Out of Harm’s Way: Office Safety Tips All Employees Should Know

team high fiving in office

Safety first!

We’ve all heard this adage. But do you put this advice into regular practice?

As an office worker, you might assume your work environment is risk-free. After all, you don’t work in a construction zone or with dangerous chemicals. But you should still keep safety in mind.

Put your safety first. Keep reading for some office safety tips that every employee should know.

Know the Handbook

Read your employee handbook. You know, that thick book that they gave you when you first started working there. It might read like stereo instructions, but you should commit it to memory.

Why? Because this is where you’ll find company safety policies and procedures.

They’ll lay out what you should do any time you’re faced with a safety risk. If you know the handbook, you’ll be better equipped to handle an unsafe situation.

And if you’re looking for more safety information, check-in with an organization like the ASSP (American Society of Safety Professionals). They offer some great resources about industry safety standards.

Break It ‘Till You Make It

Take breaks! Many work-related injuries can be avoided by simply taking breaks.

Breaks get the blood flowing into your muscles so you don’t get stiff and sore. And they give your eyes a much-needed break from the screen. This helps with eyestrain and headaches.

Taking regular breaks has been shown to improve your attitude, increase creativity, and help fight off boredom. Getting up from your chair and moving around brings fresh oxygen to your brain.

It’s also a great stress reliever. Stress causes many health issues when it’s allowed to go into overdrive. Whenever you’re feeling frazzled, take a quick break to keep the negative effects of stress at bay.

Keep Your Eyes Peeled

You know your office better than anyone else, right? If you see something that’s out of place, report it asap. And help to get it cleared up to protect yourself and your fellow workers.

Check around your desk to make sure electrical cords are safely tucked away. Keep aisles clear of clutter by putting things away as soon as you’re done with them. If you see that there’s something obstructing an emergency exit, remove it immediately.

Keep an eye out for broken furniture, like broken desk wheels or wobbly tables. Report torn carpet or broken floor tiles to your manager. And always close file cabinet drawers when you’re done using them so that people don’t run into them and hurt themselves.

Sit Up Straight!

Many workplace injuries are the result of poor posture or improper chairs. Make sure that your chair is comfortable and provides support for your back. If the chair you’re given doesn’t meet these standards, ask for another.

To ensure that you don’t injury your back or neck, elevate your computer screen so that it’s at eye level. Use a footrest if your feet don’t touch the ground. And place your keyboard so that there’s plenty of support for your wrists to avoid carpal tunnel.

It’s also important to keep up with good posture when you need to lift something heavy. This may include heavy file boxes or large supply bins. Pay attention, move slowly, and lift with your legs, not your back.

Know Your Office Safety Tips

Our last piece of advice is to know your office safety tips! Write a list and keep it in your office so you won’t forget to think about safety first.

If you’re looking for more business tips, you’ve come to the right place! Check out our Business Tips category for a bunch of helpful articles.