Office Safety

1
Office Safety Ergonomics Training
Facilities Planning Management
By Chaizong Lor, Safety Coordinator
2
Office Safety Training

• Training Objectives
• Slips, Trips Falls
• Electrical Hazards
• Office Related Ergo issues
• Housekeeping
• Emergency Preparedness

3
Slips, Trips Falls

• Prevent them by remembering the following
• Do not allow cabling to create a tripping hazard
• Clear up spillages quickly
• Do not block passageways
• Keep office areas clean
• Keep stacking and storage areas safe

4
Slips, Trips Falls

• Watch out for
• Worn or loose carpets
• Broken stair tread edges
• Chipped floor boards and tiles
• Watch where you walk
• High heels
• Pick up objects that fall (i.e. pencils etc.)

5
Electrical Hazards

• Extension cords shall only be used in emergency
  situations
• Cords shall be kept in good repair - no cuts or
  missing ground points
• Cords placed so that they do not become a
  tripping hazard
• Never place a cord under a rug or through
  doorways - both may cause fires
• Do Not overload circuits

6
Electrical Hazards

• Do Not piggy back surge protectors
• Avoid overloading outlets and power strips
• Dont plug one power strip into another
• Check for worn or frayed cords and have them
  replaced immediately

Piggy backed Multi-plug strips
7
Office Related to Ergo Issues

• What is Ergonomics?
• Ergonomics is the science designed to fit with
  human capabilities and limitations.
• Improving the fit between work environment and
  employee can result in
• improved employee comfort
• improved employee productivity
• reduced chance for occupational
  injuries/illnesses
• improved employee satisfaction

8
Office Related to Ergo Issues

• CTDs or Repetitive Strain/Motion Injuries
  (RSIs/RMIs) occur from repeated physical
  movements that place unnecessary stress on and
  damage to
• tendons
• Nerves (Hand, wrist, arm shoulder, neck and
  back)
• Muscles
• and other soft body tissues

9
Office Related to Ergo Issues

• Catalysts at-risk typing/mousing technique, poor
  body positions, lack of adequate rest/breaks and
  excessive force.

10
Office Related to Ergo Issues

• Desks
• Work Surface Depth
• Location of Frequently Used Devices Should be
  located in Repetitive Access Zone

Recommended Zones for Workplace Components
11
Office Related to Ergo Issues

• Feet, Knees, and Legs
• Use an adjustable work surface and chair that
  allow your feet to rest firmly on the floor, or
  use a footrest
• If you use a footrest, be sure it is wide enough
  to accommodate different leg positions within
  your comfort zone.
• Knees should be about hip level and form a 900
  angle between the thighs and lower leg

12
Office Related to Ergo Issues

• Back
• Arrange your work so that you are looking
  straight ahead most of the time.
• Make sure your keyboard is parallel to the front
  of your desk when you are using it.
• Sit back in your chair and rest your upper body
  against the backrest.
• Change your sitting position at regular intervals
  by leaning slightly forward and then slightly
  backward.

13
Office Related to Ergo Issues

• Forearms, Wrists, and Hands
• Check your seat height - your elbows should be no
  higher than keyboard height.
• Don't deploy rear keyboard feet unless your
  elbows are below desk height.
• Thoroughly revise your whole working posture,
  making sure that your hands are in line with your
  forearms.

14
Office Related to Ergo Issues

• Forearms, Wrists, and Hands
• At regular intervals do some exercise with your
  hands. (This relieves tension in the fingers,
  hands, wrists and forearms).
• Sit close to the desk and don't put things
  between you and the keyboard except a gel wrist
  rest

15
Office Related to Ergo Issues

• Forearms, Wrists, and Hands
• Use your whole arm and shoulder to move the
  mouse, not just your wrist. Don't rest or anchor
  your wrist while using your pointing device keep
  your wrist, arm, and shoulder free to move.

RIGHT Keep your wrist in a straight, neutral
position when using your pointing device.
WRONG Don't angle your wrist when using your
pointing device.
16
Office Related to Ergo Issues

• Shoulders and Elbows
• Adjust your chair height or keyboard height so
  that your shoulders are relaxed and your elbows
  hang comfortably at your sides

17
Office Related to Ergo Issues

• Eyes
• Working at your computer for long periods can be
  a visually demanding task and may cause your eyes
  to become irritated and fatigued.
• Resting Your Eyes.
• Cleaning Your Monitor and Glasses.
• Use blinds or curtains to reduce the glare from
  windows.

18
Office Related to Ergo Issues

• Eyes Cont.
• Set the monitor at 0-15 degrees off the vertical.
  Start at 0 degrees, then angle it if you find an
  angle preferable.
• Your eyes should be at a comfortable viewing
  distance from the monitor (about arms length)

19
Office Related to Ergo Issues

• Eyes Cont.
• Look away from the screen every few minutes at a
  distant object.
• Symptoms (Eyes)
• General tiredness
• Dry, itching feeling
• Irritated eyes
• Blurred vision
• Headache

20
Office Related to Ergo Issues

• Neck and Head
• Set your computer so that the top of the visible
  area of the monitor is level with your eyes, when
  sitting up.
• Your head and neck should be upright, relaxed,
  and balanced between the shoulders
• Use a document holder to raise your reference
  material as close to the computer screen as
  possible.

21
Housekeeping

• Good housekeeping is an important element of
  accident prevention in the office
• Poor housekeeping may lead to
• Lead or contribute to fires
• Injuries to personnel
• Unhealthful working conditions
• Free and clear of obstructions
• Proper layout, spacing and arrangement of
  equipment or furniture

22
Housekeeping

• Materials stored in supply rooms
• Neatly stacked
• Heavy files placed in the bottom file draws
• Nothing above shoulder height
• Anchor single file cabinets where possible
• Lower drawers should bear the heaviest load
• Never open more than one drawer
• Always close drawers when finished

23
Housekeeping

• Office Furniture
• Always use approved ladder or stool
• Never lean back in chair and put
• your feet on desk
• Use proper office equipment/tool for the job at
  hand (e.g., staple remover to remove staples).
• Damaged chairs, file cabinets, desks must be
  replaced

24
Emergency Preparedness

• Emergency Planning Steps
• Become familiar with evacuation routes
• Know where the evacuation assembly area(s) are
  for your building(s)
• Look around and note locations of
• Exits (not elevators)
• Fire extinguishers
• Fire alarm pull stations
• First aid kits
• Emergency shower and eyewashes
• Memorize emergency phone numbers

25
Office Safety Training
Any Questions?
???