These drugs have been shown to be the major source of abuse and pilfering of first-aid kits.

Accordingly analgesics should be included in first aid kits only after consultation with employees and when an appropriate management plan is in place.

Employees should be responsible for carrying and dispensing their own prescribed or over-the-counter medications.

The protocol recommended for the supply of simple analgesics by a workplace first aid provider is:

• no more than one pack of analgesic to be held in any first aid kit
• analgesics must remain in the original packaging containing the standard dosage and the required warning and caution statements
• the caution and warning statement on the pack should be communicated to the employee
• supply only on direct request by an employee
• supply limited to the recommended dose (generally up to two tablets four hourly)
• supply recorded in the first aid register.