The purpose to inspect your first aid cabinet is to organize, prepare for replenishment and ensure it is safe to use. Following these basic steps are easy and only takes a minute. The 4 steps to inspect are:
Why should I disinfect my safety glasses? Some may ask why it is necessary to disinfect safety glasses? Why don’t I just clean them? When glasses are shared between people, there is a potential for cross contamination between users. Cold, flu or other germs can be transmitted by the safety glasses. Blood or other bodily fluids may contain bloodborne pathogens that carry virus’ including hepatitis or AIDS. It is important to treat any bodily fluids as potentially infectious. Cleaning and disinfecting safety glasses makes sense and promotes good health and safety hygiene practices. It is important to be aware of these types of hazards as they are not always visibly seen.
Should I clean my safety glasses before I disinfect them? Yes, we suggest you clean your safety glasses with a mild detergent or cleaner to remove any dirt or debris from the safety glasses. This will remove most of the contaminants from the glasses. Be gentle when cleaning and scrubbing the glasses. Plastic and polycarbonate lenses tend to scratch easily. Do not use abrasives to clean the glasses. Water temperature should be at least 110 degrees.
What is the best solution to use to disinfect my safety glasses? There are several inexpensive and easy to use household products that will do the job quickly and safely. Household bleach can be diluted with water to disinfect glasses. A ratio of 1 part bleach per thousand is ample to use according to Michigan State University. The same ratio can be used for ammonia and water or even tincture of iodine and water. Completely immerse and soak the glasses in the disinfecting solution for at least 2 minutes and then rinse off with warm water. Be sure to rinse your glasses in warm water to remove any soap, cleaner or disinfectant solution. Failure to remove the cleaners or disinfectants could cause film, haze, discoloration and could even effect the integrity of some forms of plastic. Be sure they are rinsed off completely and dried with a lint free cloth.
How often should I disinfect my safety glasses?Safety glasses that are shared should be disinfected after every use. This will help reduce cross contamination. If you are not sharing glasses, disinfecting only needs to occur as necessary. It is always a good idea to regularly inspect safety glasses before each use. Look for scratches or any other type of damage that may interfere with the safety performance and discard and replace as necessary.
Hearing is one of our most valuable senses. It helps us communicate, earn a living, warns us of danger and provides pleasure. These facts should remind us how important it is for us to protect our hearing. Sudden loud noises and exposure to constant noise can damage our hearing. Hearing protection helps reduce our exposure to dangerous noise. This brief article will help you determine if you need to protect your hearing. If you wear hearing protection, we also include helpful information to select and care for your hearing protection. Spend a few minutes to understand these practices and save your hearing. Remember, hearing damage is not reversible. Be proactive and protect yourself.
Whether at home or work, it is important to know what noise levels you are being exposed. This simple chart shown here will provide examples of power tools a typical carpenter uses and how much noise each produces. Anything over 85 decibels is considered dangerous to your hearing health.
Noise Testing - If you are exposed to noise at work, your employer is required to conduct tests to determine the levels. Results will determine what level of protection you will need to wear in order to be safe.
Noise Reduction Rating - Hearing protectors are required to be tested by the manufacturer to determine how much noise will be reduced. This NRR (Noise Reduction Rating) is labeled on every package of hearing protection. The goal is for hearing protection to bring you below 85 decibels of noise.
Frequency Of Use - Any work environment should not only be measured by noise level but also time. As a matter of fact, OSHA says that noise should be measured as a "time weighted average". Sometimes noise levels may increase or decrease. Testing should be conducted over a period of hours so an average noise exposure can be determined. How often and long exposure takes place can influence your hearing health.
Reusable or Disposable Plugs or Muffs? - There are many types of ear protection products. With just a few answered questions, you will be able to select from a much narrower choice. Consider the following question:
Caring for your hearing protection can extend the life and usability of the product. Depending on the type of ear protection you have will determine if you can wash and sanitize your product. Hygiene is vital to your ear health. Work environments can be dirty and so can ears! Hearing protection that can be washed generally includes ear muffs and reusable bands and plugs. Disposable foam plugs should not be cleaned. They are "disposable".
