, welding, confined spaces) should add items for serious burns, breathing difficulties and heavy bleeding (tourniquets, haemostatic dressings). The kit must be in a clearly marked, accessible location known to all workers on site.

Australian Standard AS 2675-1983 provides a baseline specification for workplace first aid kit contents, but is superseded in practice by the Safe Work Australia model code guidance.

First aider qualifications

A first aider on a construction site must hold a nationally recognised Statement of Attainment from a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) (verified 2026-05-10). The required unit is:

  • HLTAID011 Provide First Aid (includes HLTAID009 CPR)

Renewal requirements:

ComponentRenewal period
HLTAID011 (full first aid)Every 3 years
HLTAID009 (CPR component)Every 12 months (annual top-up)

Source: Safe Work Australia and training.gov.au (verified 2026-05-10).

A fully online HLTAID011 certificate does not meet the requirement. ASQA standards require a practical assessment component. Check your provider is registered at training.gov.au before booking.

What it doesn’t cover

  • Ambulance or emergency medical services: first aid is immediate treatment until professional services arrive. PCBU duty does not extend to funding ambulance response.
  • Injury management and workers compensation: first aid is a WHS obligation; workers compensation claims are separate and handled under state workers comp schemes.
  • Notifiable incidents: a serious injury triggering first aid may also require immediate notification to the regulator under WHS Act s 38. See whs/notifiable-incidents for the reporting procedure.
  • SWMS: first aid requirements are a site condition, not a control in a SWMS, though the SWMS for a high-risk activity should reference emergency response.

Practical implications

For the builder running the site (PCBU)

  1. Before the first day of work, confirm the site has a stocked first aid kit in a signed, accessible location.
  2. Identify who holds a current HLTAID011 from each trade on site. Do not assume a subbie’s HLTAID011 is current.
  3. If headcount fluctuates day to day (common on residential builds), the ratio applies to the peak expected number present.
  4. Multiple PCBUs on site (builder + subbies) must coordinate. The principal contractor typically takes responsibility for site-level first aid, but each PCBU holds their own duty. Document the arrangement.
  5. Check kits monthly and after each use. An empty or expired kit is a breach.

For subbies and trades

  • Know where the first aid kit is before you start work. If you can’t find it, ask.
  • If you hold HLTAID011, tell the site supervisor. Sites running lean on first aiders need to know.
  • Keep your own HLTAID011 current. A lapsed certificate counts as no certificate.

Kit placement on a residential site

  • Prominently marked with a white cross on a green background (per AS 1319 safety signs).
  • Near the site office or site shed, not locked away.
  • Within a reasonable walking distance of where work is being done. On multi-storey jobs, consider a secondary kit on upper floors.

References

See also

Last updated: 2026-05-10. Verified: 2026-05-10. Quarterly review for currency.

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