When we think of safety and protecting workers, we tend to focus on the people wearing PPE. This a natural reaction since we assume they are wearing personal protective equipment to protect themselves from something… personally. This likely leads workers in an office setting to fall into the Human Performance trap of overconfidence since the absence of a PPE requirement must mean we are not actively in harm’s way. Of course, this isn’t true, and office injuries are incredibly common.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, over 76,000 Office Workers receive disabling injuries each year. According to the Center for Disease Control, office workers are 2 to 2.5 times more likely suffer an injury from a fall than a non-office worker. According to OSHA, it doesn’t matter if the injury happened next to the copy machine or next to heavy machinery; workplace injuries are workplace injuries and will be recorded the same way. OK, I took a little creative license with that last one, but you get the point.
To be clear, this article isn’t intended for just the 9-5 office workers. Even the field workers have to navigate office hazards from time to time. Even if you don’t have your own desk you still spend plenty of time in office settings. Whether it’s all-hand meetings, turning in paperwork, or getting performance reviews, field workers need to think the hazards of the office too.
As mentioned earlier, falls are big hazard in office settings. Boxes, files, loose rugs, extension cords, rolling chairs, purses and backpacks, and co-workers lying on the ground as they have lost the will the carry on, all present tripping opportunities. You’re more likely to find an employee standing on a chair instead of a ladder in an office than on a service call. Tile or marble floors can become very slippery when a little liquid is spilled on it and everyone seems to be carrying a drink around.
File cabinets with too many drawers hanging open can becomes a tripping hazard but may also cause the cabinet to tip over. Bookcases that are top-heavy loaded can also tip over and strike a worker. Large stack of boxes or other materials can also pose a tipping hazard. On average 2 people crushed to death each year trying to extract items from a vending machine.
Cubic farms are especially tight and cluttered areas. Lighting in an office is often dimmer causing visibility concerns. Exits and walkways are often blocked with boxes, files, or office furniture. Office workers are notoriously cold which has them walking around with coffee (spill and slip hazard) or sitting at their desk with a space heater (electrical/fire hazard).
As mentioned before, just because you aren’t wearing PPE doesn’t mean you are out of harm’s way. Safe driving, parking lot safety, line of fire, traversing rules, electrical, and fire safety apply to everyone. Safety doesn’t end at the office threshold. Stay alert and look for hazards in office areas too.
Want to ensure your team is performing at an optimal level while staying safe? Need help identifying potential safety hazards? Contact us today, and we’ll help mitigate risk and bring your team's performance to the next level.
