How Often Should You Inspect First Aid Kits?

All Australian states recommend quarterly inspections (every 90 days) as a minimum. The Safe Work Australia Model Code of Practice states that a person should be nominated to maintain each first aid kit and check it regularly.

Every 90 days

Scheduled Inspections

Minimum quarterly check of all contents, quantities, and expiry dates.

After each use

Post-Use Restock

Replace any items used immediately so the kit is always fully stocked.

Monthly (high risk)

High-Risk Environments

Construction, mining, and manufacturing sites may benefit from monthly checks.

Inspection Checklist — Step by Step

#	Check	What to Look For
1	Kit location & signage	Kit is clearly labelled, accessible, and signposted with white cross on green
2	Kit container condition	Container is clean, waterproof, and not damaged
3	Contents completeness	All items present per your kit checklist/template — compare against contents list
4	Item quantities	Correct quantities of each item — especially plasters, gloves, and dressings
5	Expiry dates	Check antiseptic, saline ampoules, medications, sterile dressings, cold packs
6	Packaging integrity	Sterile items still sealed, no torn or opened packaging
7	Scissors & tweezers	Clean, functional, not rusted
8	Resuscitation mask	Present, clean, one-way valve intact
9	Eye wash	Saline ampoules in date, eye wash station functional (if applicable)
10	Guidance leaflet	First aid instructions/guidance leaflet present and legible
11	Record notebook	Accident report notebook/pencil present (if included in kit)
12	Restock	Replace any used, expired, or damaged items immediately
13	Record inspection	Log date, inspector name, findings, and corrective actions

Items That Expire

Not everything in a first aid kit has an expiry date, but several items do. Pay particular attention to:

Item	Typical Shelf Life	Signs of Expiry
Antiseptic solution/wipes	2-3 years	Discolouration, dried out, packaging compromised
Saline ampoules	3-5 years	Check printed date, cloudy solution
Sterile dressings	5 years	Packaging no longer sealed or sterile
Instant cold packs	2-3 years	Leaked, already activated, packaging damaged
Adhesive plasters	3-5 years	Adhesive dried out, won't stick
Hydrogel/burns dressings	2-3 years	Dried out, check printed date
Medications (if included)	1-3 years	Check printed date, discolouration

Record Keeping

WHS regulations require inspection records to be kept for at least 5 years. Each record should include:

Date and time of inspection
Name of the person conducting the inspection
Kit location/identifier
Items found expired, missing, or damaged
Corrective actions taken (items restocked, replaced)
Date of next scheduled inspection

FirstAidLog automates all of this — track inspections digitally with photo evidence, expiry alerts, and audit-ready reports.

Common Inspection Failures

Expired antiseptic — the most commonly missed expiry item
Missing gloves — used but not restocked
Saline ampoules past date — often overlooked, typical 3-year shelf life
Scissors missing or rusty — commonly borrowed and not returned
No inspection record — kit inspected but not documented
Kit inaccessible — blocked by equipment, locked, or poorly signed

First Aid Kit Inspection Checklist