You go to the office to do your job and then go home, but sometimes accidents can derail your day. Not only will you be impacted by the injury itself, but you could miss work, have hefty hospital bills, and your boss may have to worry about a worker’s compensation claim.
When it comes to office accidents, the imagination can run wild. We envision tragic accidents, but that is not what most offices experience. Most office accidents are related to falls. In fact, an office worker is 2 to 2.5 times more likely to fall at work than a non-office worker. This can be from falling because of furniture, reaching for items and falling, slipping on a wet floor, or trying to walk through a hallway that isn’t clear. But injuries don’t just come from falls.
Depending on your job, you may have a sedentary position where you are constantly seated and working at a computer. Just this act day in and day out and can cause neck, back, and wrist injuries.
Accidents in the office are often easily avoidable. Here are 10 tips that will lead to a safer office environment for you and your coworkers.
- Make sure that your office is set up in an ergonomic fashion so it is easy to manoeuvre and walk around the office without bumping or tripping over furniture or equipment.
- Close drawers after use and replace any broken or uneven chairs.
- Should there be a spill, immediately put “wet floor” caution signs/markers in place to alert people to the risk of slips and falls.
- Tape down any cords or wires to minimize trips and falls. Report any loose carpeting.
- If you need to reach something, use a step ladder instead of a chair.
- If you are lifting something at work, lift with your legs instead of your back.
- Make sure rooms have adequate lighting to assure safe movement throughout the space. If you can’t clearly see where you are going, you are more prone to falling or tripping on something.
- If seated at a desk to do your job, make sure you have a chair with back support and a keyboard that minimizes stress and carpal tunnel problems.
- Replace any frayed electrical cords.
- Make sure all hallways and walkways are clear. A clear path is a safer path for ourselves and our coworkers.
Some of these may have already been implemented for your office. Are there any that you aren’t already doing?
With these steps, you can reduce accidents in the workplace and create a culture of safety, where you can come to work knowing you are actively preventing injury to yourself and others.