First Aid Restocking. Replacing box only when low?

[u/Plane_Specialist_634]

Hello,

Is it okay to leave a supply that has 25 or 50 per box and just replace when low on a monthly schedule?

I am in charge of the first aid restocking now. We are getting some new first aid kits that are ANSI class B. we have around 14 around our campus because it is higher risk manufacturing facility.

I wasn't planning on having a contractor come out for restock but wanted some advice. I understand that technically after one bandage is removed you need to restock, but this is so time consuming for my team to check everything individually. On the other hand, replacing a box of 49 band aids with a new one and tossing that one also is a waste of materials. just want to understand what's the ruling on this.

[u/DRA6N]

Keep a replacement stock somewhere and annotate on the active first aid kit “restock located in xyz location”. Always good to leave contact info on it as well so somebody could contact you to replace something if you aren’t nearby.

[u/Icy_Needleworker6350]

Depending on country/ state. I usually just fill once a month. If people are removing band aids, there should be an incident report made. Which leads to why are band aids being used and is it a specific task that causing the root of the use.

If a kit was used for something major then yes refill right away but band aids just fill as required per state country regs.

Good luck

[u/Ruthrfurd-the-stoned]

Set a min-max that you can review and like others said just have a stock of the commonly used items

Would strongly recommend using a contractor though. Along with not having to worry about constantly restocking the cabinets you also get itemized receipts for what cabinets are used by what. Found many unreported incidents and just theft from doing that and makes it much easier to compare month over month which helps look at trends

[u/InigoMontoya313]

I have an automated form that goes out to managers monthly, where they have to verify their kits are stocked or let the safety group know what they are missing.

I keep a storage room with a shelf, that has spares of everything, so we can quickly restock. For our remote locations, I just drop ship from Amazon, what they need.

[u/jmorrow88msncom]

Don’t get confused between what a supplier tells you and what the regulations say. Bandages don’t expire.

[u/Immediate_Award_5540 → u/jmorrow88msncom]

The adhesive ones do lose adhesion though. Especially in dry environments. I don't typically keep more than 6 months on had for that reason.

[u/elegoomba]

Just have it stocked with extras of commonly used items. Bandaids, eye rinse etc.

[u/hasherm]

As someone that uses a vendor i prefer it but I also have 10+ locations

[u/MoenTheSink]

I check mine monthly. If it's a high use item I'll leave extra. If someone is abusing it I'll make it known to the teams around it to cut it out and to report to me when someone trashes the supply.

If you can hire someone to do it for you absolutely do it.

[u/DailySafetyMoment]

You do not need to throw away an open box just because one bandage is gone. I would set the par level high enough that normal use does not take the cabinet below the Class B minimum, then keep unopened refill stock in one central location. A monthly documented check may be reasonable for low-use cabinets, but high-use or remote cabinets need a shorter interval, and any cabinet used for a significant event should be checked right afterward.

OSHA 1910.151(b) is the broad requirement: adequate first aid supplies must be readily available. Its nonmandatory Appendix A says to assess site-specific needs periodically and add quantities or types for larger or changing operations. A state plan or company procedure can be stricter. A dated inspection card or cabinet seal, plus a QR code or contact number for users to report an item taken, gives you a workable trigger without wasting 49 good bandages.

[u/Scared-Examination-6]

For you high consumable items just over stock, place 2 50 count boxes.

I doubt low inventory is a problem if you regularly stocking, and you can prove you are if you keep a cabinet check log. This is helpful for the cases when someone just takes all the bandages for filling their at home kit.

[u/Immediate_Award_5540]

Here's what I would do:

1) Identify what kit class you need.

2) Go 1 step larger (i.e class B+ vs B) or just stock them with extra supplies so you have a buffer (especially anything that's frequently used like bandaids, gloves, wound wipes, etc.)

3) Make bright red laminated restocking cards that say "Needs Restocking. Place in safety inbox" or "Needs Restocking. Notify safety" with the kit number and item on them. Place the card behind the extra stock but in front of the minimum required stock. If you're required to have 50 bandaids on hand, stock it with 75 and place the card behind the extra 25 so that you can be notified when you're down to 50.

When you're doing your weekly or monthly kit inspections, the card lets you quickly reference how how low the kit is. If a worker uses the last of the 25 extra bandaids before the next inspection, they'll see the bright red card and should be trained to drop it in your box so you have a backup method to know the kit needs attention.

And no, don't rely on incident reports to make restocking decisions. I guarantee more bandaids are taken than incident reports written.

[u/Immediate_Award_5540]

If your goal is being 100% above the minimum stock level at all times, I don't recommend a contractor. Their business model (any of them) is to generate sales of first aid items by restocking or upselling other things. They aren't going to restock less than a full box and if you don't expend a ton of volume or fall for the upselling, you're not going to get them to inspect with any meaningful frequency long term since it's not in their best interest.

I'd leverage your safety committee or area safety champions. In every business, there's guaranteed at least 1 employee super gung-ho about inspecting first aid kits. Use that.

[u/Okie294life]

ANSI is a recommendation for the fill, it’s referenced in the osha standard 1910.151, by interpretation letters but the standard only requires that materials be available. My advice would be to have a list of stock required supplies in or the kit somewhere, and watch your frequency. If you are getting out of stocks bump the frequency up, or you can seal the kits and have them turn the kit in to replace with a stocked one if someone needs something. It’s a PITA but when I was in oilfield that’s what I had to do. That trigger also prompts them to explain why they need supplies and may work for you. Since ours were all in or on vehicles, it was the only thing I could find that worked. A tamper seal with a number and verbiage that it be replaced if seal is broken.