Office Safety Awareness

WorkstationsWorkstations

�� Should be designed to reduce Should be designed to reduce

excessive bending and stretchingexcessive bending and stretching

�� Keep the desk clean and organizedKeep the desk clean and organized

�� Never store items under your deskNever store items under your desk

�� Never leave desk and/or filing Never leave desk and/or filing

cabinet drawers opencabinet drawers open

Chairs and DesksChairs and Desks

�� Should have good lower back supportShould have good lower back support

�� Adjustable Adjustable -- knees and hips are levelknees and hips are level

�� Chairs on castors should have 5 legsChairs on castors should have 5 legs

�� If your desk is too high, compensate by If your desk is too high, compensate by

raising the seat height of your chairraising the seat height of your chair

�� Never stand on the chair to reach anything, Never stand on the chair to reach anything,

particularly if the chair has wheels or is of particularly if the chair has wheels or is of

the swivel kindthe swivel kind

Computers Computers

�� A badly positioned computer makes the user A badly positioned computer makes the user

unproductive and causes discomfortunproductive and causes discomfort

�� The user may suffer eyestrain, headaches, The user may suffer eyestrain, headaches,

stiff neck and shoulders, and backachestiff neck and shoulders, and backache

�� The monitor should be placed directly in front The monitor should be placed directly in front

of the user to optimize a visual range of 30 of the user to optimize a visual range of 30 in in

any directionany direction

�� The screen should be 18The screen should be 18--30 in away from30 in away from the the

useruser’’s eyess eyes

ComputersComputers�� The top of the monitor should be at eye level The top of the monitor should be at eye level

to avoid neck strainto avoid neck strain

�� The keyboard should be directly in front of the The keyboard should be directly in front of the

useruser

�� The userThe user’’s elbows should be bent at a 90 s elbows should be bent at a 90

degree degree angleangle

�� The back of the keyboard should be slightly The back of the keyboard should be slightly

elevated to allow the userelevated to allow the user’’s wrists to be in a s wrists to be in a

neutral positionneutral position

�� The screen should be positioned at right angles The screen should be positioned at right angles

to the window to avoid glareto the window to avoid glare

�� BackBack--ups must be done regularly to avoid thisups must be done regularly to avoid this

Stress

Stacking and StorageStacking and Storage�� Light objects stored on top and heavy objects in the Light objects stored on top and heavy objects in the

bottom bottom -- also in filing cabinetsalso in filing cabinets

�� Boxes, files and other heavy articles must not be Boxes, files and other heavy articles must not be

stacked on top of cabinets, cupboards or window stacked on top of cabinets, cupboards or window

sillssills

�� Keep passages clear and fire fighting equipment Keep passages clear and fire fighting equipment

unobstructedunobstructed

LightingLighting

�� Must allow no eye strainMust allow no eye strain

�� Eliminate glare and reflectionEliminate glare and reflection

�� Cables, cords, wiresCables, cords, wires!!!!!!!!!!!!

�� Loose lying cables can causeLoose lying cables can cause

�� A tripping hazardA tripping hazard

�� ElectrocutionElectrocution

�� People can hook on cables and pull People can hook on cables and pull

expensive equipment from tablesexpensive equipment from tables

Electrical SafeguardingElectrical Safeguarding

Electrical SafeguardingElectrical Safeguarding

ExitsExits�� DonDon’’t block exits or aisle wayst block exits or aisle ways

Back Injuries

Injury ProgressionInjury Progression

Stop it here FatigueStop it here Fatigue

PainPain

InjuryInjury

Prevent Back InjuriesPrevent Back Injuries

�� Size up the jobSize up the job

�� If you are not sure you can lift it safely, get If you are not sure you can lift it safely, get

helphelp

�� Make carts, dollies, etc. available and Make carts, dollies, etc. available and

require their userequire their use

�� Make sure the right person makes the liftMake sure the right person makes the lift

Slips, Trips, and FallsSlips, Trips, and Falls

�� Prevent them by remembering the Prevent them by remembering the

followingfollowing::

�� Do not allow cabling to create a tripping Do not allow cabling to create a tripping

hazardhazard

�� Clear up spillages quicklyClear up spillages quickly

�� Do not block passagewaysDo not block passageways

�� Keep office areas cleanKeep office areas clean

�� Keep stacking and storage areas safeKeep stacking and storage areas safe

Slips, Trips, and FallsSlips, Trips, and Falls

Watch out for:Watch out for:

�� Worn or loose carpetsWorn or loose carpets

�� Broken stair tread edgesBroken stair tread edges

�� Chipped floorboards and tilesChipped floorboards and tiles

�� Watch where you walk!Watch where you walk!

