All businesses, large and small, should have a first aid kit on hand to ensure the safety of their employees and customers. Every industry is required by law to have at least one of the following: medical supplies that are sufficient regarding the hazards present, staff with some form of first aid training, or convenient access to a medical facility. However, one of the regulations that few people are aware of is the continued maintenance and inspections of first-aid kits. A dangerous situation can become much worse if your first-aid kit is understocked or if your supplies are contaminated/expired. Find out what variables you should consider for your first-aid kit restock with this guide.
1. Consider Your Specific First-Aid Needs and ANSI Standards
First, consider what your workplace needs, and if you need to follow ANSI (American National Standards Institute) standards. ANSI Class A first-aid cabinets are designed to deal with the most common workplace injuries including minor wounds. ANSI Class B first-aid cabinets are equipped to deal with a wider range of injuries that may occur in more hazardous environments. These requirements are the minimum and do not treat all potential hazards. To maximize effectiveness of your kit, you may want to consider adding additional materials to your box. All of our metal first aid kits are wall mountable for easy access and visibility.
We supply pre-made first aid kits for restaurants, construction sites, and logging operations according to ANSI and OSHA standards.
Want to customize your first-aid kit from start to finish? Check out our custom kitting options.
2. Check Your First-Aid Kit on a Monthly Basis
Once you have installed and stocked your first-aid kit or cabinet, perform an inspection regularly. The United States Department of Labor mandates annual first-aid kit inspections. However, best practices suggest that check your first aid supplies on a monthly basis to ensure safety. Modify your kit as your business changes. Add additional supplies or a product specific to common injuries in your workplace. For example, keep an extra supply of burn cream or ice packs.
3. How to Inspect Your First-Aid Kit:
- Check for damaged, soiled or partially used items. Examine the packaging on gauze/bandages for any spills, tampering, or yellowing on the packaging. When in doubt, throw it out!
- Check expiration dates on ointments, medicines, eyewash, or any bottled items. Don’t forget to check unitized pouches like ibuprofen. Look at the date on each item as some of them may have different dates.
- Workplace first-aid kits should only use single use items to prevent contamination. If any single-use items have been opened or have expired, throw them away and replace them.
- Once you have removed any expired, damaged or used supplies, make note of what needs to be restocked. Adjust your refill in accordance with the amount of people you are supplying for. Your supplies should reflect potential injuries and the population of your workplace.
E-FirstAidSupplies has convenient and affordable options for ANSI first-aid kit refills, basic first-aid kit refills, or for your personal stock. Streamline your process with our purchase options. For large volume needs, we offer bulk first aid supply purchase options with spot buys and pallets. We handle orders anywhere from 2 to 2,000 items.
4. Who Mandates First-Aid Regulations: OSHA or ANSI?
ANSI evaluates and produces guidelines for US standards for workplace safety. OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration), adopts and enforces these rules. While these guidelines are helpful for an initial first-aid kit, you should evaluate whether your business would benefit from additional supplies specific to your industry.
5. What Is the Most Cost-Effective Way to Stock and Restock First-Aid Supplies?
While it may be tempting to hire a van service to deliver supplies, these companies often will overcharge and may “ghost fill” your kit to meet quotas and other incentives. Rather than pay an exorbitant amount, inspect your first-aid kit yourself and choose e-FirstAidSupplies to restock your supplies to guarantee both value and efficiency. We provide a range of services including first-aid cabinets, professional medical supplies, and OTC medicine refills to stock and restock your kit. Whether you are looking to buy in bulk, individual supplies, or build out your own kit, you can rely on our services for your business.
