Member of staff noted that the first aid box was out of plasters so purchased more. I mentioned that had there been an accident they needed to complete an incident form as per the organisation's policy (they hadn't mentioned the severity of the accident in the email sent just that the needed one and there was none in the box).

Now transpires they just needed a plaster to cover an existing cut that didn't occur at work. Given this is company equipment, would I be right in saying that they should have provided there own and is there something in writing to say as much that I could quote? I feel that if it's an cut that they've sustained elsewhere, they should buy their own plaster rather than using company stuff (and probably one of the reasons there was no plasters in the first place!). Happy to stand corrected if I'm wrong but couldn't find anything with a quick google check.

(and yes i know it's a trivial matter compared to some of the other questions asked but am now curious as to what the answer would be).

Thanks

I think you should call the police and report a theft...

First of all we don't know the nature of the injury/cut. However, I would say that the cost of a simple plaster is not even considered as a cost. I do not want to say that everyone should be allowed to open the First Aid box and just take whatever they needed from it. Which leades to my second point. Did you provide the plaster before taking a look into it? Who is the first aider/first aid responsible person and was he/she notified?

Again, if that was a cut and his/her previously applied plaster had to be replaced you should consider the consequences of leaving an open wound.

All in all, it seems that things did not happen in the order they should have. If I were you, I would let the employee know that if he/she has an injury, then contact the appointed person for first aid and he/she will take action. Again, the cost of a plaster is minimum, not to become a habbit on the other hand.

Finally, I would consider other things as well. How come noone noticed that there were no plasters in the first aid boxes? Who are the responsible people? Do full checks on first aid boxes and check St. John's ambulance on the items/quantity with regards to your operation. Training, risk assessment, facilities audit? A simple observation might trigger other more serious findings.

Would it be possible to have plaster dispensers which people could use rather than going through the first aid box? We had them at a previous employer's as cuts from boxes/ paper were fairly common given the nature of the work. They would be checked as part of weekly walk-rounds and extras ordered as required.

Plasters cost less than pennies so I wouldn't be inclined to ask people to bring their own, perhaps an email or memo asking that first aid equipment not be removed without informing the relevant person(s) could be considered?

If the workplace is involved with food preparation or handling suitable and sufficient dressings should be available to hygienically cover any open wound (not only those that occur within the workplace)

Buy some tear off dispenser stations and keep these away from your first aid kit(s) topping up as required

The days of sitting to write up and thoroughly investigate every paper cut are long gone - which is probably when the policy of any use of FAAW supplies being recorded went in to print

Cant't wait for the head line - tribunal rules on employee sacked for taking a plaster

If I'm reading the OP correctly the employee boughjt new plasters to put right what the employer failed to do i.e. maintain an adequate supply of first aid equipment. I think grateful thanks would be in order.

Charging staff for using plasters for injuries that didn't occur in the workplace is going to make you really popular.

Actually, if an employee suffered some form of infection in your workplace as a result of an open wound, and it transpired that although the injury did not occur at your workplace, you, as an employer, refused to offer a plaster to that employee because he/she suffered a non-work related accident, I would question your ability to manage health and safety in accordance with the Management Regs 1999, and your efforts to ensure, so far as reasonably practicable, the health and safety of your employees as per Section 2(1) of HSWA.

Quick update - it's an office environment (so no food preperation / machinery other than photocopier and computers).

First Aider in office has responsibility for ensuring the box is updated and office manager also has to complete a monthly risk assessment which includes checking first aid provision. The box in question had been checked within the month to ensure it had enough items - which it had at that point. Incidents recorded at the site were in single figures for the past year so no reason why there shouldn't have been plasters available. Looks like someone had taken the box rather than there not being any left (as other items had also been removed such as the safety pins and thermometer  - which had been noted as being present the previous check on discussion with the office manager and first aider). Both have been asked to keep an eye on things for a few weeks to see if the new supplies go walkabout.

All first aiders and office managers reminded of their responsibilities and to check frequently - especially in offices where there are lots of staff as there are >30 sites over a large geographic area which range from one or two employees to over 70.