Remote working has become a normal part of life across the UK, from hybrid office staff to fully home-based employees. However, employers still have legal duties to ensure remote workers can access immediate first aid if they become ill or injured while working. This guide explains what employers must provide, what home workers should keep in their workspace, and the essential items for a safe home office setup.
For additional workplace guidance, see our Workplace First Aid Policy Guide and Risk Assessment Guide.
Yes. Under the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981, employers must ensure that every employee—whether on-site, hybrid, or fully remote—has access to appropriate first aid provision.
This does not always mean providing a full workplace kit for the home, but employers must make sure the worker can receive immediate and appropriate first aid. For most home offices, this means supplying or recommending a small, well-stocked kit.
| Responsibility | What Employers Must Do |
|---|---|
| Risk Assessment | Assess home-working risks, including slips, trips, burns, cuts, and ergonomic hazards. |
| Provide Suitable First Aid Resources | Ensure remote staff have access to a basic first aid kit or reimburse them for one. |
| Information & Training | Give workers instructions on what to do in an emergency, how to report incidents, and how to use their kit. |
| Accident Reporting | Remote staff must still record accidents using the employer’s accident reporting system. |
| Regular Review | Check annually that remote staff have appropriate equipment and emergency information. |
A home office typically doesn’t require a full BS 8599-1 workplace kit. Instead, remote workers should have a compact, practical kit that covers the most common household and office injuries.
| Item | Purpose | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Plasters | Minor cuts from kitchen, office equipment, or packaging. | Assorted sizes recommended. |
| Sterile Dressings & Gauze | Cover larger cuts or grazes. | Useful for more serious minor injuries. |
| Antiseptic Wipes | Cleaning cuts when running water isn’t nearby. | Important for hygiene. |
| Bandages & Tape | Support sprains or secure dressings. | Helpful for slips or falls at home. |
| Burn Gel or Burn Dressing | For accidental burns from kettles, ovens, or heaters. | Common in home environments. |
| Scissors & Tweezers | General first aid tasks, removing splinters. | Useful for home repairs or gardening injuries. |
| Disposable Gloves | Hygiene when treating wounds. | Nitrile preferred. |
| Foil Blanket | Shock or sudden illness. | Optional but helpful. |
Browse our full range of first aid kits ideal for home, travel, workplace, and remote workers.
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