Is the office really that dangerous?
You may believe that the office is a safe place... Think again!
You may not think that offices are dangerous places to work, but it is a fact these environments can pose serious health and safety risks that can lead to significant injuries.
An estimated 609,000 non-fatal injuries were sustained by workers in a typical year and these does not include the incidents that were not officially reported. Bearing in mind that this is a problem, the employer has legal responsibilities to protect their employees from potential harm or injury, it’s in everyone’s interests to do so.
These are some points to consider:
Misusing office furniture
How many times have employees climbed on desks to slip and sustain injuries?
From my experience employees are often injured when they use their desks or chairs on wheels as stepladders. Employees should always use an appropriate stepladder safely when they need to reach for something and never overreach.
Uneven and slippery flooring
Poor uneven and slippery floor surfaces are among the most common causes of slips, trips and falls in the office.
Upturned edges of carpets, slippery tiles and poor housekeeping standards can all lead to accidents. Employers can limit the risk by ensuring the edges of carpets and rugs are flattened with tape and are marked and identified, and work areas are must remain uncluttered.
If the floor is wet, either display a wet floor sign, or if a spill deal with this immediately.
Poor workstation setup
We all know that not having your workstation set up correctly can lead to aches, pains and bad posture.
It is essential that each desk is equipped and adjusted so that employees are comfortable taking ergonomics into account.
Computer screens should be positioned at eye-level and chairs adjusted correctly based on the persons height making sure that the knees can be located under the desk without lowering the chair.
Employees must report any damaged or broken equipment to their Line Managers to prevent an accident from happening.
They must raise any concerns or if have an injury has been caused by their workstations.
Fire hazards
It is an employer’s responsibility to check all office cables and leads are safe and do not lead to an electrical defect that could cause a fire.
All employees should be aware of what to do in the event of a fire and follow any company evacuation procedures.
Fire alarms must be tested weekly and as a minimum practice regular annual evacuation from the workplace.
Lack of storage
Files stacked too high, drawers left open, and paper left lying on the floor are all accidents waiting to happen.
It is everyone’s responsibility to make sure their workstations are kept tidy, which means keeping desks and work areas clean and uncluttered.
Poor lighting
Poor lighting levels can contribute to ill-health at work., as well as increase a worker’s risk of tripping and falling over obstacles, but it can also cause eyestrain, migraines and headaches.
It is an employer’s responsibility to assess the lighting levels making sure that areas are well lit and that this does not cause glare on the computer screens.
Unhealthy workplace
Offices provide opportunities for workers to become ill. Germs can linger on desks, keyboards, telephones and surfaces, causing infections and viruses to spread easily. Employers can reduce the risk by making sure that everything is adequately cleaned on a regular basis. Eating at your desks is a sure way of picking up bacteria which can be passed from dirty equipment, unclean hands and on to food which will be ingested.