3:24 mins.
Video
More time with service users, less time with supplies.
Storage
What’s on this page
What’s on this page
Good storing practices can have many benefits.
A place for everything and everything in its place. This can also apply to the storage of harm reduction supplies. Having an organized storage space can help you maintain healthy inventory levels and help staff find what they are looking for with ease. This can lead to more time to engage with individuals.
What Can Go Wrong?
Click any problem box below and flip the card to see how it impacts your program or the service user.
- Problem -
The storage area is messy and disorganized.
- Impact -
Inventory can easily be overlooked and expire.
- Problem -
The storage area is open for any staff to come and take supplies.
- Impact -
When everyone has access with no recording mechanism, it is impossible to guarantee you have the supplies to refill a community agency or to provide to an individual.
- Problem -
Supplies for the community agencies are put into a box and taped, but the box isn't labelled.
- Impact -
A community agency receives a box that was intended for someone else. An extra step is needed to get the box to where it belongs.
- Problem -
The storage area is not regularly maintained and cleaned.
- Impact -
Hazards and risks go unnoticed, and supplies are more likely to get damaged and become dusty.
- Problem -
Old storage design that has not evolved with the program.
- Impact -
Can make it harder to assess stock rotation and doing inventory counts.
- Problem -
Harm reduction supplies are stored alongside all inventory for your organization.
- Impact -
Without a posted storeroom map it can take longer for staff to find what they need.
You don’t want to spend too much of your time in the storage room looking for the supplies your service users want.
Suggestions for Storing Supplies
Hang a Poster
Place a poster showing the supplies in the area where they are stored. (See Download Section)
Labels
Label shelves so supplies are easy to find. (See Download Section)
Storage Area Map
Put a map on the wall that identifies the locations for all supplies in the storage area.
Store Boxes with Labels Facing Forward
Use "FIFO" – new inventory is placed in the back, while older inventory is placed closer to the front for immediate use.
Store in Families
In families, all inhalation supplies are stored together in one area, and injection supplies are stored together in a different location.
What’s in this video
0:12
Learn storage area best practices;
0:45
Learn about FIFO;
1:41
See how you can store items in "Families".
Downloadable Resources
Document, Storeroom Labels
Instructions for Storeroom Labels
Written instructions on how to create and use the storeroom labels provided in this Toolkit.
Video
Storeroom Labels
Storeroom Labels
Document
Storing Supplies Companion Guide
Learn how to best track and store supplies, so everything is easier to manage.
Move skids and clean underneath them at least every six months.
Denise
- Storage
Label boxes with upcoming expiry dates with “Use First.”
Ella
- Storage
Use a communication board in your storage space to share information with your team, such as upcoming orders that need to be filled, or items that are running low.
Sticky
- Storage
