Trauma Kits for Construction Workers: The Missing Piece of Site Safety 

Despite stricter health and safety regulations and better safety culture across the sector, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) still reports more fatalities and serious injuries in construction than in any other sectors.

Workers often operate in environments at height, with heavy machinery, power tools, moving vehicles, electrical risks and unpredictable conditions, often all in the same days.

In 2024/25, injuries included 35 worker fatalities and figures from the HSE report show that the construction industry accounted for 28% of worker fatalities between April 2024 and March 2025.  

Many of these incidents can be prevented through training, planning and safe working systems but not all incidents are completely avoidable, and accidents can happen. When an injury occurs, the first few minutes are the most critical and having the right equipment on site can often mean the difference between life and death.

This is where trauma kits come in and why they are becoming recognised as the missing piece of construction site safety.

Why trauma response matters on construction sites

Being able to react quickly when an incident occurs on a construction site is essential for improving the outcome and keeping the patient alive until the emergency services arrive.

Construction sites are a constantly changing environment which means risks can evolve as work progresses.

The critical 3–10-minute window: why workers become first responders

When a major injury does occur on a construction site, it is often the site team and other contractors on-site who will need to act before the paramedics arrive. It can take up to 10 minutes for an ambulance to arrive but this can be too late in the event of a potentially fatal injury.

Understanding the timeline of a serious injury is important for understanding the role that a trauma kit can play.

• 0-2 minutes: Risk of the injury becoming fatal begins, shock develops, and the patient may drift in and out of consciousness.
• 2-4 minutes: Catastrophic bleeding becomes life-threatening, oxygen levels drop, and the casualty may lose consciousness.
• 4-10 minutes: Cardiac arrest is highly likely without intervention, irreversible shock can occur and there is an increased risk of long-term disability.

To significantly improve the patient’s chances of surviving, immediate, on-site trauma management is required. This is why trauma kits are no longer optional on modern construction sites. They’re essential life-saving equipment to bridge the gap before medical help arrives.

You can find out more about why trauma kits are so important in our blog: Why trauma bleed kits matter: What would you do in an emergency?

The risks in the construction industry

Modern construction sites are exposed to a variety of risks with a number of factors that can elevate the risk of traumatic injury including:

Changing site layouts

Construction sites are always changing. Scaffolding is taken up and down, structures are erected or demolished, vehicle routes change and access points move, all of which can pose increased risks to workers.

Increasing use of high-power tools and machinery

Modern power tools produce better results but are much more powerful, increasing the risk of limb amputations, deep lacerations, haemorrhage and penetrating trauma.

High number of tradespeople working simultaneously

Multiple subcontractors often work on a site at the same time, each with different levels of experience and training which can create unpredictable overlaps with some tasks putting others at risk. Many major trauma events on a construction site involve crush injuries or trapping between vehicles and fixed structures.

Weather and environmental conditions

Strong winds, rain or extreme temperatures can mean working conditions variable, affecting visibility and increasing slips and falls. Accidents in these conditions are rare but, when they do occur, they’re often severe.

Why add a trauma kit to your construction site?

Aside from potentially saving lives when a serious incident occurs, a trauma kit can also provide:

• Reduced severity of injuries: Proper bleeding control and quick treatment can reduce complications and long-term medical issues when a serious incident occurs.
• Less downtime and fewer lost working days: Being able to stabilise the patient allows them to recover more quickly and are able to return to work sooner.
• Improved site safety: Adding a trauma kit to your construction site provides life-saving equipment and makes employees feel safer.
• Improved loyalty and trust: A better safety culture can impact worker loyalty and trust, improving efficiency overall.

In addition, the need for trauma kits is being driven by a number of practical and regulatory needs. While not a legal requirement, trauma kits are now viewed as part of a robust emergency response strategy.

Why choose the ZOLL Mobilize Trauma Kit for your construction site?

Construction sites require equipment that supports untrained responders in case a first aider isn’t available or close enough to act quickly and provides the tools needed for the types of injuries most likely to occur in high-risk environments.

The ZOLL Mobilize Trauma Kit is designed for real-world, high-pressure emergencies where workers might be panicked, unsure or under severe stress.

This kit provides a range of benefits including:

Clear step-by-step instructions for responders

The ZOLL Mobilize Trauma Kit is provided with an app that walks responders through the process of treating the injury at hand step by step. Each piece of equipment is clearly labelled to reduce hesitation and help responders to feel confident.

Professional-grade trauma equipment

The ZOLL Mobilize Trauma Kit includes trauma specific supplies such as:

• Tourniquets
• Haemostatic gauze
• Pressure dressings
• Chest seals
• Trauma pads

This equipment directly addresses the injuries most commonly seen in construction including crush injuries, deep lacerations, penetrating wounds, falls from height and machinery accidents.

Complements other safety equipment

A defibrillator is used to treat cardiac arrest and the Mobilize Trauma Kit covers catastrophic trauma. Together, they form a complete emergency response solution that’s suitable for any high-risk construction environment.

Provides workers with confidence (and time) when it matters most

Construction teams can be placed in highly stressful environments when a traumatic incident occurs. This kit provides everything an untrained responder needs during the first few minutes of a potentially fatal injury. 

For more information on the Mobilize Trauma Kit, read our blog: Beyond first aid: What’s included in the ZOLL Mobilize Trauma Kit & why do businesses need it?

Trauma kits: Complete your construction site’s safety strategy

The construction industry is inherently high-risk but the way the industry prepares for and responds to emergencies has a direct impact on whether incidents become fatal. Despite recent improvements in culture, workers in the construction industry still face hazards that can cause catastrophic incidents. When these incidents occur, the ability to act quickly is essential and a trauma kit could be the determining factor in keeping a worker alive until professional help arrives.

Trauma kits are becoming an essential part of a comprehensive site safety plan by reducing the severity of injuries, improving safety culture and giving employees the confidence to act if needed.

For construction sites looking to enhance their safety equipment, the ZOLL Mobilize Trauma Kit provides a reliable and easy to use kit. Clear instructions and organised layout make it an important piece of equipment when seconds matter and responders are untrained.

In the construction sector, where hazards can escalate into life threatening situations in seconds, trauma kits are the missing piece that completes a modern, robust site safety system.

For more guidance on choosing the right trauma kit or improving your site’s emergency response strategy, please contact our expert team.