Welcome Guest! The IOSH forums are a free resource to both members and non-members. Login or register to use them

Postings made by forum users are personal opinions. IOSH is not responsible for the content or accuracy of any of the information contained in forum postings. Please carefully consider any advice you receive.

Notification

Icon
Error

Options
Go to last post Go to first unread
paul-ps  
#1 Posted : 05 December 2014 12:27:39(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
paul-ps

With adaquate provision of equipment and first aiders, does anyone have an issue with keeping the wall mounted first aid boxes locked? Keys are held by supervisor and first aiders in the area.
gotogmca  
#2 Posted : 05 December 2014 12:42:23(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
gotogmca

Paul, As an alternative, you can use security tags, similar to what you see on fire extinguishers e.g. (no connection to company) http://www.lewis-plast.c...s-pack-of-10-p-1661.html . This discourages casual use of the contents and provides a quick visible check to see if the first aid box has been opened.
paul-ps  
#3 Posted : 05 December 2014 13:15:50(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
paul-ps

I think its the case of a lock or nothing. I dont think the security tag would discourage theft. When left open previously, the boxes are emptied and become of little use or purpose. What is common practice - do most businesses keep their cabinets locked?
A Kurdziel  
#4 Posted : 05 December 2014 14:08:40(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
A Kurdziel

paul-ps wrote:
I think its the case of a lock or nothing. I dont think the security tag would discourage theft. When left open previously, the boxes are emptied and become of little use or purpose. What is common practice - do most businesses keep their cabinets locked?
Our first aiders keep them in the desks etc. They are tagged and get checked every 6 months or so to make sure that they are fully stcoked. We would never just leave one out unlocked
jodieclark1510  
#5 Posted : 05 December 2014 15:45:02(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
jodieclark1510

Our first aid room is key card controlled by first aiders and duty managers and first aid kits are kept in desks/ lockers. Kits and the room is checked monthly and audited. Plaster holders aer fitted to the walls as this was what was being raided previously. Our AED machine is also in an unlocked cabinet and has an alarm for when it is removed to alert the site of an emergency
ashleywillson  
#6 Posted : 05 December 2014 16:26:23(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
ashleywillson

Doesn't this boil down to educating employees? Surely theft of company property is an issue if gross misconduct and employees should be educated (i.e. imagine if you were bleeding out and someone had nicked all the plasters...). I have used security tags in the past, not so much to discourage theft as to know if the contents has been used. Surely it is safer to have something to hand than nothing at all or relying on certain individuals to be present either for a key or access to the kit?
jwk  
#7 Posted : 05 December 2014 16:34:45(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
jwk

Interesting reponses here. At my last place (registered care premises and Hospices, charity shops) we usually didn't lock 1st aid boxes away, though they were usually kept in cupboards or in busy offices. At my current place they're certainly not locked away, maybe because 1st Aid is one of the things we do.... At neither place is/was there a significant issue with theft, whether that's a voluntary vs commercial sector thing, or something to do with 'caring' organisations I don't know. Certainly both employers had/have their share of other forms of petty theft and fraud, so it's not by any means that all their employees are saints.... John
Isaac J Threadbare  
#8 Posted : 05 December 2014 16:34:56(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
Isaac J Threadbare

As I recall, in schools for arguments sake, staff were not to administer first aid if untrained. So running with that, barring really minor cuts the first aid box should be under the care of the first-aid people? So a cheap box of plasters left in a small decoy box (with a mouse trap cocked and ready for the tea-leaf) left in plain sight and the main box with the really nice stuff in safe, in safe hands.
mike52  
#9 Posted : 05 December 2014 20:07:42(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
mike52

Isaac J Threadbare wrote:
So a cheap box of plasters left in a small decoy box (with a mouse trap cocked and ready for the tea-leaf) left in plain sight and the main box with the really nice stuff in safe, in safe hands.
I like your thinking, but then you will need a first aider to treat the person with the mousetrap on their fingers :) Mike
hilary  
#10 Posted : 06 December 2014 22:30:01(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
hilary

We don't lock our first aid room with all the supplies in it either - a few plasters, the odd cool pack go missing - nothing huge but we have to work on the basis that this is "first aid". What do we do if someone needs first aid and we have to go searching for a key? Rather defeats the object I should have said.
MrH&S  
#11 Posted : 07 December 2014 00:35:46(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
MrH&S

I agree with Ashley, Education of workforce and behavioral presentations would put a stop to thieves. sounds like you have a culture that if its not tied down someone will take it, I wouldn't want to leave a phone or wallet around that workplace. I have first aid boxes all around the vessel which include eyewashes, none of them have ever been abused and if someone has to remove anything they notify myself or the medic and it is replenished immediately. Do you have any problem of people letting of fire extinguishers (horseplay)? MrH&S
Users browsing this topic
Guest
You cannot post new topics in this forum.
You cannot reply to topics in this forum.
You cannot delete your posts in this forum.
You cannot edit your posts in this forum.
You cannot create polls in this forum.
You cannot vote in polls in this forum.