subject: Maximising Safety Measures In The Office Workplace [print this page] You might not think it but one of the biggest places where accidents occur is in the workplace, often for entirely unexpected reasons no matter where you work, be it a factory or an office, there is always a risk of accident, so you must ensure that proper safety measures are put in place.
Perhaps the biggest factor is first establishing a health and safety officer to carry out checks and conduct safety measures often this can be the same person that is also the fire safety officer. Such safety checks should be checking wiring, smoke alarms and doors are unobstructed, as well as talking through with employees to ensure that they are aware of all safety procedures and guidelines.
One of the most common accidents in the office workplace is tripping over wires as more and more offices rely on computing systems, it is almost inevitable that some wires will trail across the floor. Some offices however use cable tidies, placed under the desks and position the desks so that they are directly next to the power sockets. This problem has also been addressed by the creation of wireless connectivity, which allows data to be transferred without the use of wires.
It is also vital to know where the assembly points are in case of a fire, as well as where alarms or fire extinguishers are placed within the workplace. A lot of shops ask new employees to sketch out the floor-plan of the environment, with particular importance placed on fire safety measures. A fire safety officer should show new employees around also and conduct the evacuation in drills.
If you are working in an office, it is vital to maintain equipment and do regular checks on electrical systems, particularly with regards to spreading out the power usage placing too many plugs on a single socket even on a safety adapter can short out the system and cause fuses to blow. Not only does this present a danger of fire, but also can prove to be extremely expensive to repair and maintain effectively.
Although it may seem like a minor aspect, it is also vital to check the conditions of chairs to prevent any accidents, as well encouraging employees to sit properly to maximise posture and stop any back problems.
Whilst is might not seem that an office could be a dangerous place, you always have to keep your eyes out for any potential dangers and address them as soon as possible.
