When we think about health and safety in the workplace we seldom think about the office environment. This is because you wouldn’t think that working in a job where most of the tasks are completed while sitting in a chair would be fraught with danger.

This misconception often leads to people overlooking health and safety in the office. The risks may not be as dangerous as those associated with working onsite in a construction environment but that does not mean they do not exist.

The statistics for on the job injuries in an office setting are certainly much higher than they should be which is why we will look at some of the common safety hazards around the office in this two-part post.

Slips, trips and falls

Some of the most common injuries in an office setting are related to slips, trips and falls. These are often caused by cluttered workspaces, slippery floor surfaces and standing on items like, chairs or boxes, to reach something.  Poor cleaning practices like not mopping up after spills are some of the greatest slipping hazards.

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Struck by

Another common office safety hazard comes from workers being caught by or struck by an object. Typical culprits include drawers or doors left open, boxes or files stacked too high or on top of an unstable surface.

Ergonomic injuries

Poor ergonomic design is one of the fastest growing culprits of office injuries. Office workers spend most of their time in a seated position this makes them more susceptible to posture related injuries and strains from performing repetitive tasks. As studies continue to support ergonomic design in offices, more managers are taking steps to correct these issues in the workplace and reduce the number of related injuries.

Don’t miss part two of our post where we look at three more everyday office hazards you should be aware of.

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