General cleaning & washing involves using warm soapy water for reusable plugs and bands. Wash off any grime, dirt and oils from the protector. Inspect for damage or wear that may influence the ability of the hearing protector to perform properly. Cracks, missing pieces or other noticeable defects are evidence that it's time to replace your protector.
For those who use disposable plugs. These are generally made from foam and involve rolling or squeezing to insert into the ear canal. Be sure to wash your hands first before rolling and squeezing. Dirt will be transferred from your hands to the protector which will be contacting your ear canal. Use common sense and always inspect and take good care of your hearing protection so it can take care of you.
Changes for Class B first aid kits:
Class B Required Minimum Fill
Class A first aid kits are designed to provide a broad range of first aid products to deal with the most common types of injuries encountered in the workplace. These injuries include minor cuts and abrasions, minor burns, and eye injuries. Think of your workplace injuries that have occurred as well as the potential based on the work conditions. Also, consider how often supplies will be used.
Class B first aid kits contain a broader range and quantity of supplies to deal with injuries encountered in a more populated, complex, and or high-risk environment. Consider the types of injuries your workplace has experienced as well as the potential type of injuries that may happen broader range and quantity of supplies to deal with injuries encountered in a more populated, complex and /or high-risk workplace environment.
MFASCO Health & Safety has an easy restock/refill feature for every workplace first aid kit we manufacture. Learn how to restock your first aid kit here. We use a simple 3 step approach to organize and reorder only the first aid supplies you need to stay in compliance. Always check ointments, liquids, and any other items that have expiration dates and don't forget to sanitize your first aid kit when you inspect your supplies.
The MFASCO GCAT5 Bleeding Control Pack provides all of these supplies in a compact well marked, portable pack.
Dispose of any unsafe, opened or damaged supplies. Even if an open item has a resealable cap, it's safest to treat it as if it's cross-contaminated after one use.
Look at the expiration date on each item and dispose of any that are outdated. Items that have expired will not be as effective.
Finally, rotate your items so that the newest are in the back of the first aid kit.
See this helpful article http://www.mfasco.com/Blog/How-To-Articles/How-To-Inspect-Check-Your-First-Aid-Kit.html
Take a look below at the entire 3 part series about how to inspect, organize and restock your first aid cabinet
Update Your First Aid Kit It's time to check your first aid supplies. Take a look at our first aid refill category or quick refill packs to easily refill your first aid kit. Every first aid kit we make has an easy "refill this kit" link as well. Go to our First Aid Kit category if you want to start fresh with a brand new first aid kit.
First Aid Kits & RefillsIf you are looking for a refill for your first aid kit take a look at the links below. We have complete first aid kit refills for your first aid kit.
1. Print Checklist - Go to any of our kits or refills and click on the "Refill This Kit" link and you will see the "Print Refill List" text link to print your checklist.
2. Refill This Kit - Every kit or refill pack we make has a "Refill This Kit" link the pictures. Click the link to direct you down the page where you can add to cart individual items from the list.
3. RestockKit - If you have an industrial metal cabinet, RestockKit is a visual point and click refill tool. Click here and select which cabinet you have to get started.
4. Reorder List - Our version of a "saved list" is fast and easy to use. From either the item product page OR any search list result, look for the "Add To List" icon like this icon5. Make-A-First-Aid-Kit - Our flagship custom first aid kit making tool also creates a checklist once you have built your kit. See how Make-A-Kit works here.
4. Reorder List - Our version of a "saved list" is fast and easy to use. From either the item product page OR any search list result, look for the "Add To List" icon like this icon
5. Make-A-First-Aid-Kit - Our flagship custom first aid kit making tool also creates a checklist once you have built your kit. See how Make-A-Kit works here.
How to refill your first aid kitIf you're not sure how to refill your first aid kit, take a look at our Learning Center. It has many articles and videos that show you how to maintain and restock your supplies:
Other helpful resources Our Learning Center contains hundreds of great health & safety related articles, info-graphics, videos and eBooks. Here are a few of our most popular resources curated for you:
If your not sure why you should check your supplies, take a look at this important article "10 clues you need to update your first aid kit"
Update Your First Aid Kit It's time to check your first aid supplies. Take a look at our first aid refill category or quick refill packs to easily refill your first aid kit. Every first aid kit we make has an easy "refill this kit" link as well.
