Occupation Health and Safety - Office Work Place Safety

Office Safety

3. OVERVIEW OF OFFICE HAZARDS
•Many hazards which cause
thousands of injuries and health
problems exist in the office.
•In addition to the obvious hazards
of slippery floors or open file
drawers, poor lighting, noise,
poorly designed furniture and
equipment, fire etc.
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
F
a
l
l
/
S
l
i
p
S
t
r
a
i
n
S
t
r
u
c
k
b
y
C
a
u
g
h
t
i
n
Source: National Safety Council, Accident Prevention Manual, 1992
Office workers sustain approximately 76,000
fractures, dislocations, sprains, strains and
contusions annually.

4. COMMON OFFICE SAFETY AND
HEALTH HAZARDS
•Physical layout and
housekeeping
•Exits and egress
•Fire hazards
•Handling and storage
•Office furniture
•Electrical equipment
•Office machinery/tools
•Computer Terminals
•Ventilation
•Illumination
•Noise
•Stress
Some of the common office hazards relate to:

5. PHYSICAL LAYOUT/HOUSEKEEPING
CONTROLS
•Office machines should be kept
away from edges of desks and
tables.
•Regularly inspect, and repair or
replace faulty carpeting.
•Remove excess debris from the
work area.
•Clean up spills promptly.
Excess debris in work area

6. OFFICE FURNITURE HAZARD
CONTROLS
Chairs
•Do not climb on any office
chair; use a ladder or stool.
•Chairs should be properly
designed and regularly
inspected for missing casters
and loose parts.
Defective caster

7. OFFICE FURNITURE HAZARD
CONTROLS (CONT’D.)
•Don’t lean back in an office chair
with your feet up.
•Don’t scoot across the floor while
sitting in a chair.
•File cabinets- Open only one file
drawer at a time and use drawer
handle to close the file drawers.

8. ERGONOMICS
Take regular breaks from repeated hand
movements gives your hands and wrists
time to rest.
Don’t sit or stand in the same position all
day.
Ensure your chair is adjusted so your
forearms are level with your keyboard,
and you don’t flex your wrists to type.

9. ERGONOMICS-COMPUTER
Screen – Top should be at or just below eye
level and approximately 18-24 inches away.
Chair – Your back should be fully supported
with feet flat on the floor or on a footrest.
Knees should be approximately 90 degrees
to floor when seated.
Keyboard – At a height so wrists are
straight and elbows at approximately 90
degrees.
Document Holder – Place at same height
and distance as screen.

10. FALL PREVENTION
Maintain a clear line of vision.
Don’t run electrical cords, telephone/computer
wiring across walkways.
Do not stand on chairs or other furniture to
reach for something.
Do not store boxes, files, or various other items
in walkways.
Use handrails when walking up or down stairs.

11. Wear appropriate footwear = sturdy shoes with non-slip
soles.
11PPT-037-01
These are much safer!
Which shoes are safer?
FALL PREVENTION

12. Office Machinery and Tool Hazards
•Office machines with hazardous
moving parts, such as electric hole
punches and paper shredders can
cause lacerations, abrasions and
fractures.
•Misuse of office tools, such as
pens, pencils, paper, letter
openers, scissors and staplers can
cause cuts, punctures and related
infections.

13. Office Machinery and Tool Hazards
•Paper cutters
•Keep blade closed when not in use.
•A guard should be provided, and
fingers kept clear.
•Staplers
•Always use a stapler remover.
•Never test a jammed stapler with your
thumb.
•Pencils, pens, scissors
•Store sharp objects in a drawer or with
the point down.

14. Back Relaxer
Bend down between your knees for
as long as you can.
Return to upright position,
straighten, and relax.
14
Office Exercise
Middle /Upper Back Stretch
Raise your right arm and grasp it below
the elbow with your left hand.
Gently pull your right elbow toward your
left shoulder as you feel the stretch.
Hold for five seconds.
Do same for left side.

15. Finger Stretch
With palms down, spread your
fingers apart as far as you can.
Hold for the count of five.
Relax and then repeat.
15
Office Exercise
Shoulder Roll
Slowly roll your shoulders forward five
times in a circular motion using your
full range of motion.
Then roll your shoulders backward
five times with the same circular
motion.

16. Reference:
•Bechtel ESH Core Process- CP 231- Office
Facilities
•Bechtel ESH Core Process- CP 305-
Musculoskeletal Injury Prevention.

17. QUESTIONS

18. T H A N K Y O U