An office emergency is any situation that disrupts, threatens, shuts down operations, or causes physical and environmental damage to the workplace and its workers. Companies often prepare for emergencies by spending large sums on disaster insurance to cover economic and physical damages resulting from accidents.
So why not spend as much money to protect the workers?
This year, ensuring your office emergency kit is up-to-date and ready for anything Mother Nature throws at you is crucial.
Office Emergency Statistics for 2026
While your experience might differ, one report found that 80% of U.S. employees have experienced emergencies at work firsthand, yet more than a third (35%) don’t feel prepared to manage them.
In the U.S., 43% of employees have undergone an active shooter drill, and 28% have practiced for a cyber threat, while most American organizations have written plans for natural disasters (83%), cyber threats (65%), and active shooters (62%). Despite that, only 59% of U.S. employees said they’d participated in an emergency drill or simulation, and 20% reported receiving no emergency training at all.
94% of small-business leaders believe they’re ready to handle disasters, but only 26% actually have a disaster plan in place, and the average SMB has completed just 3.5 of 17 recommended preparedness steps.
An estimated 57% of civilian deaths from hemorrhage could have been prevented with adequate bleeding control.
For disaster preparedness, only 54% of businesses have a company-wide disaster plan. In 2023, there were 399 natural disaster-related hazards worldwide, a number that continues to increase. If you’re part of the 46% without a disaster plan, are you ready for an emergency?
Office Emergency Regulations for 2026
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration mandates that all businesses have an emergency plan. This plan includes emergency reporting, evacuation protocols, and a method for accounting for all employees.
Under 29 CFR 1910.38, employers with 10 or more employees must maintain a written Emergency Action Plan that is kept on-site and available for employee review.
Employers with fewer than 10 employees can communicate the plan verbally.
The plan must include at least six elements:
- Reporting procedures for a fire or other emergency
- Evacuation procedures, including primary and secondary exit-route assignments for each work area
- Procedures for employees who remain to shut down critical operations before evacuating
- Employee accountability procedures to confirm everyone is out and accounted for
- Rescue and medical duty procedures for employees assigned to those roles
- Named contacts — the employee(s) who can explain the plan or answer questions about it
The Federal Emergency Management Agency advises workplaces to have office emergency kits that include water, non-perishable food, first-aid supplies, flashlights, and batteries.
Different states and cities may have specific regulations, so please pay attention to state and federal laws throughout the year.
Maintaining Office Continuity
During extreme disasters, outside help may not be able to arrive for several days. The supplies in your emergency kit help workers evacuate or shelter in place for an extended period.
Offices need a trauma first aid kit for office first responders to treat employees severely injured but cannot get emergency medical assistance immediately. Office emergency first aid kits can be the difference between life and death for your employees.
Also, some businesses may have an emergency response plan that requires certain employees to remain at the facility to maintain critical systems.
Keeping an injured employee stable until medical professionals arrive saves lives.
Office Emergency Kit Checklist
Office emergency kits should have the supplies necessary to help employees escape danger or shelter-in-place at work until emergency relief has arrived.
This includes having a stock of long-term shelf-life food and water as well as enough supplies to maintain healthy hygiene habits.
Each emergency kit provides the basic needs of the employee, including:
- Food and water
- Breathing protection
- First aid
- Shelter
- Communication
- Light
- Tools
- Hygiene and sanitation
These supplies cost a business about $5 to $6 per employee annually.
Review our office survival kit checklist to equip your office with all the necessary supplies to survive several days without electricity, food, and water during an emergency.
Additional Emergency Supplies for Your Office
Outside of the traditional emergency office supply kits, there are some specific scenarios that every office needs to prepare for. These include preparation for building collapses, unexpected scattered debris, and the need for emergency shelter.
While uncommon, these disasters have life-threatening consequences. What’s nice about many of these supplies is that they do not expire; just buy them once, and you’ll be set for decades to come.
Office Supplies for Search and Rescue
When a catastrophic event causes severe damage to your building, search and rescue tools protect trapped or crushed employees.
Remember, any building with structural damage may also have unseen damage. If you are planning on searching for or rescuing an injured employee, keep your eyes peeled for potential building impairments that could cause further injury.
Suggested Items:
- Leather-palmed work gloves
- Safety goggles
- Pry bar
Office Supplies for Breathing and Lung Protection
Masks help reduce the spread of germs and protect you from potentially dangerous particles in the air. While any mask offers some protection, dust masks are always best.
Well-made masks protect people from dust, smoke, and dangerous fumes. Buy brand-name dust masks to guarantee your employees are protected from the elements during an office emergency.
Also, encourage your employees to hold onto their masks while handing them out.
Suggested Items:
- Dust masks
- Respirator mask for smoke protection
Light and Communication Supplies
You probably have candles and flashlights in your home, but do you have enough around the office in an emergency? We recommend keeping a collection of flashlights around the office (with regularly checked batteries), as candles can sometimes lead to accidental damage.
In addition to flashlights or light sticks, your office should invest in a solar or battery-powered radio. Communication is essential for staying safe in an emergency, and radios provide the latest information to everyone on your staff.
Suggested Items:
Hygiene and Sanitation Supplies
In an office emergency, bathroom access may not be available – especially in a lockdown situation. Keep hygiene and sanitation items on hand to maintain health and safety in the office until help arrives.
Some of these products are available at your local grocery store, but others, such as the portable toilet, must be purchased at an online retailer.
Suggested Items:
- Portable toilet
- Toilet bags
- Deodorizer packets
- Toilet paper rolls
- Vinyl gloves
- Sanitary towelettes
- Hand sanitizer
Bleeding Control Kits
Standard OSHA first aid coverage does not require tourniquets or hemostatic gauze, but for facilities in construction, manufacturing, energy, or logistics, a bleeding control kit stocked with a tourniquet, hemostatic gauze, and trauma shears ensures you are prepared for any type of emergency.
Suggested Items:
Need Help Building Your Office Emergency Kit? LifeSecure Emergency Solutions is Here to Help.
Making small investments to prepare employers and their families for a disaster now is the best way for a business to be secure in the future. At LifeSecure Emergency Solutions, we understand how quickly a situation can deteriorate during a disaster which is why we’ve dedicated our lives to protecting others.
From office emergency kits to disaster preparedness guides, our team is here to help you protect yourself and your employees from unexpected dangers.
Download your copy of LifeSecure Emergency Solution’s office emergency supplies checklist, and post it where everyone can see in order to be prepared for any emergency.
