Monitor First Aid Equipment Levels, Expiration Dates, Labels

The final part of this three-part article looks at how the jan/san distributor can advise customers on first aid kits.

When it comes to distributors recommending Class A or Class B kits to their customers, understanding the type of workplace is important.

“When [distributors] are trying to sell and have that communication with the customer who is ultimately purchasing that kit for their work environment, they should go in there with an understanding of what the work environment looks like,” says Fargo.

If customers are unsure of which class of kit to purchase, distributors can point out the old adage of it’s better to be safe than sorry.

“Certainly, [Class] B is greater than [Class] A, so, at a most elementary level, if you have [a Class] B kit, you’re covered across the board for all,” says Fargo.

Fargo also suggested knowing the number of first aid kits needed. For example, a warehouse with three levels wouldn’t necessarily be covered by just one first aid kit.

“They should look at that as part of an overall risk assessment in determining what is best going to suit that environment,” she says.

After the initial sale of the kits, distributors should continually check in with their customers to see if supplies need to be replenished.

“The other key going forward is that some of the items in there may have expiration dates, so you should always be checking to see if your products are current, that anything that has an expiration date has been replaced and that you’re rotating stock. If you see that you’re going through some supply more frequently than another, you might want to take a step back and [ask] why you’re going through so many of these.”

Missing items could be due to theft, things falling out or constant use.

If constant use turns out to be the reason, then the facility should investigate why more injuries and incidents are occurring in the first place, says Fargo.

Distributors should also check to make sure the labels are on the first aid kits when buying from packagers.

“The one thing they want to do is make sure that label is intact,” says Fargo. “The label is the statement of compliance. The manufacturer, the assembler or the retailer who is putting that label on that kit is making the statement that the kit and the contents within that kit meet that ANSI standard.”

Jon DePaolis is a freelance writer based in Frankfort, Illinois.