How to Restock Your First Aid Kit

Key Takeaways

• Universal Compatibility: MFASCO’s refill packs work with any standard white wall-mounted first aid cabinet — no proprietary system required.
• Maintenance Schedule: As a general rule, first aid kit inspection and replenishment should occur at least every three to six months. High-traffic workplaces should check their first aid cabinet refills monthly and restock immediately after any major incident.
• Simplified Self-Management: MFASCO provides a direct-purchase catalog with the inventory and tools to make self-management easy, acting as the self-managed alternative to route services.

"How To Restock Your First Aid Kit" is the last of a three-part series showing you how to inspect, sanitize, and restock your first aid kit. In this article, we use a standard 4-shelf industrial first aid kit as an example. We also cover how to determine which supplies you need, how to create a checklist, and how to set up regular inspections for your first aid kit or cabinet.

When Should a First Aid Kit Be Restocked?

As a general rule, first aid kit inspection and replenishment should occur at least every three to six months. However, high-traffic workplaces should check their first aid cabinet refills monthly and restock immediately after any major incident.

1. Determining What First Aid Kit Refills You Need

While workplace first aid kits are required to contain at least the minimum OSHA/ANSI list of supplies, there may be other items your workplace should keep. Understanding the purpose of your kit, the potential injuries that can occur, and the OSHA/ANSI requirements for your workplace will help you determine the specific first aid cabinet refills needed for your environment.

Purpose and Use of Your First Aid Kit

The purpose of any first aid kit is to treat minor cuts, scrapes, burns, and other injuries. In the workplace, it is meant to help the employee stay productive on the job. It is not a first responder/EMT bag; it is for basic first aid that employees can access. All of the supplies maintained in the first aid cabinet are common-sense items that everyone is familiar with.

Identifying Potential Workplace Injuries

Carefully look at the past injuries you have treated to determine the types of first aid supplies you need. If you have cuts and scrapes, include a variety of bandages and gauze. If you experience dust or particles in the eyes, consider including eyewash in your cabinet. Analyze your environment, for example, metal cutting operations require more pressure bandages, while welding environments require additional burn gel. Even if you haven't had a severe injury, always keep basic first aid supplies on hand for any potential emergency.

OSHA & ANSI First Aid Requirements

OSHA expects that workplace first aid kits meet or exceed the ANSI (American National Standards Institute) standard. While businesses in near proximity to a medical facility might not be strictly required to have a first aid cabinet stocked with supplies, it is common sense to be prepared. We offer a wide selection of workplace first aid supplies that meet these standards, providing a self-managed alternative to first aid service that charge you a fee just to look at your first aid cabinets.

Using a First Aid Log Sheet

Using a first aid log sheet for OSHA compliance can help you understand the types of common injuries that occur in your specific environment. While OSHA doesn't always require logs for minor injuries, tracking them helps you predict exactly which first aid kit refills you will need to order next.

2. Create a First Aid Inspection and Replenishment Checklist

Based on your needs, you should create and maintain a first aid checklist. We offer several resources to make this easier:

• Every MFASCO Workplace First Aid Kit includes its own refill inspection checklist right on the product page: Go to the product page of the first aid kit that will serve as your "template" for restocking, and click the "Refill This Kit" link found just below the image thumbnails.  You will find the "Print Checklist" button to view, print, or download the list with the other free restocking resources.
• Make A First Aid Kit: Create your own custom printable checklist on our website. You can select the container and specific supplies, and save the list for quick, easy reordering.
• Reorder List Reorder List: Search for items you keep in your kit and add them to your "My Item List" for consistent, repeatable ordering.
• RestockKit: This is a simple, graphical refill checklist option for select MFASCO workplace first aid kits (2-5 shelves). Go to our "ReStockKit" page to find a ReStockKit first aid kit with this one-of-a-kind feature!
• Refill This Kit: Every MFASCO Workplace First Aid Kit includes a QR code on the cabinet, which directs you to the specific refill section for that kit, allowing you to restock only what you need, right from the product page.

3. Restock & Organize Your First Aid Cabinet Refills

Once you have a checklist, compare it to your current inventory. Throw away anything expired or partially used after inspecting your cabinet. When you order, plan for usage between inspections. Unlike vendors that lock refills to a single cabinet design, MFASCO’s universal-fit individual supplies OR complete refill packs let you keep the cabinet you already have.

When your order arrives, group your products by type and keep them consistent. If you are combining a new box with a partially empty one, place the older stock in front to ensure it is used first. Now that your cabinet is set up, the key is to maintain it. You can set up an automated reminder system on our site to ensure you never run low on essential workplace first aid kit refills.

Additional Resources

• How MFASCO can help you restock your first aid cabinets
• Workplace First Aid Cabinet Restocking & ANSI Compliance Made Easy 
• How to audit & restock a workplace first aid cabinet