When we think of health and safety, we often think of industries such as construction and manufacturing, whose work environments are typically littered with hundreds of safety hazards.
Offices are usually the last places we consider unsafe or potentially hazardous.
However, the latest figures show that around 10% (6,240) of all workplace injuries occurred within an office environment. We have compiled a short list of easy-to-implement tips to improve your office health and safety.
These tips will quickly boost workplace health and safety in the office when implemented well and will also aid in improving your organisation’s overall practices.
Removing trip and slip hazards
One of the easiest things you can immediately implement is removing trip hazards. Whether it’s an object in a walkway or a loose cable, fixing this minor issue can help prevent trips and falls, which are the leading cause of workplace injuries in the UK, according to the HSE (making up 30% of all injuries).
- To prevent trip injuries, make sure all walkways are clear of objects, whether they be stray objects or loose cables. Removing these potential stumbling blocks is crucial in preventing accidents.
- Prompt cleanup is equally important because they’re not just unsightly but also a serious hazard. Swiftly cleaning up any spills eliminates slippery surfaces, which helps reduce the likelihood of slips and falls.
- Well-organised cable management will also aid your overall safety, as it stops a loose cable from potentially being dragged into somebody’s way, creating a trip hazard.
- Anti-slip mats can also be a great option, particularly in entrances, providing an additional safeguard against slips. Additionally, making sure that the floors are kept dry minimises the risk of accidents.
Testing equipment regularly
Another simple step to enhance safety is thoroughly testing all your equipment, from wires to machinery. This will ensure that no faulty equipment is used, which could pose a health and safety risk, varying severity based on the problem.
Regular equipment checks are essential for maintaining office health and safety. These checks help identify potential hazards like malfunctioning equipment or damaged cords that could cause accidents such as electric shocks or fires. By conducting regular inspections, such incidents can be prevented, ensuring equipment functions properly.
When inspecting, be sure to check for faults, wear, and damage. If any problems are found, the equipment must not be used due to safety hazards. It should also be removed to prevent others from endangering themselves. Only put it back into use when it is fixed to a high standard or replaced.
Electrical outlets
Regular checks for your electrical outlets are essential for maintaining a high safety standard. All employees must be aware of the risks associated with electrical outlets to prevent accidents and ensure a safe environment.
Some health and safety risks to watch out for include overloading outlets, putting liquids near electrics, and resting objects on outlets. These actions can lead to electrical hazards and pose severe risks to the workplace.
Fire Safety
Fire safety is one of the most critical aspects of workplace health and safety, as it threatens both lives and business operations. Therefore, it must be treated seriously and handled correctly.
Every office should have a designated fire marshal responsible for ensuring fire safety. Their role involves identifying potential fire hazards, implementing preventive measures, and establishing protocols to minimise fire risks.
Office health and safety involves ensuring the availability of functional fire extinguishers suitable for different types of fires, including those involving paper or electrical equipment. Additionally, it consists of overseeing the placement of clear exit signs and coordinating evacuation plans to guide employees to safety.
All employees should be trained in fire safety procedures, and fire alarms and smoke detectors must be checked and tested on a regular basis. Employees should also know their designated evacuation routes and any specific roles they may have during an emergency.
Our online fire safety training course can be accessed here.
Regular employee training
Health and safety training by Safesmart.
Another straightforward tool you could implement in your workplace is regular training. This can be done online or physically and will ensure you and your colleagues know the correct procedures and safety measures.
Online learning, often called ‘e-learning’, is particularly convenient to implement. It saves time on travel and allows your organisation to schedule and monitor the training sessions in one place.
This will, therefore, keep everyone’s knowledge up to date, creating a safer workspace.
Employing The Right Software & Training
Using the right software and providing proper training is crucial when keeping your workplace safe.
Smartlog is an online tool that helps you keep track of everything related to fire safety and health & safety, all in one place. Whether you’re assessing risks, reporting accidents, or managing your premises, Smartlog has all the necessary features. It even offers online courses to keep your team updated on safety, complete with certificates and reminders. Smartlog makes it easy to maintain your workplace safely and compliantly.
We have created an online Health and Safety at Work course. This course provides more in-depth information about the office health and safety tips discussed in this article.
Health and safety in the office are vital for ensuring the well-being of employees and preventing workplace injuries. Despite the perception that office environments are inherently safe, statistics reveal a significant number of injuries occur within office settings.
Implementing simple yet effective measures, such as removing trip and slip hazards, promptly cleaning up spills, organising cables, and using anti-slip mats, can significantly improve office health and safety standards.
Overall, implementing these quick tips will help to prevent injuries caused by common avoidable hazards. It will also bring awareness to the common hazards that you might not think of, which will make your office a safer environment to work.
To learn more about the other training courses we provide, click here.
Source
HSE (2023) ‘Index of data tables’. Available at: https://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/tables/index.htm#riddor (accessed: 19/04/2023)
HSE (2023) ‘Health and safety statistics’. Available at: https://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/index.htm (accessed: 19/04/2023)