Office Safety Beth Frogue

Office Related Illness and Injury  Slippery Floors  Open File Drawer  Poor Lighting  Noise  Poorly Designed Furniture  Slippery Floors  Open File Drawer  Poor Lighting  Noise  Poorly Designed Furniture

Disabling Accidents in an Office  Falls  Strains and Overexertion  Struck By or Striking Objects  Caught in or Between Objects  Material Storage  Falls  Strains and Overexertion  Struck By or Striking Objects  Caught in or Between Objects  Material Storage

Falls  Most common type of office accident  2 to 2.5 times higher rate than for non-office employees  Most common type of office accident  2 to 2.5 times higher rate than for non-office employees

Preventative Measures  Be sure the pathway is clear before you walk  Close drawers after use  Secure electrical cords and wires away from walkways  Clean up spills immediately  Pick-up objects on the floor  Report loose carpeting or damaged flooring  Never carry anything that obscures your vision  Be sure the pathway is clear before you walk  Close drawers after use  Secure electrical cords and wires away from walkways  Clean up spills immediately  Pick-up objects on the floor  Report loose carpeting or damaged flooring  Never carry anything that obscures your vision

Strains and Overexertion  Safe Lifting Tips –Take a balanced stance, feet shoulder width apart –Keep your back straight –Lift with your legs – not your back –Do not twist when lifting –Never carry a load that blocks your vision  Safe Lifting Tips –Take a balanced stance, feet shoulder width apart –Keep your back straight –Lift with your legs – not your back –Do not twist when lifting –Never carry a load that blocks your vision

Struck By or Striking Objects  Bumping into doors, desks, file cabinets and open drawers  Bumping into other people  Striking open file drawers while bending down or straightening up  Striking sharp objects: office machines, staples, pins, etc.  Bumping into doors, desks, file cabinets and open drawers  Bumping into other people  Striking open file drawers while bending down or straightening up  Striking sharp objects: office machines, staples, pins, etc.

Objects Striking Employees include:  Supplies sliding from shelves  Overbalanced file cabinets  Machines (printers, binders) dropped on feet  Doors that suddenly open  Supplies sliding from shelves  Overbalanced file cabinets  Machines (printers, binders) dropped on feet  Doors that suddenly open

Caught In or Between Objects  Fingers caught in a drawer, door or window  Fingers, hair, clothing caught in office machines  Fingers caught in paper cutter  Fingers caught in a drawer, door or window  Fingers, hair, clothing caught in office machines  Fingers caught in paper cutter

Noise  Video Display terminals  High-Speed Printers  Telephones  Fax machines  The Human Voice  Video Display terminals  High-Speed Printers  Telephones  Fax machines  The Human Voice

Material Storage  Boxes, papers and other materials should not be stored on top of lockers or file cabinets  Store heavy objects on lower shelves  Aisles, corners, and passageways must remain unobstructed – NO Stacking in these areas!  Storage areas should be designated and used for that purpose only  Store materials at knee level whenever possible  Boxes, papers and other materials should not be stored on top of lockers or file cabinets  Store heavy objects on lower shelves  Aisles, corners, and passageways must remain unobstructed – NO Stacking in these areas!  Storage areas should be designated and used for that purpose only  Store materials at knee level whenever possible

Office Safety  Accident prevention –Become aware of potential hazards –Develop a positive safety attitude  Accident prevention –Become aware of potential hazards –Develop a positive safety attitude First Aid Kit A first aid kit can be a valuable addition to an office workstation

Workstation Safety  Desktop area  Drawers  Chairs, mats, and static control  Desktop area  Drawers  Chairs, mats, and static control Good housekeeping measures will reduce or eliminate hazards

Work Area Safety  Office furnishings –Always maintain for safety  General office equipment –Always maintain for safety  Office furnishings –Always maintain for safety  General office equipment –Always maintain for safety

Electrical equipment  Can cause serious shock and burn if improperly used or maintained  Examples –Ungrounded Equipment –Overloaded Outlets –Unsafe/non-approved Equipment –Defective or frayed cords –Live parts unguarded –Pulling of plugs to shut off power –Blocking electrical panel doors  Can cause serious shock and burn if improperly used or maintained  Examples –Ungrounded Equipment –Overloaded Outlets –Unsafe/non-approved Equipment –Defective or frayed cords –Live parts unguarded –Pulling of plugs to shut off power –Blocking electrical panel doors

Office Fire Prevention  Think about a fire before it starts  Learn fire escape routes  Participate in practice fire drills on a regular basis  Become familiar with stairways – elevators may not function during a fire  Think about a fire before it starts  Learn fire escape routes  Participate in practice fire drills on a regular basis  Become familiar with stairways – elevators may not function during a fire

Office Safety Emergency procedures –Emergency telephone numbers –First aid procedures –Fires –Building evacuation plans Knowing the evacuation procedures for a large office building can be critical in an emergency

Office Safety  Personal security on the job –Protecting personal property –Working alone Work near a phone and have emergency numbers handy Lock doors to your work area Know when to expect the cleaning staff Use caution when entering an elevator Avoid using a restroom away from your work area Park near the building in a lighted area if possible  Personal security on the job –Protecting personal property –Working alone Work near a phone and have emergency numbers handy Lock doors to your work area Know when to expect the cleaning staff Use caution when entering an elevator Avoid using a restroom away from your work area Park near the building in a lighted area if possible

Office Security  Building and office security –Security concerns –Controlling outsider access –Controlling employee access –Detection systems and alarms

Ergonomics  Ergonomics - The study of the effects of the work environment on the health and well-being of employees  Factors –Chairs –Desks –Lighting –Equipment  Ergonomics - The study of the effects of the work environment on the health and well-being of employees  Factors –Chairs –Desks –Lighting –Equipment

Managing Ergonomic Factors Ergonomic factors affect productivity

Managing Your Office Health Adjust the workstation to meet your needs Take rest breaks often Do stretching exercises for hands, wrists, arms, and fingers Focus your eyes away from the monitor often Arrange work materials within easy reach Use good posture Carpal tunnel syndrome: a repetitive strain injury caused by placing stress on the hands, wrists, or arms

Workplace Wellness  Factors related to workplace and health issues  Stress management  Nutrition and weight management  Exercise  Balancing work and family life

Workplace Wellness  Tips for health and well-being –Avoid interruptions during the workday –Recharge with a nutritional snack –Get an adequate amount of rest and sleep while away from work –Exercise –Eat healthy meals  Tips for health and well-being –Avoid interruptions during the workday –Recharge with a nutritional snack –Get an adequate amount of rest and sleep while away from work –Exercise –Eat healthy meals

Workplace Wellness  Benefits for companies that address workplace wellness –Reduced absenteeism –Increased productivity –Higher employee morale  Benefits for companies that address workplace wellness –Reduced absenteeism –Increased productivity –Higher employee morale