A disaster that shuts your doors for a week can end a small business. Yet basic continuity planning is inexpensive and, once in place, largely runs itself. This checklist covers the supplies, equipment, and plans that keep your employees safe and your operations recoverable.
1. Protect people first
Stock a workplace emergency kit sized to your headcount, install an AED in a visible location, and keep evacuation packs near exits. Sudden cardiac arrest survival falls roughly 10% for every minute without defibrillation, which is why an on-site AED is one of the highest-value investments you can make.
2. Plan the evacuation
Assign floor wardens, keep grab-and-go evacuation packs with headcount rosters, and rehearse the route. Fire-safety gear — extinguishers, smoke hoods, and an escape ladder for upper floors — belongs in every workplace plan.
3. Protect the business itself
Store insurance documents, contracts, and backup drives in a fireproof, water-resistant safe. Keeping records recoverable is what lets you reopen after a fire or flood.
4. Write it down and rehearse
Supplies without a plan create false confidence. Document who does what, keep contact trees current, and run a short drill at least annually.
The bottom line
Start with life safety (kit, AED, evacuation), add business-recovery protection (documents and backups), then write and rehearse the plan. Most of this is a one-time purchase that pays for itself the first time it is needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What emergency supplies is a small business required to have?
OSHA requires accessible first aid supplies and a written emergency action plan for most workplaces. Beyond the minimum, most businesses add a headcount-sized emergency kit, an AED, evacuation packs, and fire-safety equipment.
Does my business need an AED?
An AED is strongly recommended for any workplace. Sudden cardiac arrest survival drops roughly 10% for every minute without defibrillation, and modern AEDs guide untrained responders with voice prompts.
How do I write a business continuity plan?
Start with life safety (who evacuates and how), then records recovery (where documents and backups are stored), then operations (how you resume work). Document roles, keep contacts current, and rehearse at least once a year.