It seems like a simple idea that Fleet Managers and should already have a solution for, however when Melbourne builders Annie and Ryan Juras had an incident with an apprentice on a worksite, they saw a need for a solution that would work for Tradies and fleets that have teams on the road each day.
When I saw the BS Boxes display at the Workplace Health and Safety show in Sydney, the product looked great. Though I wondered if businesses needed a solution like this for their vehicles? My questions was answered quickly because 4-5 attendees stopped to look in a short space of time and each one said, “What a great idea!”
Apparently employees don’t always look after the equipment in their vehicles. Fire extinguishers and First Aid kits get lost or damaged and the regular inspections that happen in an office/warehouse environment are often missed for mobile workplaces like vehicles.
BS Boxes contain a first aid kit and a fire extinguisher. They also have space, depending on the size, for hand sanitiser or a defibrillator. The other important storage space that impressed everyone at the show was the document storage compartment in the door. Ryan explained that it was to keep policies and procedures in a safe and dry location which is a big problem for mobile workplaces.
Stickers and labelling are also important for first aid kits so they can be found in an emergency. The BS Boxes are clearly labelled and designed to be installed in a prominent location in vans, trucks and utilities.
The design is similar to an electrical switchboard and comes with the IP65 waterproof rating. Ryan worked with manufacturers in China with design and was surprised that a simple idea required so much R&D to get it right. He then worked with local companies to source the first aid kits and fire extinguishers.
In each state there is a Code of Practice for First Aid which discusses the requirement of first aid kits without detailing size or contents. They all mention the need to have first aid kits available for mobile workplaces which includes fleet vehicles.
Where there are separate work areas, for example multiple buildings on a site or multiple floors in an office building, it may be appropriate to locate first aid facilities centrally and provide first aid kits in each work area. This may include portable first aid kits in motor vehicles and other separate work areas.
This paragraph is used by ACT, NSW, NT, SA, TAS, WA, QLD. Victoria has similar wording.
BS Boxes are competitively priced (Big one – $450+, small one $250+) which attract a lot of interest from businesses running any size of fleet.
