A failed first aid kit check is the system working: it found the problem before someone needed the kit. What matters now is fixing it quickly and being able to show you did.
1. Sort out what failed
Kits fail for a handful of reasons, and each has a different fix.
| What failed | Usual fix |
|---|---|
| Missing or low stock | Restock to at least the minimum quantity |
| Expired items | Replace with in-date stock and record the new expiry date |
| Damaged or opened packs | Throw them out and replace them; an opened sterile pack can't be relied on |
| The kit itself (broken container, missing seal, no sign, no contents list) | Repair or replace the container, add a sign or a contents list |
| Medication found in the kit | Take it out. The Code of Practice says medication shouldn't be kept in first aid kits |
2. Make sure people can still get first aid
If the kit is short of something important and the stock is days away, tell the people who use that kit and point them to the nearest other kit until it is fixed.
3. Restock and replace
Make one list of everything that is short or expired across the site, so one order or one trip covers it. In FirstAidLog, failed items go onto the What to Bring list for each site, with how many of each to bring. You can print it, copy it or email it to a supplier.
4. Record the fix
The model Code of Practice, First aid in the workplace, says to check each kit after it is used, or at least once every 12 months if it has not been used, and to sign and date the kit's contents list. A fix is part of that record: what went in, when and by whom.
In FirstAidLog, a kit that failed only because it was short of stock reads Needs Resupply. Resupply the items and the inspection reads Fixed, with when and by whom, and the kit is Ready again. Tap Recheck for a fresh signed inspection and certificate if you want one. Damage, an opened pack or a failed condition check still reads Failed until the kit passes a new inspection. The original result is never changed, so the history shows the failure and the fix.
5. Stop it happening again
- Items used and not reported. Make it easy to record use. In FirstAidLog a first aider taps Used one on the item, it comes off the stock, and the kit is marked for a restock.
- Dates creeping up. Get an alert before items expire, not on the day of the check.
- Minimums set too low. Set a minimum quantity for each item, so a kit is flagged before it runs out.
- Checks only once a year. Check after every use, as the Code says, and more often where kits are used a lot.
For the checks themselves, see how often to inspect a first aid kit and our inspection checklist.
📊 Free Compliance Checklist PDF
Download our printable WHS compliance checklist covering inspection schedules, kit contents, and documentation requirements for Australian workplaces.
Close the loop on every failed kit
Failed items go straight onto a restock list, and the record shows when each kit was fixed and by whom.
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