�� High heelsHigh heels

�� Pick up objects that fall Pick up objects that fall -- PENCILS ETCPENCILS ETC

StairsStairs

�� Distraction on stairsDistraction on stairs

�� Take one step at a timeTake one step at a time

�� DonDon’’t load your arms so full of materials t load your arms so full of materials

that you canthat you can’’t seet see

�� Keep one hand on the handrailKeep one hand on the handrail

�� DonDon’’t congregate on stairs or landingst congregate on stairs or landings

�� Keep stairs well lightedKeep stairs well lighted

Filing CabinetsFiling Cabinets

�� Close the drawers!Close the drawers!

�� DonDon’’t open all the t open all the

drawers at the drawers at the

same timesame time

�� Use the handle to Use the handle to

close the drawerclose the drawer

�� Learn how to operate them Learn how to operate them safely before you use themsafely before you use them

�� Loose clothing, jewelry, long Loose clothing, jewelry, long flowing hair to be kept out of flowing hair to be kept out of machinesmachines

�� Keep hands and fingers clear of Keep hands and fingers clear of paper inlet at the shredderpaper inlet at the shredder

�� Switch the machine off before Switch the machine off before trying to clear a blockagetrying to clear a blockage

�� If you notice a tingling If you notice a tingling sensation when touching a sensation when touching a machine or see smoking or machine or see smoking or sparking, unplug it sparking, unplug it immediately and report it!immediately and report it!

�� Put a sign on the machine Put a sign on the machine indicating to others that it is indicating to others that it is out of orderout of order

Office MachinesOffice Machines

Look After Your HandsLook After Your Hands !!

�� Pick up broken glass with a broom and dust panPick up broken glass with a broom and dust pan

�� Wrap the glass in thick paper and mark it so that Wrap the glass in thick paper and mark it so that

the cleaning staff will know what it isthe cleaning staff will know what it is

�� Slivers of glass should be picked up with a damp Slivers of glass should be picked up with a damp

paper towel paper towel -- discard paper toweldiscard paper towel

EyesEyes

�� DonDon’’t rub your eyes if you have a t rub your eyes if you have a

chemical on your handschemical on your hands

�� Keep eyes away from corner cabinets, Keep eyes away from corner cabinets,

boxes and pencils etcboxes and pencils etc

�� Poor visionPoor vision

FirstFirst --Aid KitAid Kit

�� Make sure you know where the kit isMake sure you know where the kit is

�� Ensure that someone is trained to Ensure that someone is trained to

deliver first aiddeliver first aid

�� Ensure the kit is well stockedEnsure the kit is well stocked

Fire, Emergency, EvacuationFire, Emergency, Evacuation

�� Fire extinguishersFire extinguishers

�� Emergency Action PlanEmergency Action Plan

�� DonDon’’t panic, dont panic, don’’t runt run

�� Gathering pointsGathering points

�� Take the alarm seriously every timeTake the alarm seriously every time

�� Know the exitsKnow the exits

�� Know how to reportKnow how to report

�� Who is in charge?Who is in charge?

Health HazardsHealth Hazards

�� Chemical overexposure not likely in an officeChemical overexposure not likely in an office

�� Follow basic rule of chemical safetyFollow basic rule of chemical safety

�� What you donWhat you don’’t breathe wont breathe won’’t hurt yout hurt you

�� What you donWhat you don’’t contact wont contact won’’t hurt yout hurt you

�� MoldMold

�� Indoor air qualityIndoor air quality

Accident ReportingAccident Reporting

�� Report all injuries on duty immediatelyReport all injuries on duty immediately

RememberRemember ……..

�� Your employer is required to institute Your employer is required to institute

safety procedures and rules, butsafety procedures and rules, but……

�� You must actively participate in your own You must actively participate in your own

safety and the safety of your cosafety and the safety of your co--workersworkers

�� Follow the safety rulesFollow the safety rules

�� Be on the lookout for hazardsBe on the lookout for hazards

�� Report hazards and unsafe situationsReport hazards and unsafe situations

�� Report accidentsReport accidents

Call TOSHACall TOSHA

�� www.osha.govwww.osha.gov

www.tennessee.gov/laborwww.tennessee.gov/labor--wfdwfd

�� Memphis OfficeMemphis Office 901901--543543--72597259

�� Jackson OfficeJackson Office 731731--423423--56415641

�� Nashville OfficeNashville Office 615615--741741--27932793

11--800800--249249--85108510

�� Knoxville Office Knoxville Office 865865--594594--61806180

�� Kingsport OfficeKingsport Office 423423--224224--20422042

�� Chattanooga Chattanooga 423423--634634--64246424

�� Consultative Services Consultative Services 11--800800--325325--99019901