There is no single legal rule saying “check your first aid kits every X weeks”.

UK law simply says your first aid arrangements must be “adequate and appropriate”, and HSE makes it clear that kits should be checked regularly and kept suitably stocked. The real question is how often that needs to happen in your workplace to stay comfortable and defensible.

What HSE actually expects

The Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 require employers to provide suitable first aid equipment, facilities and personnel, based on a first aid needs assessment. HSE’s guidance then adds three simple but important points:

• The contents of your first aid kit should be based on your needs assessment, not a fixed list.
• Many items in first aid kits have expiry dates and must be replaced when they expire.
• Kits should be checked regularly and restocked after use – not left until somebody finds a problem during an incident.

So while you won’t find “every 30 days” written into law, you will be expected to show that you have a sensible system in place and that your kits are fit for purpose.

Practical checking intervals by workplace type

In reality, how often you check your kits depends on how busy and how risky your workplace is. As a starting point:

• Low‑risk offices and similar environments
  A check every three months is usually reasonable, plus a quick check after any incident where items have been used.
• Busier or higher‑risk workplaces (warehouses, workshops, venues, construction)
  A monthly check is safer, because items are more likely to be used, damaged or exposed to dust, dirt or moisture.
• Remote sites, vehicles and lone workers
  These often benefit from more frequent spot checks or checks tied to vehicle inspections or supervisor visits, because it is harder to see when something has gone missing.

Whatever interval you choose, it should follow from your needs assessment and be written down, not just kept “in someone’s head”.

What to look for when you check a first aid kit

A good check is more than a quick glance at the box. At each inspection, your appointed person should look for:

• Missing or used items
  Plasters, dressings, wipes and gloves are often taken and not replaced. Anything used should be replaced as soon as practical, not just at the next scheduled check.
• Expiry dates
  Many first aid items – including sterile dressings, saline pods, eye wash, burn dressings and adhesive plasters – have printed expiry dates. Out‑of‑date items should be removed and replaced.
• Damage and contamination
  Packaging that is torn, damp or dirty may no longer be sterile. These items should be replaced even if the expiry date has not yet passed.
• Suitability of contents
  Do the contents still make sense for the work you do now? If your risks, headcount or layout have changed since you first set up your kits, the contents and number of kits may need adjusting.
• Visibility and access
  Is the kit still clearly signed, easy to reach and in a place staff expect it to be? Changes to furniture or layouts can quietly make kits harder to find.

A simple checklist or contents list inside or next to each kit makes this much easier and more consistent.

Who should do the checks – and how to record them

HSE expects employers to appoint someone to take charge of first aid arrangements. In many workplaces, that person is also best placed to oversee kit checks.

A defensible system usually includes:

• Named responsibility
  An appointed person or designated first aider in each workplace or area, with first aid kits clearly “owned” rather than left to nobody in particular.
• A simple, repeatable process
  A short checklist to run through on each visit – for example, monthly for higher‑risk areas, quarterly for low‑risk offices – so checks are done the same way every time.
• A basic log
  A record of date, who checked, what was replaced and any issues found. This can be a sheet kept with the kit, an online form, or a central register for multi‑site employers.

If something serious happens, being able to show a regular check record is much more persuasive than saying “we think someone looks at the kits from time to time”.

Signs your current system isn’t working

Common red flags we see when we carry out first aid kit audits include:

• Nobody can say confidently when kits were last checked.
• Dressings or other sterile items have expired.
• Kits are half‑empty, or full of random items nobody remembers adding.
• First aiders in different areas assume “someone else” is responsible.
• All kits are stocked the same way, regardless of how the areas are used.

If any of these sound familiar, your checking interval probably isn’t the only issue – the ownership and process need tightening.

When to consider a managed restocking service

For some organisations, especially those with multiple sites, high staff turnover or limited health and safety capacity, managing kit checks internally becomes a constant low‑level headache.

A managed restocking service can help if:

• You struggle to keep checks on schedule across several locations.
• You want an independent pair of eyes and a clear audit trail.
• You’d rather your office or facilities team focused on core work rather than chasing expiry dates.

Our managed first aid kit service for workplaces includes:

• An initial review of your kit provision and recommended check intervals based on your risks.
• Scheduled visits to inspect, restock and document each kit.
• Clear records of every visit for your compliance files.

You still keep control of your first aid needs assessment and training; we take over the repetitive task of keeping kits ready, stocked and documented.