1. OFFICE HAZARDS
March 21, 2013

2. Engineering
Not all of our work is performed in the field. As an engineering company, a large portion of our work is performed in the office; either one of our company office locations, or for many employees, in a client ‘field office’ environment.

3. Identifying Hazards So what are some of the hazards: Slippery surfaces
Overloaded electrical outlets
Poorly balanced stacked items
Cords with frayed insulation
Open file or desk drawers
Cords, boxes in aisles
Top-heavy file cabinets
Broken equipment
Construction: obstructions, noise, chemicals
Stairs with poor lighting or missing handrails
Blocked emergency exits
Poor workstation set up

4. A Recordable is a Recordable
Office injuries affect our safety rating as much as field work.
Neither OSHA nor the client differentiate between the two.
Today’s training will look at the risks and mitigation steps to prevent injuries.

5. Mitigating the Risks – Office Clutter
One of the best protections against office hazards is good housekeeping. Keeping things in their place eliminates many hazards.

6. Mitigation Steps to – Office Clutter
Field Office
Colorado: Working in a space with a lot of other people tends to induce clutter. Always make sure that your area is neat.
Long Beach: Clean office!
Long Beach: Time to de-clutter my desk again!
North Carolina: Make sure surroundings are clear of debris. Things change daily.

7. Office Work and Fall Hazards
Office workers are 2 to 2.5 times more likely to suffer a disabling injury from a fall than non-office workers. The most common causes of office falls, according to the CDC, include:
Tripping over an open desk or file drawer, electrical cords or wires, loose carpeting, or objects in hallways/walkways.
Bending or reaching for something while seated in an unstable chair.
Using a chair in place of a ladder.
Slipping on wet floors.
Inadequate lighting.

8. Mitigating the Risks – Slips, Trips, and Falls
Here are some simple tips offered by the CDC for preventing falls:
Close drawers completely after every use.
Always use a stepladder for overhead reaching.
Never use chairs as ladders, especially rolling swivel chairs.
Clean up spills immediately.
Report loose carpeting or damaged flooring.
Never carry anything that obscures your vision.

9. Mitigating… Slip, Trip, and Fall Hazards!
Field Office
Colorado: Especially when it snows or rains, the floors coming in from the back entrance are typically wet and slippery. Recommended to walk along the mats that have been laid down for such purposes.
North Carolina: Watch where you walk. Slips on wet floors have accounted for 32 incidents onsite in 2012.
Gulf Coast: The steps in front of the client trailer are in the process of rusting through. This will need to be addressed at some point.
North Carolina: Open drawers to aisle created a tripping hazard. Make sure not to leave drawer open when not putting objects in/taking out and make sure it is closed when you are done.

10. Mitigating… Slip, Trip, and Fall Hazards
Company Office
Long Beach: Tiles in walkway slippery (very) when wet
Westlake Village: I removed loose cardboard from common area and placed in trash. Cardboard left over from new tables ordered. Cardboard was unsightly and tripping hazard.
Long Beach: Do not text and walk. Trip hazard!
Long Beach: Saw a water spill- immediately cleaned it up.
Gulf Coast: Tile in entry is very slick when raining. Walk with purpose and caution.
Colorado: The conference room has many cords in one area which is needed sometimes as a path.
Gulf Coast: Elevator carpet tripping hazard.

11. Mitigating the Hazards – Electrical
Electrical safety procedures also help protect against office hazards.
Minimize use of extension cords
Don’t overload outlets
Make sure plugs match their outlets
Replace cords when their insulation gets frayed.

12. Mitigating the Hazards – Equipment in the Office
Remember that "tools" used in an office can cause injuries. Use caution with box cutters, razor blades, scissors, and other pointed objects.
Cut away from your body using box cutters.
Work with paper cutter carefully and slowly. Lock the handle in place when you’re done.

