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Workplace Emergency Kits: What Should You Actually Have on Hand?

When an emergency happens, nobody wants to discover that the first aid kit is missing half its supplies, the flashlight batteries are dead, or the emergency response bag is sitting somewhere nobody can find.

Unfortunately, that is exactly why emergency preparedness needs to happen before an emergency.

So, what should you actually have on hand?

The answer depends on your workplace.

A construction site may need different emergency supplies than a manufacturing facility. A utility crew working in the field has different challenges than an office. A warehouse, school, contractor, or remote jobsite may all need different equipment based on their hazards, number of employees, location, and emergency response capabilities.

There is no single “one-size-fits-all” workplace emergency kit.

Instead, think about what your employees could realistically encounter, what they may need immediately, and how quickly outside emergency services can reach them.

Start With the Basics: First Aid

First aid supplies are one of the most obvious parts of an emergency preparedness plan.

OSHA’s general industry standard, 29 CFR 1910.151, requires adequate first aid supplies to be readily available when the circumstances covered by the standard apply.

For construction, OSHA’s 29 CFR 1926.50 requires first aid supplies to be easily accessible when required. Construction first aid kits also have specific requirements for being kept in weatherproof containers and checked before being sent to each job and at least weekly on each job so used supplies can be replaced.

That does not mean every workplace needs the same size or type of kit.

Consider:

  • Number of employees
  • Number and location of work areas
  • Distance from medical facilities
  • Types of injuries that could occur
  • Whether employees work indoors or outdoors
  • Whether employees travel between jobsites
  • Whether the workplace has trained first aid responders
  • Whether the work involves chemicals, machinery, vehicles, heights, or other hazards

OSHA also recognizes that larger or multiple operations may need additional first aid kits, additional types of equipment, and larger quantities of supplies.

In other words, the size of your workforce and the hazards of your workplace matter.

What Might Belong in a Workplace Emergency Kit?

Depending on your workplace, an emergency kit may include:

First Aid Supplies

  • Adhesive bandages
  • Gauze and wound dressings
  • Medical tape
  • Antiseptic wipes
  • Disposable gloves
  • Scissors
  • Cold packs
  • Burn care supplies
  • Eye pads
  • Emergency blankets
  • CPR barriers
  • First aid instructions

Larger or higher-risk workplaces may need additional supplies and more specialized equipment.

The goal is not to build the biggest kit possible.

The goal is to have the right supplies, in the right quantities, where employees can actually get to them.

Consider a Modular Emergency Response System

This is where things can get interesting.

Not every workplace needs the same emergency supplies. A construction company, manufacturing facility, utility crew, warehouse, and office can have very different risks.

That is one reason a modular emergency response system can make sense.

One example we carry at Southern Safety Supply is the Aero Healthcare Modulator Emergency Response Bag.

Instead of putting everything into one giant compartment and hoping someone can find what they need when the pressure is on, the Modulator system organizes supplies into clearly identified modules.

That can make it easier to identify and access the type of supplies needed for a particular situation.

The system can also be configured for different response needs, including options for trauma care, bleeding control, burns, eye injuries, sprains and fractures, general first aid, and AED/CPR preparation.

There are also different bag and case configurations, including options designed for more demanding environments.

Why Go Modular?

A modular emergency response system may help you:

  • Organize supplies by type of injury or response need
  • Find critical supplies more quickly
  • Replace or replenish specific components
  • Build a kit around the hazards of your workplace
  • Choose a portable bag, backpack, or rugged case
  • Add equipment based on your emergency response plan
  • Keep supplies organized instead of digging through one large bag

And that last part matters.

During an emergency, “I know it’s in here somewhere” is not exactly a great response strategy.

A modular system is not necessary for every workplace. A basic first aid kit may be perfectly appropriate for a lower-risk environment.

The important part is matching the emergency response equipment to the workplace.

What About AEDs?

An automated external defibrillator, or AED, may be an important part of an emergency response plan depending on the workplace and its needs.

If your workplace has an AED, don’t stop at purchasing the device.

Make sure employees know:

  • Where it is located
  • How to access it
  • How to recognize the emergency situations covered by your training
  • Who is trained to respond
  • How emergency medical services will be contacted
  • What other emergency equipment is located nearby

Some emergency response systems can be configured to carry an AED along with other trauma and first aid supplies.

