Burns, cuts, hot spills — is your café kit up to scratch?
Coffee shops may look low risk, but they’re full of hazards: hot liquids, sharp tools, slips and scalds. If an inspector walked in today, would your first aid kit pass?
This guide breaks down exactly what the WHS Code of Practice says about first aid in hospitality, what your kit needs, and how to keep your team covered.
⚖️ What the Regulations Say (WHS and SafeWork NSW)
Under the WHS Code of Practice, all businesses — including cafes — must have a first aid kit suited to the specific risks of their workplace.
SafeWork NSW states that kits should be immediately accessible, well stocked, and checked regularly. For hospitality, this includes burns supplies, plasters suitable for food prep areas, and gloves.
If your team handles food, your kit must also include detectable blue bandaids — a standard for commercial kitchens to help prevent contamination.
🔎 What We See (From the Ground at Assurance)
We’ve assessed dozens of coffee shops across NSW. The same issues pop up again and again:
- Kits hidden behind the counter and completely out of date
- No blue bandaids (a major hygiene risk and compliance fail)
- No gloves or burn gel — even with staff working near hot equipment
One client thought their landlord supplied the kit. Another didn’t realise a wall-mounted cabinet from 2016 didn’t count anymore. We’ve seen it all — and fixed it all.
🔧 What You Actually Need (And Where to Get It)
Your café needs a kit designed for small hospitality businesses. Not a car kit. Not a chemist-special.
We recommend:
- A Workplace-Compliant Kit — built to WHS standards and includes supplies for burns, cuts, and cleaning wounds
- Detectable Blue Bandaids — for hygiene compliance in food prep areas
- Free Checklist PDF to check your kit now
🔍 Internal Resources You Might Need
- Workplace-Compliant Kits
- Hospitality Blue Bandaids
- Free First Aid Kit Checklist PDF
- Free First Aid Sign
- CPR + First Aid Courses for Businesses
🥊 Need Help? Let’s Make It Easy
You can join our newsletter to get regular compliance tips, free downloads, and industry-specific advice — or just use the chat box on this site to speak with me directly. I’ll help you check what you’ve got and fix what’s missing.
Written by Samantha, Director of Assurance First Aid Kits, EMT, Trainer & Assessor.
With over 20 years in first aid compliance training across Dubbo and regional NSW, Samantha helps businesses stay safe and compliant.
