If certain medicines that are to be in the FA box have storage temperature specified, how are they to be managed when the work environment is harsh or ambient. Do we have to create the storage temperature specified for the FA box at each such locations?
Anyone have faced such a question from any audit... any actions done on such ?
The first question I would ask is what pharmaceuticals do we NEED? Then determine the ambient conditions to satisfy both storage and availability/access when the need requires.
In my machining operation, we kept first aid stuff like bandages, antiseptics in kits scattered throughout the facility.
(Kit contained full line of adhesive strips, antiseptic packets, burn dressings, antiseptic wipes and sprays)
Even though our entire facility was air conditioned, we did not keep pain killers (aspirin, ibuprofen, acetaminophen) or any "ingestibles"
(unit dose medicinals for pain, upset stomachs and cold symptoms) for ready access, but required identity and sign out before distribution. Everyone was trained in minor first aid and CPR and recognizing when professional help needed to be called.
Each first aid station had an inventory grid and sign out (initials) if supplies were used.
Our company did NOT have an experience of employees "shopping" the kits to resupply homes, but I was aware of suppliers and customers who did have that experience. We learned strategies from the company which supplied our kits to reduce or eliminate such "inventory shrinkage."
Bottom Line
In over ten years, we were lucky to have only minor cuts and scrapes using bandages and antiseptics from our kits, and some headaches, toothaches, etc. which necessitated over-the-counter pain relievers from our limited access supplies. I can't speak, however, for any drugs which employees brought from home since we did not test for drug use.
We routinely discarded ALL supplies on an annual basis and replaced them with fresh stock (nothing worse than a Band Aid that won't stick because the adhesive was old.)