Employee Safety

Safety Committee Members

How many times have you watched a utility worker sway on top of a telephone pole, or a construction worker straddle a steel beam high above you? You probably think their jobs are way too dangerous for you to do, when actually, both that utility worker and construction worker could be safer at their jobs than you are at the office.

The reason for this is because of their awareness of the hazards that come with the job and their knowledge of the safety procedures that they must follow. It's this safety awareness that is their best defense against accidents. On the other hand, the office worker usually can't see why he or she should be concerned with safety at all. After all, what's so hazardous about rows of desks, phones, and files?

Actually, there are plenty of hazards lurking in this supposedly "safe" office setting. It is true that office accidents seem less dramatic than those that occur in a manufacturing plant or among construction workers, but they can be just as painful and just as much of a financial setback to the injured worker.

Some of the most common causes of slip and fall accidents at the office, which account for the majority of disabling injuries, include:

• Walking on slippery floors or uneven surfaces, especially when wearing high heels.
• Going up or down stairs and not using the handrail.
• Using chairs with casters that may roll away from you when you try to sit on them, lean back too far, or lean forward to pick up something off the floor.
• Sloppy housekeeping and floors littered with tangled cords, discarded papers, spilled liquids, and small items such as paper clips can also cause slips and falls.
• Office machines also cause their share of accidents. Electric machines should always be unplugged when being cleaned and they should not be used if any sparking or smoking occurs.
• Carrying supplies to and from the storeroom can be dangerous if done incorrectly. Be sure that the pile is light enough to handle easily and low enough to see over.

Doors are a source of office accidents, too. People may walk into a glass door unless a conspicuous design is centered on the door at eye level. Solid doors present hazards, too. When two people approach solid doors from opposite sides, one of them can be struck when the door opens.

Desks and file cabinets present special hazards. Drawers should have safety stops to prevent the contents and drawer from tumbling onto the user, and drawers should be closed when you're finished with them. It's easy to trip over or bump into an open drawer.

Look around your office and identify the possible safety hazards. If you develop a safety consciousness, you can become aware of office hazards and take the appropriate precautions to avoid them.