Play it safe: Tips to prevent injuries in your office space

There’s often a lot of focus on safety on a dangerous job site or in high-hazard industries, but what about protecting workers in your office?

By following these simple tips, you can help prevent common office injuries:

Trips, Slips and Falls

These are the most common office injuries. Here are some easy ways to keep your office fall-free:

Keep clutter and electrical cords out of pathways
Use a stepladder, not a chair, if you need to reach for something
Be aware of the condition of your floors: Tile tends to get slippery easily, while carpet provides more traction
Make sure rugs are secured and uneven flooring is clearly marked
Check to see that stairwells are well lit, and
Clean up spills as soon as they happen.

For more information, check out this Training Shop on fall prevention.

Here are a few keys to safe lifting:

Lift with your knees: Use your leg muscles, not your back muscles, to pull yourself up
Hold the object close to your body
Don’t twist your body while lifting
Break up one heavy load into a few more manageable loads, and
Know your limits and don’t hesitate to ask for help.

Here is more information on safe lifting practices.

Need to train you office workers on proper lifting? Take a look at this Training Shop.

Sitting and doing the same things over and over can lead to lifetime injuries. Here are some ways to prevent ergonomics issues:

Learn how to adjust your office furniture to the correct position: Your back should be straight and your feet should be flat on the ground
Vary your work so you aren’t in one position for a prolonged period of time
Help your eyes by positioning your computer monitor to reduce glare
Use a document holder while typing, and
Don’t cradle your phone between your ear and shoulder.

For more information on ergonomic safety, check out this article.

Office equipment can pose significant hazards when handled incorrectly, but you can still stay safe if you:

Only open one filing cabinet drawer at a time to prevent the cabinet from tipping over
Make sure shelves are secured
Store heavier items on bottom shelves
Keep loose clothing and long hair away from machinery such as shredders and space heaters, and
Use caution when operating space heaters: Don’t leave them on unattended, don’t keep them under your desk, and make sure they are at least 30 inches away from nearby objects.

There’s a lot more to fire safety than stop, drop and roll. Be sure to:

Looking for further information on how you can make your office safer? Check out this article from the University of North Dakota.