5 Health and Safety Hazards at the Office

March 3, 2020

5 Health and Safety Hazards at the Office and How to Prevent Them
Robin Waite - Business Coach

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The office doesn’t seem like it could be as dangerous as other places of work such as construction sites, factories, and hospitals but they can have plenty of their own hazards as well. If you want to keep yourself and your employees safe it’s important to be one step ahead. Employee well-being is important as well as often gets overlooked. Make sure that you are aware of increased stress levels and other issues your staff might have. These are five of the main causes of health problems and accidents in the office.

1. Stress

Stress is one of the most common causes of health problems in adults. Problems at work as well as in your personal life can have a huge influence on this. Make sure your employees are happy in your working environment and with your coworkers as well. If you feel they have any difficulties in your personal life you could consider reaching out to them if you feel they’re affecting them at work. For more advice on how to reduce stress click here.

2. Fire

It’s the responsibility of any supervisor to make sure all staff go through fire safety training so make sure your staff knows all your fire exits and procedures. If the office doesn’t run a fire drill very often or test fire alarms this may also be something you need to implement. Fire Curtains will also make your office more protected from fire. Similarly,some flammable products can cause fire or life-threatening accidents on thepremises. In such scenarios, employees should consider hiring a personal injuryattorney. You can learn more hereabout personal injury claims.

3. Ergonomic injuries

These are often caused by the positioning of desks, chairs and other computers. This means you need to follow measures to ensure your employees have the right distance between these things. There are alternatives available that are designed to prevent a repetitive strain injury, so think about upgrading the whole office.

4. Eyestrain

A lot of screen time is bad for your eyes. Your office staff will spend most of the working day staring at a computer so encourage them to take breaks from time to time. Make sure that all the monitors are at the optimum distance, which is roughly 20-26cm away and slightly below eye level. Speak to your employees to check they are comfortable with their electronic equipment. Eyestrain can cause tiredness, headaches and neck problems so ensure that everyone feels at ease.

5. Slips and spills

Falling over is a very common cause of accidents in the office and approximately 30% of injuries are caused by falls. Common causes of falls are loose flooring, cables, and debris. Falls can cause bruising and cuts at a minimum. Ensure you have a stocked first aid kit such as those from this weblink to treat accidents if they do happen. However, prevention is the best medicine. What you can do is get rid of any clutter and fit out the office with covers or clamps for loose cables. If necessary, rearrange all desks and furniture to keep everything tucked away safely. Be careful when carrying liquids and if you spill anything, clean it up, or report it immediately, for the safety of you and your employees. If you notice any leaks that leave puddles on the floor report these to maintenance. If your employees have an accident you could be liable.

Image by OpenIcons from Pixabay

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