Best Practices for Storing First Aid Kits in the Office

When was the last time you checked your workplace first aid kit?
If your answer was, “actually I’m not sure?” — don’t worry, you’re not alone.

In workplaces across Australia, first aid kits are often the dust collecting forgotten inventory item buried in a storage cupboard somewhere, or found next to a box of outdated promotional flyers. Yet, in an emergency, those few seconds spent frantically searching for a first aid kit can make all the difference.

By being 'Your Safety Superheroes', the team at Super Spill & Safety Solutions ensures your workplace has a properly stored, accessible, and regularly replenished first aid kit to comply with Australian regulations.

In this blog we take a look at the best practices for storing first aid kits in the office with a good dose of practical advice, compliance know-how, and a sprinkle of humour to keep things lively (because safety doesn’t have to be boring!).

🩹 Why First Aid Kits Matter in Every Workplace

Whether you run a bustling warehouse, a sleek corporate office, or a local café, the reality is the same: workplace injuries happen!

Paper cuts, burns, trip hazards, allergic reactions, workplace injuries come in all shapes and sizes. Having a well-maintained, easily accessible first aid kit means you’re ready to respond quickly to minimise harm and comply with Work Health and Safety (WHS) requirements.

Under the Australian Work Health and Safety Regulations (Regulation 42), every Australian workplace must ensure that:

• First aid equipment is provided and accessible to all workers;
• Trained first aiders are available;
• And first aid facilities (like first aid cabinets/kits or first aid rooms) are maintained, checked, dated and fit for purpose.

Basically, you can’t just tick a box and forget about it. First aid preparedness is an ongoing responsibility.

🧭 Location, Location, Location: Where to Store Your first aid kit?

Let’s start with the golden rule: 'your first aid kit should be easy to find, easy to reach, and easy to use'.

Sounds simple, right? But we’ve seen everything from kits hidden behind locked doors to ones perched on top shelves like forgotten relics.

Here’s how to store it right:

1. High Visibility

Place your kit in a location that’s clearly visible and marked with a green and white first aid sign (as per AS 1319:1994 – Safety Signs for the Occupational Environment). Everyone in the office from the manager to the intern should know where it is without needing a treasure map.

2. Accessibility

Ensure it’s easily accessible at all times. That means:

• No furniture blocking it,
• No “staff only” doors,
• And no “it’s in the top cupboard behind the snacks” excuses.

If your workplace spans multiple levels or departments, provide one kit per area or floor. The rule of thumb: no worker should be more than a few minutes away from first aid supplies.

3. Avoid Heat & Moisture

Keep your kit in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight, steam, or chemicals. Heat and humidity can deteriorate adhesives, medications, and packaging. So, while the kitchen might seem convenient, placing your first aid kit above the boiling kettle or microwave isn’t ideal.

4. Wall-Mounted vs Portable

For offices, wall-mounted kits are best they’re visible, secure, and less likely to “walk off.” However, if your team works off-site or moves around (say, between warehouses, showrooms, or service vehicles), portable kits are essential. They should be stored in clearly labelled containers, easy to carry and robust enough for transport.

🧰 What the Law Says: Australian Standards & Compliance

In Australia, first aid kit requirements are guided by Safe Work Australia’s Code of Practice: First Aid in the Workplace (2020) and Australian Standard AS 2675-1983 (Selection, Use and Maintenance of First Aid Kits).

Here’s a breakdown of key compliance must-haves:

⚖️ 1. WHS Code of Practice

Employers must:

• Identify first aid needs via a risk assessment.
• Provide appropriate kits, trained personnel, and signage.
• Regularly inspect and restock kits.

The Code recognises that workplaces differ — an office has different risks to a construction site, but all must provide adequate coverage for potential injuries.

🩺 2. AS 2675 – 1983

This standard outlines kit construction, contents, and maintenance. It specifies:

• Kits must be durable, dustproof, and water-resistant.
• Contents should be stored in an organised, labelled manner.
• Supplies must be readily accessible and securely contained to prevent contamination.

🧾 3. AS 1319:1994 – Safety Signs

As mentioned earlier, signage is crucial. A compliant first aid sign should:

• Feature a white cross on a green background,
• Be visible from a distance,
• And be placed above or beside the kit for clear identification.

Failure to comply with these standards doesn’t just risk fines, it risks your team’s wellbeing and your company’s reputation.

🧑⚕️ How Many First Aid Kits Do You Need?

Good question! The number and type of first aid kits depend on your:

• Workplace size (number of employees),
• Layout (multiple floors or buildings),
• And risk level (low, medium, high).

✅ Low-Risk Office Environments

For offices and retail settings with minimal hazards:

• 1 standard wall-mounted kit per 25–50 employees is sufficient.
• Include burn dressings, eye pads, antiseptic wipes, and adhesive strips.

⚠️ Higher-Risk Areas

Warehouses, workshops, and kitchens need additional supplies like:

• Cold packs,
• Heavy-duty bandages,
• Saline eye wash,
• Burn treatments,
• And possibly a portable first aid module for specific risks (chemical exposure, cuts, etc.).