Other helpful resources Our Learning Center contains hundreds of great health & safety related articles, infographics, videos and ebooks. Here are a few of our most popular additions:
We're here to help. Contact customer service if you need help or have questions.
Website Refill ToolsWe also have created 5 easy to use refill tools that will help you restock your first aid kits.
We're here to help. Contact customer service if you need help checking your supplies.
Unless we walk around in a suit or armor, we will at one time or another have to deal with minor cuts, scrapes, burns and sprains. Sometimes these injuries can be a little more severe and first aid will need to be administered. The majority of injuries are not life threatening but still need treatment. Here are 5 ways to prepare for a medical emergency.
Who is responsible for the first aid supplies? The central school supply warehouse stocks all of the first aid supplies needed to prepare a classroom. The school district has created all of the necessary order requisition forms necessary for teachers and administrators to request supplies. School site administrators or someone who is designated responsible for first aid supplies should order and track supplies at the beginning of the school year. Required supplies are all included in the approved school list that the district has designated. The central warehouse for the school will stock all of the supplies the designated person will need to order.
What supplies are needed? The containers for the supplies include the classroom box, field trip fanny pack and yard fanny pack. They should all be included on the order form along with the list of supplies. Once ordered, the supplies and kits should be assembled at the school before the school year begins.
These are the basic first aid supplies on the approved list that can be stocked in all of the kits. The classroom will use a plastic container while the field trip kit and yard kit will use a fanny pack. The same supplies go inside each of the various container/kit types. The supplies include:
How to maintain the first aid kit Every classroom should have a first aid kit, field trip kit and a yard kit. The approved district first aid supply form will include a list of items and quantities. Maintaining the supplies is easy. Each teachers can replenish their supplies at monthly faculty meetings. A monthly checklist should be used to inspect supplies and order what is needed a week before the monthly meetings.
Questions and policies The district should have a comprehensive first aid policy so teachers and administrators know how they should respond in case of an incident. See our article "4 tips for school first aid guidelines and procedures" for information and links that can help you establish a policy. We like the model that the San Francisco Unified School District has established for their schools. Again, these are suggest as examples but ultimately your school district should establish their own policies and procedures.
Accidents happen in the workplace every day. Having a first aid kit that is stocked and ready to use. Most of us will have an old first aid kit that has not been restocked in ages so today we are providing 3 examples of a first aid reorder list. Regardless of the box or container you are using, these first aid reorder checklists will help you update and restock your kit in no time.
The ANSI requirement offers a great starting point for any first aid kit. The ANSI Z308.1=2009 minimum required items are:
ANSI also recommends supplies like these:
More Custom Reorder Lists
If you want to create your own custom reorder list, MFASCO Health & Safety offers some great refill tools including:
Make A First Aid Kit - (create your own custom first aid kit online with this state of the art tool)
ReStockKit (a visual reorder list for industrial first aid kits)
First Aid Kit Refills (we offer complete refills for many of our first aid kits)
Reorder Lists - This is where all saved lists are stored. You can create a custom Reorder List by adding individual items to a saved list you create. You must be signed in to use this feature.
Refill This Kit (All of the first aid kits we make include a fast and easy to use reorder list)
First Aid Products & Accessories MFASCO's Make a Kit ToolComplete First Aid Kit Refill Packs Reorder Lists for First Aid Kits
Additional Resources for Reordering First Aid Kits & Supplies How to Inspect First Aid Kits Top 8 First Aid Kit Types What is in a First Aid Kit? Essential First Aid Kit Supply List
ANSI is an organization that creates and facilitate standards that when adhered to create a standard of quality and safety for industries. OSHA, Occupational Safety and Health Administration is a regulatory, government agency whose sole mission is to ensure that employees have safe working conditions. OSHA sets safety standards and provides enforcement to make sure the standards are adhered to. ANSI standards can be adopted by OSHA therefore becoming law. When talking about first aid kits, ANSI & OSHA approved first aid kits mean exactly the same thing. ANSI created the standard for first aid kits and supplies while OSHA adopted that standard as law and provides the enforcement of such law.
