National Preparedness Month - A Workplace Emergency Preparedness Guide

Original Publish Date: September 2021 by Chris Salmasi | Updated by Julie Terry: August 27, 2026

Every September, National Preparedness Month brings nationwide attention to a simple idea: prepare for emergencies before they happen. While hurricanes often receive the most attention this time of year, emergencies can occur in any workplace, regardless of location. Fires, severe weather, workplace violence, power outages, hazardous material releases, and medical emergencies can all disrupt operations and put employees at risk.

The best time to prepare is before an emergency occurs. An effective emergency preparedness program helps protect employees, patients, visitors, and business operations while reducing confusion during a crisis.

Workplace Emergency Preparedness Starts with Planning

Every workplace has unique risks. The first step in emergency preparedness is identifying the hazards that could reasonably affect your facility and developing procedures for responding to them. Business owners, managers, and employees should work together to evaluate these risks and establish a plan that is communicated and practiced regularly.

An effective Emergency Action Plan should address:

• How employees report emergencies
• Evacuation routes and exit procedures
• Shelter-in-place procedures when evacuation is not appropriate
• Procedures for accounting for employees after an evacuation
• Emergency roles and responsibilities
• Employee training and periodic drills

Even if your workplace is not required to maintain a written Emergency Action Plan under OSHA, having documented procedures and training employees on them is a best practice that can improve response during an emergency. For a full walkthrough of what OSHA requires and how to build a compliant plan step by step, see our complete guide: How to Create an Emergency Action Plan for Your Business.

Know Your Workplace Risks

Every workplace faces different hazards. Depending on your location, industry, and operations, you may need to prepare for:

• Fires
• Tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, or flooding
• Severe winter weather
• Wildfires and wildfire smoke
• Power outages or utility failures
• Hazardous chemical spills or gas leaks
• Medical emergencies
• Workplace violence

Understanding which emergencies are most likely to occur helps you develop practical procedures and ensures employees know how to respond.

For medical or dental practices and other healthcare settings, emergency planning should also consider patients and visitors who may require assistance evacuating or sheltering in place.

Emergency Preparedness Tips

As you review your emergency procedures, consider the following:

> Identify the different emergency alarms used in your building and ensure employees understand what each one means.

> Establish evacuation routes from all occupied areas and verify they remain accessible.

> Designate an outdoor assembly area where employees can be accounted for after evacuation.

> Identify employees, patients, or visitors who may require additional assistance during an evacuation.

> Ensure emergency contact information is current.

> Inspect emergency equipment such as fire extinguishers, first aid kits, and automated external defibrillators (AEDs) on a regular basis.

> Conduct emergency drills appropriate for your workplace and review lessons learned afterward.
Review and update your Emergency Action Plan whenever workplace conditions, staffing, or facility layouts change.

Preparing for Workplace Violence 

Workplace violence is a serious occupational hazard that can affect employees in virtually any work environment. Employers should be prepared to recognize warning signs and respond appropriately. Workplace violence can involve current or former employees, customers, patients, visitors, or other individuals entering the workplace.

Employers can help reduce risk by:

• Promoting a respectful workplace culture
• Encouraging employees to report concerning behavior
• Training employees on emergency notification procedures
• Reviewing evacuation and shelter-in-place procedures
• Establishing procedures for contacting law enforcement when needed

Preparation focuses not only on responding to an incident but also on recognizing risks early and creating a workplace culture where concerns can be reported. Note that while there is no single federal OSHA standard requiring a written workplace violence prevention program, a small but growing number of states — California's SB 553 among them — now require one directly, which is one more reason to check your state plan for requirements beyond the federal minimum.

Emergency Response Reminders

In Case of a Fire

• Treat every fire alarm as a real emergency.
• Know at least two exit routes whenever possible.
• Evacuate quickly and calmly.
• Leave personal belongings behind.
• Never use elevators during a fire.
• Only use a fire extinguisher if you have been trained and the fire is small and can be safely controlled.
• Report to the designated assembly area and wait for further instructions.

In Case of an Active Shooter

If confronted with an active shooter, remember the principles of Run, Hide, Fight — a framework developed by the City of Houston and promoted nationally by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security:

> Run if you can safely escape.

> Hide if evacuation is not possible, by locking or barricading doors, silencing electronic devices, and remaining out of sight.

> Fight only as a last resort if your life is in imminent danger.

Once it is safe to do so, call 911 and follow the instructions of law enforcement. Unlike a fire evacuation, employees should not automatically gather at the normal assembly location unless directed to do so, as circumstances may require relocating to a different safe location.

How Prepared Is Your Workplace? 

Emergency preparedness is more than having a written plan. It requires training, communication, regular review, and practice. As your workplace changes, your emergency procedures should evolve as well.

Whether you operate a medical or dental practice, dental laboratory, manufacturing facility, or other general industry workplace, taking time to evaluate your emergency preparedness can help protect your employees and minimize disruptions when unexpected events occur.

If you would like assistance developing or reviewing your Emergency Action Plan, conducting a workplace risk assessment, or providing employee training, SafeLink Consulting can help. We work with businesses to strengthen their health and safety programs, improve OSHA compliance, and build practical emergency preparedness plans tailored to their operations.

Get a free Emergency Action Plan Checklist for your business.