Personal and Bulk Workplace Disaster Supplies

Bulk Workplace Disaster Supplies

It may not be feasible for each person to have their own personal disaster kit due to cost or space and storage issues. A company may find it easier to purchase and maintain the supplies in bulk. The basic items necessary are:

1. Food & Water
2. Blankets
3. First Aid
4. Dust Masks
5. Flashlights or Light Sticks
6. Radio
7. Sanitation Supplies
8. Tools

Depending on the size of the company, an all-inclusive office survival kit containing these items plus more and come in 5 to 100 person standard sizes may be the answer.

A large company will want to maintain a certain number of supplies per floor, store, work site, or office based upon the number of people there at any given time (i.e. per shift). Bulk supplies can be delivered by the pallet.

Costs are minimal! For example, a retail store chain with 100 stores which has an average number of 5 people per store/shift can purchase a 5 Person Office Survival Kit for $145 per each store. The actual cost of protecting each employee is only $5.80 per year, perhaps less than their hourly pay!

As an employer, you can’t afford NOT to protect your employees in areas where disasters strike on a regular basis (i.e. hurricanes in Florida, earthquakes in California, tornadoes, fires, floods, severe winter weather, etc).

Survival Kit Giveaways – Many companies have decided that emergency preparedness is so important that they have chosen to give each employee a survival kit to keep at work. This shows your employees how truly committed you are to their safety and how valuable they are.

Your company logo can be silk-screened on to a customized survival kit and given away at fairs or for the holidays. New employees can be given a kit on their first day of work.

Personal Workplace Disaster Supplies
(Basic list recommended by the Red Cross)

1. Food – non-perishable supply for one day (3 meals); a three day supply is preferable; food bars and MRE’s with a long shelf-life help minimize costs.
2. Water – a minimum of a gallon per person per day; plastic containers have a short shelf-life and are not preferable unless they are rotated frequently.
3. Flashlight & Radio – a manual crank type is best however, if battery-operated, check the shelf-life of your batteries and rotate as needed.
4. First Aid Supplies – bandages, dressings, gauze, hand sanitizer, antiseptic wipes, non-latex gloves, tape, anti-bacterial ointment, cold pack, scissors, tweezers, CPR breathing barrier; most good first aid kits will contain these items.
5. Tools & Supplies – emergency thermal blanket, can opener, paper plates & cups, plastic utensils, personal hygiene items (toothbrush/paste, comb, brush, soap, contact lens supplies and feminine supplies), plastic bag & ties (for personal sanitation uses in the event of plumbing interruption), one complete change of clothing & footwear including a long-sleeved shirt and long pants, and close-toed shoes or boots, extra pair of glasses if applicable