PPE Storage Do’s and Don’ts for Healthcare Facilities
Select a Clean, Dry Storage Site.
Personal Protective Equipment shall be stored in a designated area away from moisture, dust and direct sunlight. Shelving or cupboards appropriate to the setting should be used to keep supplies off the floor and enable staff to inspect and clean the area.
See manufacturers’ storage instructions for each product. Health New Zealand’s PPE guidance suggests a dry environment, shielded from sunlight and maintained at appropriate temperature conditions, taking precedence for manufacturer recommendations.
Avoid any dead space for a PPE cupboard. Areas that could be subject to washbasin splashes, leaks, heat or cleaning chemicals are not appropriate choices.
For healthcare facilities in the UAE, check the receiving and temporary holding areas and the main storeroom. Products should not be left unpacked under unsuitable conditions.
Protect Packaging and Product Labels: Do
Store unused PPE in the protective packaging provided by the manufacturer until needed. Keep the labels with the product reference, size, batch number, expiry information and storage instructions.
Use the intended dispenser packaging for disposable gloves, not an unlabelled drawer for loose gloves. For example, Ansell’s medical glove instructions indicate that they should be stored in the original packaging, away from sunlight, in a cool, dry place.
Do not combine different sizes, products or batches in one loose container. This makes identification and stock-taking more difficult.
Separate the product packaging from the outer transport cartons that protect it. Follow your facility’s infection prevention policy for disposing of external shipping cartons, but retain packaging that protects the product itself.
PPE should be clearly organised and easily accessible.
Staff should be able to locate the PPE they need without searching through umpteen cupboards.
Sort supplies by type of product, size and approved use. Clearly differentiate examination gloves from sterile surgical gloves and medical masks from respirators. The shelf labels must correspond to the products behind them.
Don’t cram extra boxes into every available nook and cranny. Overcrowding can obscure expiry labels, impede cleaning and damage packaging.
Don’t stack heavy cartons on top of masks or respirators. Detmold Medical, a mask producer, suggests storing products cleanly, dry, protected from crushing and easy to get to.
Keep quantities at approved points of use manageable and replenish them from protected reserve stock.
Rotate stock by expiry date.
A full shelf can conceal products approaching the end of their usable shelf life.
If PPE has dates, use a first-expiry-first-out system. If still good to use, place the items that will expire soonest in a place where they will be picked up first. Verify the real dates; don't just assume the oldest delivery is the one that expires first.
Write down useful info, e.g.:
- Product name – Reference – Size.
- Lot or batch number.
- Storage quantity and place.
- The expiration or shelf life stated by the manufacturer.
NIOSH stresses the importance of keeping track of shelf-life information for respirators and scheduling stock rotation. Storage limits vary between models, and this variability means that one temperature or shelf-life rule cannot be applied to all products.
Do not mix expired or questionable products with usable stock. Clearly separate them for assessment and action according to the facility’s procedure.
Keep Clean Stock Away From Used Items.
Unused PPE should be stored in a protected place. Appropriate disposal or reprocessing workflow for used protective equipment.
Reusable items shall be processed in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions and the approved procedures of the facility. The CDC recommends that reusable PPE used for environmental cleaning be cleaned, disinfected and allowed to dry completely before storage.
Used equipment should not be placed next to unopened supplies, even temporarily.
Additionally, please refrain from automatically returning excess PPE from patient rooms to central clean storage. Alberta Health Services advises that once PPE has been taken out of clean storage and placed in patient rooms or on supply carts, it should not be returned. Develop a clear local policy to assist staff in handling these items.
Why Select Elumia Med Store?
Elumia Med Store has an online catalogue of medical consumables, including nitrile powder-free gloves and three-ply face masks. The website also details delivery across the UAE, providing a place for healthcare buyers to review supply needs on a day-to-day basis.
Planning your next PPE order? Let the team know your approved product specs, sizes, quantities and when you require delivery. Please confirm current availability, pack sizes, expiry information and manufacturer storage instructions where appropriate.
“This helps to tie in purchasing decisions with the space and stock rotation arrangements already in place at your facility.”
Concluding Thoughts
Develop good habits to ensure proper storage of PPE: protect products from inappropriate conditions, keep labels and packaging intact, separate clean and used items, and keep expiry dates visible.
These checks should be combined with realistic purchase quantities and clear responsibilities for staff. A good storage area helps you find supplies easily, supports stock rotation and helps reduce preventable waste.