Office Emergency Kit: Workplace Preparedness Guide
You spend 8+ hours a day at work: more waking hours at the office than anywhere except your bed. Yet most people have zero emergency supplies at their desk. An office emergency preparedness kit bridges the gap between your home supplies and wherever you are when something goes wrong: the earthquake, the building fire, the lockdown, or the day you have to walk home because the trains stop running.
This guide covers workplace emergency preparedness for both individual employees (what to keep at your desk) and HR managers or facilities teams (what to provide for the whole office).
Your Personal Desk Emergency Kit (What Every Employee Needs)
Your desk kit handles the scenarios where you’re at work and can’t leave immediately: a lockdown, a power outage, or sheltering in place. It supplements your get-home bag and covers the gap between arriving at work and getting home.
- Water (1 litre minimum): in a reusable bottle; enough for 4–8 hours sheltering in place
- Snacks (1-day supply): non-perishable: granola bars, nuts, crackers, peanut butter packets
- Prescription medications (3-day supply): in a labelled container; rotate regularly
- Over-the-counter basics: pain reliever, antacid, antihistamine
- Phone charger cable + USB adapter
- Portable power bank (10,000+ mAh): charge your phone if the building loses power
- Small flashlight or headlamp: navigate a dark office building safely
- Comfortable walking shoes: your work shoes may be inadequate for walking miles home
- Emergency contact card (printed): your essential contacts without relying on your phone
- Dust/N95 mask (2+): for smoke, debris, or chemical events
- Emergency mylar blanket (1): warmth if HVAC fails or you’re waiting outside
- Cash ($20–$50 in small bills): card readers may be down
The Office Get-Home Bag
A get-home bag (GHB) is designed for one scenario: your car is unavailable or inaccessible, and you need to get from your office to your home on foot. This is a realistic scenario in earthquake zones, during major disasters, and following significant transit disruptions.
Keep this under your desk or in a locker. Contents:
- Water (1.5 litres) + water filter straw
- Food (enough for one full day)
- Comfortable walking shoes (pre-broken-in)
- Printed map of your route home (with alternates)
- Headlamp + batteries
- First aid kit (compact)
- Emergency poncho or rain jacket
- Phone charger + power bank
- Cash ($50)
- Emergency mylar blanket
- Whistle
- Dust mask (N95)
See our full guide: Get Home Bag (GHB): What It Is & How to Build One.
Office-Wide Emergency Preparedness (For HR & Facilities)
OSHA requires certain emergency preparedness measures for businesses. Beyond compliance, a well-prepared office can prevent injuries, reduce chaos, and significantly improve outcomes for employees in any emergency. Here’s what every office should have:
Emergency Supplies
- First aid kits (1 per 25 employees, accessible throughout the building)
- AED (Automated External Defibrillator): required by many state laws; saves lives in cardiac events
- Emergency water (enough for all employees for 24 hours)
- Emergency food (granola bars, non-perishable snacks for all staff)
- Flashlights and lanterns for each floor
- Emergency radio (NOAA weather alert)
- Fire extinguishers (maintained and current)
Emergency Planning
- Written Emergency Action Plan (required by OSHA for businesses with 10+ employees)
- Designated emergency wardens for each floor
- Two evacuation routes from every work area
- Assembly point and roll call procedure
- Plan for employees with disabilities
- Communication plan: how employees are notified and how they report in
Recommended Products
Ready America Individual Preparedness Kit: Under Desk
A compact pre-packaged individual office emergency kit that fits under a desk. Covers 72-hour basic needs for one person: food, water, light, and first aid. An excellent starting point for employees who want to be immediately prepared without building from scratch.
- 72-hour supply for 1 person
- Compact: fits under a desk or in a locker
- Includes food, water pouches, first aid, light
Anker 10,000mAh Portable Power Bank
The compact Anker 10,000mAh is the ideal desk drawer power bank: small enough to forget, powerful enough for 2–3 full phone charges. An essential item for every office desk kit.
- 10,000mAh: 2–3 full phone charges
- Compact enough for a desk drawer
- USB-A and USB-C outputs
Earthquake / Office Emergency Kit for 10 People
For HR managers and office managers building out workplace preparedness, a multi-person office emergency kit covers all employees at once. Look for kits that include food, water, first aid, and light for 10 or more people in a cabinet or storage unit.
- Covers 10 employees for 72 hours
- Stored in a labelled cabinet or storage unit
- Includes first aid, food, water, and light
Office Emergency Preparedness FAQ
Is an office required by law to have emergency supplies?
OSHA requires businesses with 10 or more employees to have a written Emergency Action Plan (EAP) and to maintain first aid supplies. Specific supply requirements vary by state, industry, and workplace type. Many states and cities have additional requirements for earthquake or hurricane-prone areas. Check your local OSHA regulations and your local emergency management agency’s guidelines.
What should I keep in my desk for emergencies?
At minimum: water (1 litre), snacks (1-day supply), prescription medications (3-day supply), a phone charger and power bank, a small flashlight, comfortable walking shoes, and cash. Everything should fit in a single desk drawer or small bag. See the full desk kit list above.
What’s the difference between a desk kit and a get-home bag?
A desk kit handles sheltering in place at the office: power outages, lockdowns, waiting out a storm. A get-home bag handles evacuation on foot: when you need to walk home and normal transportation is unavailable. Both serve different scenarios and should both be maintained at your workplace.