Description
In South Africa, a Regulation 3 First Aid Kit is a mandatory medical supply set governed by General Safety Regulation 3 of the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act 85 of 1993. It is designed for workplaces with more than five employees and is intended to provide a legal baseline for immediate medical assistance.
Core Regulatory Requirements
- Workplace Threshold: Any employer with more than 5 employees must provide a compliant first aid box that is readily available and accessible.
- Accessibility: Kits must be strategically located in visible areas, clearly marked with official signage (typically a green cross), and kept under the charge of a designated person.
- Maintenance: Kits must be inspected regularly (ideally monthly) to ensure items are not expired and that supplies used are replenished immediately.
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Mandatory Contents ListAccording to the Annexure to General Safety Regulation 3, a compliant kit must contain at least the following items:
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Item Category Quantity & Specification Wound Cleaning 1x Antiseptic/Wound cleaner (100ml); 100x Non-sterile swabs; 2x Sterile swabs (5-packs) Bandages & Dressings 4x Roller bandages (75mm x 5m); 4x Roller bandages (100mm x 5m); 4x Triangular bandages; 4x First Aid Dressing No. 3; 4x First Aid Dressing No. 5 Adhesives 1x Elastic adhesive roll (25mm x 3m); 1x Non-allergenic tape (25mm x 3m); 1x Packet of 10 assorted adhesive strips Instruments 1x Pair of stainless steel forceps; 1x Pair of scissors (min 100mm); 1x Set of 12 safety pins Padding & Support 1x Cotton wool for padding (100g); 2x Straight splints (wooden or plastic) Protection & CPR 2x Pairs Large disposable gloves; 2x Pairs Medium disposable gloves; 2x CPR mouthpieces or similar devices
Workplace Application
- Low-Risk (Offices/Shops): Employers may reduce the quantities of certain items (antiseptics, bandages, and dressings) by half.
- High-Risk (Factories/Construction): It is often recommended to upgrade to a Regulation 7 Kit, which includes additional biohazard protection for blood spills.
- Ratios: A common industry standard is to provide one kit per 50 employees, with at least one kit per floor in multi-level buildings





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