February Safety Tip
Office Safety
Keeping Your Office a Safe Place to Work
Office safety is a topic that is sometimes overlooked in manufacturing environments. Heavy machinery, forklifts, material handling, and other high-risk areas and processes tend to be at the forefront of a manufacturer’s safety program. Office injuries do still occur; therefore it is important to keep the following tips in mind.
- Ergonomics
Make sure your desk is set up correctly using ergonomic guidelines. This includes correctly setting up your chair, keyboard, mouse, monitor, and foot rest, if needed. Use a headset for frequent phone use to avoid cradling the phone between your head and neck. Position often used items near you to avoid frequent overreaching. Additionally, be sure to use proper lifting techniques if you need to move heavy items around, such as a box of paper or supplies. Ask for help if the load is too heavy for you.
- Take frequent breaks
Be sure to get up and move around often throughout the day. If you need to speak to a coworker, walk over to their desk instead of using the phone. Consider setting an alarm or using an app on your phone to remind you to get up and stretch every hour to reduce the risk for numerous health problems that come from sitting all day.
- Electrical and Fire Concerns
Fires in offices are typically due to overloading circuits and using items that are not designed for use in the office. Be sure to not have too many items plugged into an outlet, and check to make sure power strips are not over loaded or daisy-chained together. Space heaters should not be permitted due to fire hazards, not only from heaters tipping over or not shutting off, but from the risk of paper, coats, scarves, or other flammable items coming into contact with them. Small appliances like coffee pots, refrigerators, microwaves, and toaster ovens should only be permitted in food preparation areas, and all small appliances should be UL approved, including fans. Avoid running cords under carpet, rugs, or through windows or doorways, and do not fasten them with unapproved devices, such as staples. Keep combustible storage to a minimum, and be sure storage areas are fully sprinklered.
- Slips, Trips, and Falls
During winter months, ensure all exterior entrance and exit-ways, including emergency exits, are free and clear of snow and ice. If you must walk on ice, use the penguin walk to reduce your chance for a slip and fall (slowly walk flat-footed, shifting your weight directly over each foot as you move). Be sure to clean up any liquid spills on the floor, and make sure items such as electrical cords or boxes are not within walkways. Wear sensible footwear and be sure to carry only what you can handle. If you cannot see where you are going, then you may fall!
- Emergency Procedures
Be aware of what to do in the event of a fire, storm, violent intruder, medical emergency, or other emergency as instructed by your facility’s emergency action plan. Conduct periodic drills with debriefings afterwards to be sure all employees know what to do.
Source: https://www.sfmic.com/safety-tips-for-office-workers/