For example, Aero Healthcare offers Modulator configurations that combine emergency response supplies with AED equipment and additional bleeding-control supplies.

That type of setup can be useful when the goal is to create a centralized, mobile emergency response system rather than keeping several pieces of equipment scattered around a facility.

Don’t Forget Bleeding Control

Serious bleeding can become a life-threatening emergency very quickly.

Depending on your workplace hazards, bleeding-control supplies may be appropriate in addition to a standard first aid kit.

Potential supplies can include:

  • Pressure dressings
  • Hemostatic dressings
  • Tourniquets
  • Trauma shears
  • Gloves
  • Additional wound dressings

The right equipment depends on your workplace risk assessment and employee training.

For higher-risk environments, it may make sense to have dedicated bleeding-control supplies that are clearly identified and quickly accessible.

Spill Response Supplies

First aid is only one part of emergency preparedness.

If your workplace stores, handles, or transports chemicals, oils, fuels, or other liquids, spill response supplies may also belong in your emergency preparedness plan.

Depending on the hazards involved, that could include:

  • Absorbent pads
  • Absorbent socks
  • Spill pillows
  • Disposal bags
  • Protective gloves
  • Protective eyewear
  • Caution or warning signs
  • Chemical-specific absorbents
  • Spill kits designed for particular materials

The type of spill kit you need should match the materials present in your workplace.

A kit designed for an oil spill is not automatically the right choice for every chemical spill.

Your emergency plan should also explain who is responsible for responding, when employees should evacuate instead, and when outside emergency assistance is needed.

Emergency Lighting and Communication

Power outages and other emergencies can quickly turn a normal workplace into a difficult place to navigate.

Consider keeping emergency supplies such as:

  • Flashlights
  • Headlamps
  • Spare batteries
  • Battery-powered radios
  • Backup communication equipment
  • Portable chargers
  • Emergency contact information

Think about where these supplies are stored, too.

A flashlight locked in an office that employees cannot reach during a power failure isn’t particularly helpful.

Emergency equipment should be accessible and employees should know where to find it.

Severe Weather Supplies

Your emergency kit should reflect the emergencies most likely to affect your location.

Depending on your area and workplace, that could include:

  • Severe thunderstorms
  • Tornadoes
  • Flooding
  • Winter weather
  • Extreme heat
  • Power outages
  • Wildfires
  • Other regional hazards

For shelter-in-place situations, emergency supplies may include water, flashlights, batteries, first aid supplies, communication equipment, and other items identified in your emergency plan.

OSHA’s emergency preparedness guidance also recommends considering emergency equipment and supplies as part of the overall emergency plan.

The important thing is to plan for the emergencies that are realistic for your workplace.

Construction Sites Need a Little More Thought

Construction sites change constantly.

The crew changes. The work changes. The building changes. Access points move. Hazards change.

Your emergency supplies need to keep up.

Construction employers should consider:

  • Where first aid supplies are located
  • How employees will reach them
  • How emergency responders will access the site
  • How injured employees will be transported
  • Communication methods
  • Changing evacuation routes
  • Temporary work areas
  • Severe weather
  • Falls and rescue situations
  • Trenching and excavation hazards
  • Electrical hazards
  • Hot work and fire risks
  • Chemical and spill hazards

For construction, OSHA specifically requires provisions for prompt medical attention and requires first aid supplies to be accessible when required.

The first aid kit also needs to be checked before being sent out on each job and at least weekly on each job, with expended items replaced.

That makes one thing very clear:

Buying the kit is not the same thing as maintaining the kit.

Don’t Forget Eyewash

If employees could be exposed to injurious corrosive materials, OSHA’s general industry standard requires suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes and body to be available for immediate emergency use.

That means a first aid kit alone may not address the emergency response needs of a workplace where corrosive materials are present.

Depending on the hazard, your emergency response plan may need to include appropriate eyewash or emergency shower equipment located where employees can reach it quickly.

Again, this is about matching your equipment to the actual hazards.

Location Matters Almost as Much as the Supplies

Imagine having a fully stocked emergency response bag.

Now imagine it is locked in a cabinet on the other side of the building.

Not quite as useful.

Emergency equipment should be easy to locate and accessible to the people who may need it.

Consider:

  • Is the location clearly marked?
  • Do employees know where it is?
  • Can employees reach it quickly?
  • Is it accessible after normal business hours?
  • Is it protected from weather when necessary?
  • Is it portable if the work location changes?
  • Are multiple kits needed?
  • Do contractors and temporary employees know where supplies are located?

