How to improve office safety – A quick overview

The office might not seem like a particularly dangerous environment – but accidents do happen!

Did you know that office workers are more than twice as likely to suffer a falling injury at work than any other group of employees.

When accidents do happen and your team members get injured, it can be costly – lost-work hours, sick pay and insurance claims can all impact on your bottom line.

Keep your business and teams safe with help from these tips:

How to improve office safety?

• Improving office safety starts with proactive planning and risk assessment – identifying problem areas and potential hazards and taking appropriate steps to address them.
• Investing in maintenance, providing ergonomic workstations and providing the right health and safety equipment (like fire extinguishers and first aid kits) will all improve safety.
• Training staff in manual handling, first aid and DSE use will also cut office accidents.

What are the best safety ideas for the office?

• The number 1 cause of office accidents is falling. To address this, clear hallway clutter and ensure that all walkways are clear, address loose flooring, ensure that drawers are closed and clean up spills as soon as they happen.
• Invest in a stepladder, so team members can reach items without having to stand on chairs.
• Another common office injury is caused by improper lifting – invest in manual handling training to minimise the risk of this happening.

How can I improve safety at my office workplace?

• Tripping and falling are the most common office hazards – keeping walkways clutter-free, cleaning up spills, shutting drawers and cupboards and actively looking to minimise tripping will all help to improve office safety.
• Conducting a thorough risk assessment, and creating an office safety plan outlining emergency protocols and safety procedures will help to keep everyone safe.

How can you help create a safe office?

• The most common accidents in the office are trips and falls, objects falling and injuries caused by poor ergonomics. Keeping the office clutter free, clearing up spills and providing stepladders will all reduce falling.
• Shutting drawers and storing/stacking objects safely will minimise the risk of objects falling.
• Investing in ergonomic office furniture and staff DSE training will cut the number of repetitive strain and posture injuries.

How to minimize hazards in the office?

• Minimizing hazards in the office should start with addressing tripping hazards – falls are by far the most common kind of office accident.
• Check loose flooring and carpets, address the layout to keep walkways clear, reduce office clutter, keep drawers shut and clear up spills as soon as they happen.
• Invest in staff safety training, create clear emergency procedures in case of fire and accidents, and provide first aid kits and the correct fire extinguishers.

What are common office safety hazards?

• The most common office safety hazards are tripping hazards, including loose flooring/carpets, poor lighting, poor layout, open drawers and doors, and office clutter.
• Other office safety hazards include falling hazards due to poor storage practices, fire hazards, electrical hazards and security hazards, as well as poor ventilation and air quality.

Are there office safety guidelines?

• The UK Government Health & Safety Executive provides a wide range of resources relating to office health and safety.
• These include best practice guidelines, free leaflets, office risk assessment tools and the latest statistics – designed to help employers on a range of matters relating to safety, health and wellbeing in the workplace. You will find them at http://www.hse.gov.uk/office/.