Are your first-aid kits at work just dust collectors, stored on a shelf and forgotten? Like any piece of equipment, they need maintenance from time to time. Use this checklist to make sure your first-aid kits will be ready when you need them:
- Has it been over a year since the first-aid kits were inspected?
- Do you know the shelf life of the contents?
- Is any item missing that was not replaced?
- Should you have a procedure in place to make sure that first-aid supplies are replaced?
- Are all supplies properly labeled?
- Will hot or cold weather ruin the contents of the first-aid kit?
- Are your first-aid supplies adequate to handle potential injuries from new hazards?
- Have you identified all the chemicals in your facility and what first-aid supplies are needed in case of a spill?
- Will employees know what must be done in the event of eye or skin contact with any of these chemicals?
- Are your employees trained in the use of the first-aid kit?
- Do your employees know where the kits are located?
- Do you have enough kits to handle potential emergencies?
- Are your employees trained in universal precautions when handling blood and other potential pathogens?