Workplace Safety – Safety In The Office

True, more accidents happen in construction, manufacturing, industrial, and utilities sites but there are office accidents and unsafe practices that are just as dangerous and just as injurious. Tripping on power cords, bumping on open cabinets, bad ergonomics and furniture layout, carpets that are not flat are just some of the concerns why workplace safety must be observed in the office, because to expect that unchecked and unsafe methods and procedures in the manufacturing floor will not eventually creep into the office is a fallacy, recognized or not. On the contrary, conditions on the floor shops could be judged by practices done in the office.

Wet floors, poor lighting, clutter, poor traffic layout, cables and connections, noise and other supposedly innocent habits are often the cause. Add to this are the adoption of office technology that exposes the employees to shocks, skeletal stresses, and muscular strains. To improve safety in the office, take the following suggestions:

Conduct safety meetings.
People react to suggestions and safety measures from their point of experience. Sometimes there are just employees who are indifferent, unconcerned and has personal issues. When there is group effort and group agreement, vigilance is encouraged. Conduct the meeting outline in a step-by-step, motivating, and productive tone. Discussions regarding real office experiences are more meaningful aside from enabling the employees to relate to the discussions more actively.

Hang office safety posters.
Office safety posters are effective follow through techniques to remind the employees of safety concerns. A safety bulletin is also a good tool to tack on safety messages in better detail.

Use signs.
There are different kinds of signs that are used. Examples are:
- Safe procedure signs, uses symbols, images and texts on a green background. This signs are used to direct the employees to safe areas, medical stations and safe courses of actions to take.
- Mandatory signs use symbols on a blue field. Place these signs to convey actions that must be taken and confirm approved procedures.
- Fire fighting and fire equipment signs are signs identifying fire equipment and fire regulations and precautions.
- Warning signs conveys potential dangers in particular locations in the workplace.
- Prohibition signs warn actions in the workplace that are prohibited.
- Supplementary signs are signs used to provide other information that may or may not directly affect the safety of the workplace but conveys supplemental information.

Slogans are one of the simplest and most inexpensive forms of safety campaign that could be run in the office. When the slogan is catchy and trendy, everybody remembers it better and safety awareness is ensured. For the slogan to be effective, choose mottos carefully and if clichés could be avoided come up with original ideas preferably coming from the employees themselves or a distilled slogan form different suggestions.

To ensure workplace safety, companies spend substantial amounts of money on research and study to come out with straightforward solutions to prevent injuries and accidents. For macro implementation, the simplest and most popular techniques work best.