{"id":2354,"date":"2018-04-05T10:33:09","date_gmt":"2018-04-05T10:33:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.tayloremmet.co.uk\/blog\/wordpress\/?p=2354"},"modified":"2018-04-05T10:33:09","modified_gmt":"2018-04-05T10:33:09","slug":"office-accidents-how-to-avoid-them","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tayloremmet.co.uk\/blogs\/office-accidents-how-to-avoid-them\/","title":{"rendered":"Office Accidents and How to Avoid Them"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you work in an office you\u2019d be forgiven for thinking that it is not a particularly dangerous workplace. Most of us never stop to think about our personal safety when we\u2019re at work and offices seem like far less dangerous places than factories, warehouses, farms or construction sites. Even so there is potential for accidents to happen in any type of workplace including offices.<\/span><\/p>\n

Every year, thousands of people across the UK are involved in workplace accidents, in fact in 2016\/17 1.3 million people suffered a work-related injury or illness according to figures from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).<\/span><\/p>\n

But what are the most common office accidents and how can they be avoided?<\/span><\/p>\n

Lifting Accidents<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

Lifting injuries to the neck, back, shoulders and arms are not uncommon in offices. You may be lifting smaller items such as files, paper or stationary but these can be just as heavy and awkward to lift as large items in a warehouse or factory. Proper manual handling training can help reduce the risk of this type of injuries. Staff should always be reminded to ask colleagues for help. If help is not available the load should be broken down into smaller amounts if possible.<\/span><\/p>\n

Tripping Accidents<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

Offices contain many tripping hazards, such as stairs, wiring, loose or frayed carpets, open cabinet drawers or random objects left lying around. Staff should be encouraged to keep the area around their workstations clear, to close drawers and cabinets immediately after use and to make sure that no wires are on show, particularly around walkways. If this is not possible then signs or hazard tape should be used to alert staff to the trip risk.<\/span><\/p>\n

Slipping Accidents<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

Hazards can include shiny floor surfaces, recently cleaned and over-polished floors, liquids such as water, sugar, oil, tea or coffee spilt on the floor. If a floor has just been cleaned or is wet, possibly due to rain or snow, employers need to ensure that caution signs are placed in the area to make it clear to staff that there is a trip hazard present. Any spillages should be cleared up as soon as they happen.<\/span><\/p>\n

Falls<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

In an office environment these accidents may include falls from chairs, ladders, desks and stools. Using a chair to reach something on a shelf is never a good idea, they are very unstable. Use a proper ladder, standing stool or step ladder.<\/span><\/p>\n

Inadequate Work Station Set Up<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

Having your workstation equipment set up incorrectly can lead to serious injuries. Back, neck or shoulder pain, eye strain, musculoskeletal disorders and repetitive strain injuries are all common. All of these can be caused by sitting at your desk for long periods of time and looking at a computer screen without taking regular breaks or from repetitive movements and over-use of muscles. Your employer should provide workstation and equipment training and assessments, but these practical tips may help to avoid injuries:<\/span><\/p>\n