Class A first aid kits are intended to provide a basic range of products to deal with most common types of injuries encountered in the workplace” Class A Kits must include at a minimum the following: 16 Adhesive Bandages 1 Adhesive Tape 2.5 yd total 10 Antibiotic Ointment 10 Antiseptic 1 CPR Breathing Barrier 10 Burn Treatment 1 Cold Pack 2 Eye Coverings 1 Eye Wash 1 oz 1 First Aid Guide 6 Hand Sanitizer 2 Pair Medical Gloves 1 Roller Bandage 2 Inch 1 Scissor 2 Sterile Pads 3x3 2 Trauma Pads 5x9 1 Triangular Bandage
Class B First aid kits are intended to provide broader range and quantity of supplies to deal with injuries encountered in more populated, complex and or high risk workplace environments. The ANSI Class B List includes: 50 Adhesive Bandages 2 Adhesive Tape 2.5 yd total 25 Antibiotic Ointment 50 Antiseptic 1 CPR Breathing Barrier 25 Burn Treatment 2 Cold Pack 2 Eye Coverings 1 Eye Wash 4 oz 1 First Aid Guide 10 Hand Sanitizer 4 Pair Medical Gloves 2 Roller Bandage 2 Inch 1 Roller Bandage 4 Inch 1 Scissor 1 Splint 4 Sterile Pads 3x3 4 Trauma Pads 5x9 1 Tourniquet 2 Triangular Bandage
The best way to determine which class of first aid kit you need is to review work processes and potential injuries that may occur. If your work facility has a high potential for injuries then you should consider a Class B first aid kit. If your environment has a low potential for injuries then choose a Class A. As a general suggestion you always want to have adequate supplies on hand to treat most injuries that could occur. Should OSHA come to inspect, it’s always better to be overly cautious. You don’t want to be fined for not having enough first aid supplies in your kit!
ANSI has developed first aid kit container types incorporated in the Z308.1-2015 first aid kit standard. The type of first aid kit container is dependent on the type of workplace and work performed. There are 4 types of first aid kit containers: Type 1 - Intended for use in stationary, indoor setting where the potential for damage of kit supplies due to environmental factors and rough handling is minimal. Type 1 kits shall have a means for mounting in a fixed position and are generally not intended to be portable. Uses:Indoor Use : Mountable Applications such as general indoor use, office, manufacturing facilities Type II - Intended for portable use in indoor setting where the potential for damage of kit supplies due to environmental factors and rough handling is minimal Uses: Indoor Use : Portable Applications such as general indoor use, office, manufacturing facilities. Type III - Intended for portable use in mobile, indoor and/or outdoor settings where the potential for damage to kit supplies due to environmental factors is not probable. Shall have a means to be mounted in a fixed position and shall have a water resistant seal. Uses: Indoor or Outdoor: Mountable : Water Resistant Applications such as general indoor use and sheltered outdoor use. Type IV - Intended for portable use in mobile industries and/or outdoor setting where the potential for damage to kit supplies due to environmental factors and rough handling is significant. Shall have a means to be mounted in a fixed position and shall meet impact and performance standards. Uses: Indoor or Outdoor : Mountable : Waterproof : Performance Standards Applications such as transportation, utility, construction and armed force.
While it is required that workplace first aid kits comply with the minimum first aid supply standards, it is recognized that each work environment is unique. Additional first aid supplies or quantities of supplies should be based on the specific hazards that exist in each work environment. Additional items that could be augmented in workplace first aid kits include: Low dosage aspirin (treats heart attack & stroke) Hemostatic Dressings (for those with compromised blood clotting) Electrolyte Replacement (Heat stress related injuries) Glucose Replacement (Diabetic or hypoglycemic episodes) Analgesics (Pain relief or swelling control) Hydrocortisone (Itchiness and skin rashes) Antihistamine (Allergic reactions) Foil Blanket (Treat shock or cold injuries)
We're available to help you find the right supplies for your first aid kits. If you have questions or need assistance refilling your first aid kit, give us a call at 800-221-9222