Emergency equipment every office needs
Most offices never need their emergency equipment. The ones that do need it working, within reach and understood by the people in the room. Here is a plain checklist.
Start with a written plan
OSHA’s emergency action plan standard, 29 CFR 1910.38, calls for a written plan that is kept in the workplace and available to employees. Employers with 10 or fewer employees may communicate the plan orally. At a minimum the plan covers how to report an emergency, evacuation procedures and exit route assignments, how everyone is accounted for afterward, who performs rescue or medical duties, and who to ask for more information.
Equipment supports the plan. It does not replace it.
The equipment checklist
First aid supplies
OSHA requires adequate first aid supplies to be readily available and, where no clinic or hospital is in near proximity, a person trained to give first aid (29 CFR 1910.151(b)). Put the kit where people can reach it quickly and have someone check it on a schedule.
Fire extinguishers and alarms
Where extinguishers are provided, they should be inspected and kept in working order, and employees who are expected to use them should be trained. A distinctive alarm signal tells people to evacuate. Some employers choose to evacuate rather than fight fires. Your local fire marshal can tell you what applies to your building.
Eyewash or drench facilities
Required where employees may be exposed to injurious corrosive materials, and placed within the work area for immediate use (29 CFR 1910.151(c)). Most offices do not need them, but cleaning-chemical storage and some building maintenance areas may.
An automated external defibrillator (AED)
Federal OSHA has no general rule requiring one in offices, though some states, cities and building codes do. Sudden cardiac arrest is time critical, and many employers choose to have an AED with trained responders. Check what applies where you are.
Flashlights, exit signs and a contact list
Keep working flashlights near exits, keep exit routes clear and marked, and post emergency numbers and the plan’s contact names where people will see them.
Check it on a schedule
A monthly walk-through catches the usual failures: an expired item, a blocked exit, a flashlight with dead batteries, a kit that was borrowed from and never refilled. Record the date and who checked. After any incident, review what was used and replace it the same day.
When someone is hurt
Call 911 first for a serious injury, chest pain, trouble breathing, heavy bleeding or loss of consciousness. For an injury that is not life threatening, an occupational medicine clinic can evaluate it and advise on return to work.
For the contents of the kit, see the most important things a workplace first aid kit needs. If staff work outdoors in winter, add the steps in cold stress at work. Preventing the injury is cheaper than responding to it, as covered in ergonomics and injury prevention. Nova Medical Centers publishes more occupational health guidance on injuries, testing and preparedness. For care after an injury, see our occupational health overview.
This page is general information. It is not medical or legal advice and does not replace the rules that apply to your workplace.
References
About the clinical team behind this page
Dr. Pelham Williams IV is Regional Medical Director for Nova’s Southeast region, based in Atlanta. His practice centers on the evaluation and non-operative management of musculoskeletal and work-related injuries, including acute joint injuries and repetitive-strain problems, and he reviews content on occupational injury and sports injury diagnosis.
Dr. Arnaldo Manuel Mora is Medical Director and leads clinical governance at Nova. His background is in internal and occupational medicine. He oversees diagnostic intake, baseline laboratory review and the safety standards that apply before any prescription therapy, including pharmacy sourcing and contraindication screening as described in our safety guide.
Medical disclaimer: The information on this site is for education and does not replace a consultation, diagnosis or treatment. Full credentials are on our physicians and clinical governance page.
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Individual results vary and no outcome is guaranteed. This page is general information, not medical advice.