Your emergency plan should answer these questions before an emergency happens.

Check the Kit. Then Check It Again.

Emergency supplies have a bad habit of disappearing.

Bandages get used. Gloves get opened. Batteries go dead. Products expire. Someone borrows the flashlight and forgets to put it back.

And sometimes the emergency kit becomes the place where random stuff goes to retire.

Don’t let that happen.

Emergency equipment should be inspected regularly to make sure:

  • Supplies are present
  • Used items have been replaced
  • Expired items have been removed
  • Packaging is intact
  • Batteries are charged or replaced
  • Equipment is clean and ready
  • Emergency contact information is current
  • Employees know where the equipment is located

For construction operations, remember that OSHA’s 1926.50 standard specifically calls for first aid kits to be checked before being sent out on each job and at least weekly on each job.

Your Emergency Kit Should Match Your Emergency Plan

An emergency kit should not exist by itself.

It should support your Emergency Action Plan.

Your plan should address questions such as:

  • What emergencies are most likely to happen?
  • Who calls 911?
  • Who provides first aid?
  • Where are first aid supplies located?
  • Where is the AED?
  • Where are spill kits located?
  • Where do employees evacuate?
  • Where should employees shelter in place?
  • How will employees be accounted for?
  • Who meets emergency responders?
  • How will visitors and contractors be accounted for?
  • When should employees attempt to respond, and when should they evacuate?

Your emergency supplies should support those procedures.

If the plan says employees will shelter in a specific location, that location may need appropriate emergency supplies.

If a construction crew moves from one area of a project to another, emergency equipment may need to move with them.

If a manufacturing operation has specific chemical hazards, the emergency response equipment should reflect those hazards.

Workplace Emergency Kit Reality Check

Take a few minutes and look at your current emergency supplies.

Can you answer “yes” to these questions?

  • Do we have appropriate first aid supplies?
  • Are the supplies readily accessible?
  • Do we have enough supplies for the number of employees and work areas?
  • Are supplies appropriate for our workplace hazards?
  • Do we have appropriate spill response supplies?
  • Do we have emergency lighting and communication supplies where needed?
  • Do employees know where emergency equipment is located?
  • Are emergency supplies checked regularly?
  • Are expired and used supplies replaced?
  • Do construction kits get checked as required?
  • Do we have appropriate eyewash or emergency flushing equipment where corrosive exposure is possible?
  • Do we have an AED if our emergency plan calls for one?
  • Are bleeding-control supplies appropriate for our workplace hazards?
  • Does our emergency equipment support our Emergency Action Plan?
  • Have we actually tested our emergency procedures?

If you found a few boxes you couldn’t check, that’s not necessarily a problem.

It means you found something to work on before you need it.

Emergency Kit Reality Checklist

The Bottom Line

A workplace emergency kit isn’t about buying the biggest kit you can find and putting it in a closet.

It is about having the right supplies, in the right place, in the right quantities, and ready to use.

For some workplaces, that may mean a basic first aid kit.

For others, it may mean a more comprehensive modular emergency response system with trauma supplies, bleeding control, AED equipment, spill response supplies, emergency lighting, or other specialized equipment.

The best emergency kit is the one that matches your workplace and supports your emergency plan.

And remember, preparedness doesn’t end when the kit arrives.

Check it. Maintain it. Replenish it. Know where it is. Make sure your people know, too.

Because discovering that your emergency kit is missing what you need is not the kind of surprise anyone wants on a Tuesday morning.

Need Help Building Your Workplace Emergency Kit?

Southern Safety Supply can help you look at your workplace hazards, employees, work environment, and emergency response needs to determine what supplies make sense for your operation.

We carry a wide range of first aid, emergency response, spill response, PPE, eyewash, AED, and safety equipment for workplaces of all sizes.

And if you’re tired of finding out you’re out of something when you need it, that’s where our NEVER OUT™ Inventory Management service comes in. Regular inventory checks help keep essential safety supplies stocked, organized, and ready.

Preparedness works better when somebody actually checks the supplies.

Keep Building Your Emergency Preparedness Plan

This article is part of our National Preparedness Month workplace safety series.

Continue learning:

And don’t forget to download our Workplace Emergency Preparedness Checklist to help identify gaps in your current plan.