OFFICE HSE

Office Employees are part of the site Safety & Health process.

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 Office hazards
• Office machines (copiers,
• Ergonomic issues;
paper cutters, shredders,
• Fire & evacuation; jammed machines);
• Electrical cords & • Office chemicals;
equipment; • Slips, trips, falls;
• Heat-generating • Housekeeping;
sources;
• Furniture/layout;
• Hand & powered
• Motor vehicle accidents.
tools & equipment;

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 Start your day off safely…
Dress for success
• Wear loose, comfortable clothing
to allow free movement of hips &
to maintain natural spinal curves.
• Avoid open-toed shoes and
sandals, whenever possible.
• Wear comfortable footwear with a
low heel to reduce leg and back
strain & to help prevent slips and
falls.

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TL Consults Limited
 Slips, Trips & Falls
• The #1 cause of office • Use the handrail on
employee injuries! stairs.
– Level surfaces, • Report deficient
– Elevated surfaces - conditions to Facilities
standing on chairs, Maintenance.
falling out of chairs, • Hold onto chair
falling down stairs seats/arms when
– Manufacturing attempting to sit.
areas, • Approved step stools &
– Parking lots. ladders only.
• Awareness. • “Sensible shoes.”
• Keep aisles clear. • Wipe up spills.
• “Walk like a duck” on • Walk, don’t run.
slippery surfaces.
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Layout:
• Office areas established with the assistance &
approval of the Facilities Maintenance & EHS.
• Emergency exits & passageways established &
must be maintained.
• Furniture & equipment arranged, so far as
possible, to:
• Avoid chairs and equipment jutting into
walkways; Avoid drawers from opening into
walkways or doorways; Obstruct the view
around corners or partitions.

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 Lighting:
• Areas that are not lit adequately, or are lit
too much, can cause headache, strain,
and fatigue.
• Color plays a big role in eye fatigue.
• Use adjustable task lighting for tasks that
require greater illumination.
• Take visual “breaks” every 30 minutes.
• Get regular eye exams…let your eye doc
know if you are working at a computer!
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 “Housekeeping”
• Storage or placement of objects in aisles, below knee
level, or on other “office-type” floor surfaces.
• Overflowing, heavy wastebaskets.
• Dust accumulations.
• Maintaining condition of office equipment and work
area.
• Orderly arrangement in all areas, especially storage.
• Storage must be 18” or more below sprinkler heads.

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 Furniture Safety:
• Chairs should remain squarely on the floor.
• Casters on all chairs should be secured and all parts
of the chair should be sturdy & should not present a
hazard to the user.
• Close drawers when not in use.
• Open drawers slowly and carefully.
• Avoid overloading filing cabinets, and distribute the
weight of materials stored in cabinet to avoid tipping.
• Furniture should be selected and maintained without
sharp edges, points, or burrs.
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 Good workstation set-up is
based on individual needs.

But, there are some general principles that

can be taken into account…
Rule #1: If you are uncomfortable, seek
assistance!

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Considerations in setting up a
Computer Work Station
• How will the
computer be used?
How long? • What can you see?
• What kind of • Posture!
computer? • Where will the
• What furniture will computer be used?
be used? • Breaks
• What chair will be
used?
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• “Turtleneck”; • Shoulder(s) too
• Hungry head; high/low;
• Slumped posture; • Butts up;
• Elbows out; • Twisting of neck or
• back;
Reach out of “easy
reach” zone; • Wrists outside of
• Work outside the neutral position;
“comfort zone”; • Squinted eyes.

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 Good posture is essential to
your health & safety!
• 3 natural curves.
• Seated posture puts lots of
strain on your body!
• Exaggerated curves are bad.
• Stretch frequently.
• Maintain or build strength.

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Easy Reach
• Items to think
about moving into
the “easy reach”
zone...
– Keyboard
– Mouse
– Telephone
– Calculator

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 Chairs:
• Some adjustments to
check out…
– Seat height, depth,
angle/tilt,
– Back height,
adjustability, and
angle/tilt,
– Lumbar support,
– Arm rest height,
– Swivel.
• Another pair of eyes. 14
 Your Health & Safety Requires
Stretching/Exercise “Breaks”!
• Two types:
– Aerobic exercise
– Micro breaks
• Micro Breaks: short
breaks to relax,
restore, re-nourish,
gently stretch.

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 Material Handling:
• Plan the lift.
• No lifting over 35 • Stand with your feet apart,
pounds on an
alongside the object to be lifted.
occasional basis.
– Obtain assistance • Use the “sit down” position,
through the maintaining the natural arch of the
Facilities spine.
Maintenance Dept. • Tuck your chin.
• Avoid lifting objects • Get a good grip on the object.
that are too heavy for
you! • Keep the object close.
• Center the weight over your feet.
• Avoid twisting.
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 Office Equipment Safeguarding
• Copiers (sorting • Storage of letter
trays, moving parts). openers and sharp
• Paper Cutter tools (i.e. `
guarding to avoid knives, scissors, etc.)
contact with the should be appropriate
cutting blade by the to avoid tools rolling
opposing hand and falling off of desk
(hand holding the surfaces.
paper). • Use sheaths for knives
• When cutters are and razors.
not in use, cutter
should be down and
the blade secured.
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 11% of Injuries =
“Struck by or between”
• Struck by or between what???
– Doors,
– Office machines & equipment dropped
on feet;
– Falling objects (from cabinets & storage
locations);
– Copy machines;
– “Addressing” machines and fans;
– Paper cutters.

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 Lockout/Tagout procedures...
• Office equipment has • Copiers that become
the potential to cause jammed should be cleared
harm & is included in in accordance with
the Lockout/ Tagout manufacturer’s instructions.
program.
• In order to clear a jam – Know the procedures for
of electrically- for safely clearing jams.
powered office
equipment, power – Remain cognizant of
must be turned “off” areas which may be hot.
and disconnected – Remember that power is
from the power still connected!
supply.
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TL Consults Limited