Safe Opening & Combination Change: getting ready

A software update reset the clinic's small safe overnight, and the receptionist's usual code now does nothing on a keypad that lights up but goes no further.

Worth answering before the call

Is the lock a dial, a keypad, or a key? Is the combination lost, forgotten, or simply not working anymore? Is there a data plate or any paperwork you can find?

How often should a safe combination be changed?

There is no fixed schedule; the sensible trigger is a change in who knows it, such as an employee or manager leaving, rather than a set number of months or years. A combination that has only ever been known to current staff generally does not need changing on a routine basis, since the lock itself does not wear out from correct use the way a mechanical part might.

Do drop safes or under-counter cash safes work the same way as a larger floor safe?

The identification step is the same regardless of size, but the lock inside is not assumed from the safe's size: a small drop safe or under-counter unit can carry anything from a basic keypad to a high-security lock, so each is identified on its own before manipulation, reset or a combination change proceeds, with the same care around authority and aftercare applying equally.