If your business operates across multiple locations, consider site-specific kits and regular service schedules to ensure uniform compliance nationwide — something Super Spill & Safety Solutions proudly offers Australia-wide.

🔄 The Importance of Regular Inspections & Restocking

A first aid kit is only as good as what’s inside it. An empty kit filled with expired bandages isn’t much use in an emergency.

🕒 Inspection Frequency

According to Safe Work Australia, kits should be checked:

• At least every 6 months, or
• Immediately after use (so items can be replaced).

For businesses partnered with Super Spill & Safety, our on-site first aid servicing ensures:

• Expired items are replaced,
• Kits are cleaned and dated,
• New stock is rotated,
• And detailed compliance reports are provided.

🧴 Check for:

• Expiry dates on all the consumables
• Broken seals or damaged packaging.
• Missing items (the mysterious disappearing bandage phenomenon is real).

Tip: Create a simple inspection checklist and assign responsibility to a first aid officer or team leader. Or better still have a third party contractor experts in the field to take the worry from you and provide the service!

🧠 Training & Awareness: People Power Matters

Even the best first aid kit is useless if no one knows how to use it.

Make sure your staff:

• Know where the kits are located;
• Are aware of who the first aid officers are;
• And receive basic first aid training relevant to workplace risks.

According to Safe Work Australia, at least one trained first aider should be available at all times while workers are on site.

It’s also smart to conduct mock drills or quick “spot checks” a fun five-minute team activity to reinforce awareness. (Bonus points if you time it like a fire drill and hand out coffee vouchers to the fastest responder.)

💡 Office First Aid Storage Do’s and Don’ts

✅ Do:

• Mount kits in visible, accessible areas.
• Label each kit with a green-and-white first aid cross.
• Keep it stocked, clean, and dated.
• Record all usage for restock tracking.
• Ensure at least one person per department knows how to use it.

❌ Don’t:

• Store the kit in a locked cupboard (yes, we’ve seen it happen).
• Use it as a “miscellaneous supplies box” (no, Panadol for a headache doesn’t belong there unless approved).
• Leave it near heat, moisture, or chemicals.
• Forget to check expiry dates.
• Treat it as a decoration — it’s a life-saving tool, not a wall ornament.

🧯 Integrating First Aid into Your Safety Ecosystem

At Super Spill & Safety Solutions, we know workplace safety isn’t one-dimensional.

First aid kits are part of a broader safety ecosystem that includes:

• Spill kits and chemical management systems,
• Safety showers & eyewash stations,
• Defibrillators (AEDs),
• Emergency signage, and
• Comprehensive site compliance servicing.

When integrated correctly, these elements form a complete safety response plan that meets WHS, EPA, and AS/NZS standards — helping you avoid hefty fines and ensuring your team is always protected.

Think of it like the Avengers of safety, each component has its role, but together, they’re unstoppable.

🏢 Examples of Smart First Aid Kit Placement

To help visualise the ideal setup, here are some examples tailored to common workplaces:

💼 Corporate Office

• Wall-mounted kit near kitchen or main hallway.
• AED near reception.
• Spill kit in cleaner’s cupboard.
• Fire extinguisher & evacuation chart nearby.

🧑🍳 Café or Hospitality Venue

• First aid kit away from hot equipment, mounted at eye level. Metal food grade bandaids are a legal requirement
• Burn module easily reachable.
• Spill Kits and  absorbents near cleaners area, pump rooms, grease trap rooms, waste areas, basement carparks etc
• Clear signage directing staff to kits.

🏗️ Warehouse / Workshop

• Portable and fixed kits available.
• One kit per 25 workers.
• Eye wash station near chemical areas.
• Spill control station adjacent to bulk liquid storage.

🚚 Fleet or Field Staff

• Portable vehicle kits with logbook entries.
• Checked periodically by service technicians.
• Restocked during scheduled fleet maintenance.

⚙️ Partnering with Professionals: Simplify Compliance

Maintaining safety compliance can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. By partnering with Super Spill & Safety Solutions, you gain:

• Scheduled on-site servicing of all first aid and spill kits;
• Compliance documentation for your WHS audits;
• Tailored solutions based on your risk profile;
• And the peace of mind that your team is protected by Australia’s Safety Superheroes.

From refills and signage to custom corporate safety packages, we make sure your business stays ahead of the curve (and the inspector).

📋 Quick Reference: Checklist for First Aid Kit Storage Compliance

Tick all those boxes? You’re officially safety compliant (and maybe deserve a cape).

🧩 Final Thoughts: Make Safety Second Nature

Storing your first aid kit properly might seem like a small detail, but in the world of workplace safety, small details save lives.

By following best practices, adhering to Australian Standards, and keeping your kits up to date, you’re not just meeting compliance obligations you’re building a safer, more confident, and more responsible workplace culture.

So go on — take five minutes today to check your kit’s location, expiry dates, and signage.

And if you need help staying on top of compliance, Super Spill & Safety Solutions is just a call away. Because when it comes to workplace safety we don’t just sell kits, we deliver confidence, compliance, and care.

Super Spill & Safety Solutions — Your Safety Superheroes 🦸 🦸
Protecting people, workplaces, and the environment, one first aid kit at a time.