This past week we’ve finally said hello to the sunshine and it feels great so it’s a grat time for spring cleaning!
With the lifting of the weather it feels like the perfect opportunity to do some spring cleaning around the office. Although offices tend to be low risk work environments, there are still plenty of hazards that can be avoided with a simple tidy up.
Read on to find out our suggestions for a safer office environment:
– Slips, trips and falls are the most common cause of office injury. According to HSE, slips and trips cause 40% of all reported major injuries in the workplace. Avoid these occurring by staying clutter free – ensuring that items such as files and boxes are stored in their correct location where they are not likely to be tripped over.
– Wire Management! We cannot stress enough how simple yet effective this one is. Wires are clear trip hazards particularly if there are many wires in a room that need to be plugged into the same area. Try cable tying wires together or using a wire duct to protect them and avoid trips. Also make sure that computer wires are going off the back of the desk not the front. If there are a lot of wires going to the same area, a surge protected extension box is important to keep electricity under control in the room. Also, ensure that wires that aren’t in use are unplugged.
– Check that all electrical items in the office are PAT tested.
– Safe stacking. Do you have a cupboard that is full of documents or items that have no place elsewhere? We do! Ensure it’s safe by storing heavy objects such as boxes close to the floor to avoid them being knocked over. Also ensure that you do not exceed the load capacity of shelves or storage units.
– General housekeeping of the office can really impact how safe it is. It is important to have an effective housekeeping plan in place to help eliminate common hazards. For example, regular cleaning and tidying ensures that walking areas are clear from trip hazards and escape exits are not blocked. It is also important to minimise fire hazards such as cardboard and dust.
– According to The Health and Safety Act (1981) is a legal requirement for employers to ensure that adequate facilities, equipment and personnel are available should an employee be taken ill or are injured at work. How many people trained in First Aid at Work required at your premises is depends on its size however, we recommend that every employee is trained in at least basic First Aid. This will mean that colleagues can act in the correct way with confidence if their medical assistance is required. This knowledge boosts morale and confidence within the workplace.
– Now is the perfect time to check that first aid kits are in date and fully stocked if not already done. This is something that should be checked relatively often – by delegating the task of checking every month the risk of stock running out or out of date is minimised
– It is also a good idea to check that all fire alarms are working, extinguishers are in date and there is an efficient fire plan in place.
– Last but definitely not least, we strongly recommend having at least several of your staff trained in Fire Safety and the Role of the Fire Marshal. This will mean that in the case of a fire, panic and human error can be reduced. Essentially this could save lives.