Seven Castles

Office Safety

                                      

April 29, 2008

 

Accidents do happen in the office. However, few office workers realize that they are twice as likely to be injured in a fall as a non-office worker.

 

Office safety is very essential in today's world. Not only is it essential but also very important to be aware of several workplace safety rules and regulations as this could hamper the smooth functioning of your office due to legal issues.

 

Thinking and working safely can prevent most accidents, so the best course of action is to plan ahead for all kinds of workplace emergencies, like fire, electric shock – absolutely anything and everything that you can think about. Make a list of all these emergencies. Based on this list, make another list of things you need to have at your workplace to ensure the safety of your employees. And then install these things.

 

It also makes sense to look at the local regulations concerning office safety. These may not be comprehensive, but may provide you with enough guidelines to work on.

 

Other than that, here are a few safety tips for the office or for the workplace:

 

Keep your working area neat and clean, with surplus items stored away safely. One cannot emphasize on this enough. Piles of papers and stacks of files combined with a tangle of wires are a disaster waiting to happen, on several fronts. A clean workspace will also enable you to identify a problem and tackle it faster and more effectively. Heavy items should be stored at an appropriate height for ease of manual handling. Keep the floor and walkway clear of electrical, telephone and computer cables, boxes, etc, as they are tripping hazards waiting to happen. Passageways, especially emergency exits, should be kept free of obstruction. Watch out for slippery surfaces. Spilled drinks or water from umbrellas are typical hazards and need to be cleaned up/or identified immediately.

 

Ensure that all your doors and windows have security locks. If you are an establishment that deals with cash on a daily basis, then you may attract burglars. Install security cameras at doors and exits. This will help you record the images of thieves and such and help the police in locating the culprit.

 

Install fire alarms. Practice fire drills with your employees. During the practice sessions, ensure that all the employees follow the rules (such as getting low on the floor, closing doors and windows to contain the fire etc). Mark the exits with noticeable signs so that employees know where to go to in case such an emergency occurs. Never lock these exits, but be sure to install security cameras on these doors. Also, it might be sensible to install fireproof furniture. Ensure that all flammable materials are stored securely in appropriate locations and possible ignition sources e.g. electrical heaters securely located.

 

Ensure that all the workstations, machines etc are installed properly. While installing such electric equipment and appliances, ensure that the wiring and switchboards are earthed properly so as to prevent electric shocks. Ensure that all plug-tops and sockets are in good condition and all electrical leads/cables free from obvious damage. Do not touch electrical switches, sockets, plugs, etc with wet hands.

 

And most of all, insurance is essential. Although it is not an office safety tip, it often helps to have it just in case an emergency occurs.

 

With these safety tips for the workplace you can be sure to avoid most common accidents and emergencies of electric shocks and fire.

【作者: zhangliping】【访问统计:】【2008年04月29日 星期二 05:19】【注册】【打印】