Your office may not be quite as safe as you think. There are a lot of hazards in the workplace which many people don't think of at first glance. Most of us think of offices as a fairly safe work site in comparison to something like a construction yard or a factory. However, every day people fall prey to office safety hazards. If you're trying to ensure that you've got the risks managed for your white collar workers then you'll want to consult the following safety tips. If you follow all of them then you can greatly reduce the incidence of injury in your place of business.
1. Slips and Falls Account for Most Injuries
The majority of injuries which occur in an office come from slips and falls. Tripping hazards, recently mopped floors, and the general bustle of a busy office can all add up quickly. Many people have done their best in order to ensure that their office is open, free of spills and debris, and otherwise safe to walk around. You should do your best here, as slips and falls can open a whole can of worms when it comes to liability.
2. Poor Lighting Adds Up
If there's one thing guaranteed to make an office less safe it's poor lighting. Make sure that your office is brightly lit and doesn't have any dark hallways. Replace any burnt-out light bulbs promptly. We're all adults and it might not seem like it matters, but poor lighting is one of the least talked about office safety topics... and one of the most important.
3. Lifting and Stacking Improperly Adds Up
If you've got an office then there are things which need to be moved. Furniture, office supplies, and anything else which might have a considerable amount of weight adds up. Make sure you teach your workers the proper way to lift things to avoid anyone getting hurt.
4. Limiting Fire Hazards
There are a ton of fire hazards in the average office. Paper stacks up and there are electronics everywhere. You should always follow the best protocols you can when it comes to how your electronics are plugged in and avoid letting too much dry stuff stack up.
5. Check Environmental Toxin Levels
As HVAC systems increase in efficiency the average office is also coming closer and closer to being a sealed system. You're going to want to make sure that your carbon monoxide levels and any other environmental toxins are at a tolerable level. If not you may be in for some serious trouble.
6. Ergonomic Sitting Counts
Use ergonomic chairs and encourage your workers to stretch out on a regular basis. One of the biggest hazards for those working at desks all day is back pain, which can result in decreased efficiency over time. The little bit of extra money spent on the chairs can add up in a big way over time.
7. Help to Prevent Repetitive Stress Injuries
In addition to back injuries, office workers are prone to repetitive stress injuries resulting from improper use of keyboards and other office equipment. You can invest in the right equipment and regularly check up on your workers to make sure they're following the right practices to help prevent them from succumbing to these painful conditions.
Make Office Safety a Priority
Making office safety first priority can help to avoid a lot of litigation and problems in the future. It's also the right thing to do. Bring up all of these safety topics for office workers in a meeting once in a while can also help to make your employees more mindful. Avoiding the problems which can occur within the office is quite a bit easier than you might think and it can also help to lower insurance costs.
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