A Regulation 3 first aid kit is the box South African employers must keep once they have more than five employees at a workplace.
The short version
The law
Regulation 3 of the General Safety Regulations, made under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 85 of 1993, deals with first aid, emergency equipment and procedures.
It starts with a broad duty: an employer must take all reasonable steps to make sure that people at work receive prompt first aid treatment if they are injured or fall ill.
Where more than five employees work at a workplace, the employer must provide a first aid box, or boxes, at or near the workplace. The box must be available and easy to reach. That box is what people call a Regulation 3 first aid kit.
Contents
The Annexure to the regulation sets the minimum contents of a Regulation 3 first aid kit. Employers must add to it where the type of work, the likely injuries or the number of employees call for more.
| Item | Minimum quantity |
|---|---|
| Wound cleaner or antiseptic | 100ml |
| Swabs for cleaning wounds | A supply |
| Cotton wool for padding | A supply |
| Sterile gauze | At least 10 |
| Forceps, for splinters | 1 pair |
| Scissors, at least 100mm | 1 pair |
| Safety pins | 1 set |
| Triangular bandages | 4 |
| Roller bandages, 75mm x 5m | 4 |
| Roller bandages, 100mm x 5m | 4 |
| Elastic adhesive, 25mm x 3m | 1 roll |
| Non-allergenic adhesive strip, 25mm x 3m | 1 |
| Adhesive dressing strips, assorted sizes | 1 packet of at least 10 |
| First aid dressings, 75mm x 100mm | 4 |
| First aid dressings, 150mm x 200mm | 4 |
| Straight splints | 2 |
| Disposable gloves, large | 2 pairs |
| Disposable gloves, medium | 2 pairs |
| CPR mouthpieces or similar devices | 2 |
Only these items, or similar equipment and medicine, may be kept in the box. It is not a place for personal medication or stationery.
People, not just boxes
Where more than ten employees work at a workplace, the employer must make sure a person with a valid first aid certificate is readily available during normal working hours.
| Type of workplace | First aiders needed |
|---|---|
| Five or fewer employees | No first aid box or first aider is required by the regulation, though the general duty to arrange prompt first aid still applies |
| Six to ten employees | A first aid box, but no certified first aider required by this rule |
| More than ten employees | At least one certified first aider for every group of up to 50 employees |
| Shops and offices with more than ten employees | At least one certified first aider for every group of up to 100 employees |
Your Regulation 3 first aid kit needs people who can use it. In shift work, think about every shift, not just the day shift, so a trained person is on hand whenever people are working. Ralmed runs accredited first aid courses for workplace first aiders.
Signs and checks
A Regulation 3 first aid kit is only useful if people can find it and it is fully stocked when they do.
01
The employer must display a clear notice showing where the box is and who is in charge of it.
02
Give one person, usually the first aider, responsibility for the box.
03
Tick each item against the list, and note anything used, damaged or out of date.
04
Replace missing items and keep the checklist on file for inspections.
Need your first aiders trained or a site covered? Call Ralmed on 086 1725 633.
Compared
Suppliers sell both. Only the Regulation 3 first aid kit is actually named in the regulations.
| Question | Regulation 3 kit | "Regulation 7" kit |
|---|---|---|
| Where the name comes from | General Safety Regulation 3 and its Annexure | An industry name, not a separate regulation |
| What it contains | The 19 minimum items | The same items, plus supplies for cleaning up blood and body fluids |
| When to choose it | The legal minimum for most workplaces | Where spills of blood or body fluids are more likely |
Read our guide to the Regulation 7 first aid kit for the details. The full regulations are published by the Department of Employment and Labour.
Questions
A workplace needs a Regulation 3 first aid box when more than five employees work there, and Ralmed can advise you on 086 1725 633. The employer must provide a first aid box, or boxes, at or near the workplace, available and accessible to treat injured people. The number of boxes depends on the size and layout of the site.
The regulation does not set a fixed number. It depends on the type of injuries likely at your workplace, the work being done and the number of employees. A large site spread over several floors or buildings usually needs more than one box, placed where people can reach them.
The regulation says only the listed articles and equipment, or similar equipment or medicine, may be kept in the box. Many employers leave out medicines that need a prescription or a professional's judgement. If you are unsure, ask your occupational health adviser what suits your workplace.
A first aider must hold a valid certificate of competency in first aid. Workplaces with more than ten employees need at least one for every group of up to 50 employees, or up to 100 in a shop or office, available during normal working hours.
Yes. The employer must put up a prominent notice in a conspicuous place, showing where the first aid box or boxes are kept and the name of the person in charge of them. Update the sign whenever the responsible person changes.
The regulation does not set a schedule, but a monthly check is common practice. Check each item against the list, replace anything used, damaged or past its expiry date, and keep a signed record. Also check the box after any incident where it was used.
It is the minimum. The regulation expects employers to add equipment where the work calls for it, for example burn dressings in a kitchen or eyewash where chemicals are handled. A risk assessment of your workplace tells you what extra equipment you need.
An inspector from the Department of Employment and Labour can issue a notice requiring you to comply. More importantly, an injured employee may not get the first aid they need. Keeping the box stocked and your first aiders certified protects your people and your business.
Yes. Where more than ten employees work, Regulation 3 requires at least one qualified first aider for every fifty employees, and Ralmed's HWSETA and QCTO-accredited First Aid courses provide that qualification. Courses run at your workplace anywhere in South Africa and are taught by working paramedics. Call 086 1725 633 to book a group.
Related
See our first aid courses, occupational health services and remote ambulance stations. More guides are on our resources page.
Ralmed trains the people who use a Regulation 3 first aid kit and provides medical cover for sites across Gauteng. Call us to talk through what your workplace needs. Keep your Regulation 3 first aid kit stocked, and call 086 1725 633 for help.
Head office based in Sandton, Johannesburg, Ralmed established in 2013, specializes in comprehensive medical and occupational health services in South Africa, dedicated to compassionate, cost-effective care. Call Ralmed Emergency Medical Services today.