13. Mitigating the Hazards – Safe Lifting
The majority of back injuries and other musculoskeletal disorders are the result of lifting, often done improperly.
Practicing good lifting technique significantly lowers the stress placed on the back and reduces the potential for injury.

14. Mitigating the Hazards – Safe Lifting
Ask for help from a co-worker or use a lifting aid, such as a cart or hand truck
Avoid awkward positions, reaching, and twisting while lifting.
Squat first, and then stand to lift objects.
Remember the same good lifting techniques used for picking up an object should also be practiced when putting an object down.

15. Mitigating the Hazards – Safe Lifting
Company Office
Long Beach: If an object that you need to move is heavy or awkward to handle always obtain a helper to be sure you move it safely.
Long Beach: If you have your hands full and plan to use the stairs-Don’t… Use the elevator instead.
Field Office
Colorado: After cleanup of the walls/carpet/ceiling tiles, the computers that were in the area and all of the other equipment are to be put back in their original locations. Some of the equipment is very heavy and require two people to move.
Gulf Coast: I was moving some stuff between offices and I saw a co-worker not lifting with their legs. I made a comment that he should lift the box in a more ergonomic position so as to not hurt his back. This will be important as people move to the new Houston office from the client site.

16. Mitigating the Hazards – Chemicals in the Office
Be aware that substances can be hazardous, and also what circumstances make them hazardous.
That information is available on container labels and material safety data sheets, along with information on how to use and store these substances safely.

17. Mitigating the Hazards – Construction in or near the Office
You can count on encountering some sort of maintenance or building repair activities on a routine basis. Some offices experience intermittent upgrades which will bring in tradesmen to remove or add walls, paint, run communication lines, etc
Workers using ladders
Staging areas for their materials
Overhead work: if necessary, find a temporary place to work if there is overhead work going on such as changing light bulbs or ballast repair
Painting or work with any type of chemicals
Report unsafe conditions to your supervisor immediately

18. Mitigating the Hazards – Construction in or near the Office
Long Beach: Construction in Solar group area. Be mindful of obstacles or avoid area all together. Ripped carpet poses tripping hazard-placed chairs over to prevent.
Company Office
Colorado: Construction on the second floor above us (do to remodel) is very loud this morning (perhaps sanding the floor?) I am wearing earplugs to protect my hearing.
Colorado: Construction ongoing near office area - be careful of cords/cables on floor, blocked pathways and excessive noise. Wear earplugs.
Long Beach: Cloud of paint dust in conference room from painters outside. Went outside and told the painters.
A lot of noise due to work on roof. Stuff falling off the roof & bad smell that is causing headaches and stuffy nose.
Gulf Coast: Office electricians were working in ceiling area on ladders. They had a spotter but were standing on top rung. I asked them to use a taller ladder, they stated they were done.

19. Mitigating the Hazards – Construction in or near the Office
Field Office
North Carolina: Construction is beginning on Pilot Plant. Must be careful to use only designated walkways and to be extra cautious of other people/construction when going to/from the trailers.
Long Beach: Found nails in the contractor parking lot. Stay vigilant of hazards related to construction.
Colorado: Construction activities. Be aware of others activities in the area.
Long Beach: Noise can be very loud from nearby building construction. Wear ear plugs if its too loud.

20. Summary
An office can indeed be hazardous, especially if you don't recognize risky conditions and actions.
Good housekeeping, attention to electrical equipment and office chemicals, and taking care with how you move yourself and materials in an office will help avoid many of those risks and prevent accidents.
As with all workplaces, protecting employees by eliminating or controlling hazards through engineering or work practice controls should be everyone's goal.

21. Summary and SMART
If you notice an office hazard, whether it is at one of our company or client locations, complete a SMART card and make note of it.
If you can safely fix the issue, follow through and correct the unsafe condition.
If you cannot safely fix the issue, contact your supervisor, the safety department, or client representative and have it corrected so no one gets hurt.

22. Office Hazards comments questions
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