Five Common Office Hazards to Prevent – Part 2

Five Common Office Hazards to Prevent – Part 2

Eye Strain

Spending a large portion of your workday at the computer can cause eyestrain, according to experts. Eyes may become dry and irritated, and the worker may begin having trouble focusing. Light levels should be suitable for the work task i.e. manual detail work may require higher levels of lighting, but staring at a computer monitor does not, according to specialists.

Employees should cut down on excessive glare by closing blinds on windows and dimming the overhead lights. Correctly positioning monitors slightly below eye level, minimizing screen glare and increasing computer font size all can help alleviate eyestrain.

To reduce eyestrain and fatigue, most regulations recommend taking a ten minutes break for every hour a worker spends looking at a computer screen,  to give the eyes a rest and focusing on things at varying distances.

Fire Safety

Most office fires are traced to inability to proactively assess hazards in the office, therefore the following steps are very important:

1. Power cords should be inspected regularly for wear and be replaced if they are frayed or have exposed wire.

1. Cords should never be used if the third prong has been damaged or removed.
2. Cords should never overload outlets. The most common causes of fires started by extension cords are improper use and overloading. Extension cords should be an approved type and used only temporarily to connect one device at a time ( check our earlier write-up on this).

If employees use space heaters, verify that the appliances are approved for commercial use and have a switch that automatically shuts them off if they tip over. Space heaters should not be placed near combustible materials like paper.

Objects should never be placed closer than 18 inches below fire-sprinkler heads, to allow a full range of coverage.

Emergency-exit routes should never be blocked or locked for any reason.

It is extremely critical that employees be trained on what to do in case of fire outbreak, especially in the basic use of fire extinguishers.

According to regulations, when an employer has provided portable fire extinguishers for employee use, the employer must also train workers on the general principles of fire extinguisher use. Employers have the option of requiring all employees to immediately evacuate the premises.

Indoor Air Quality

The poor indoor air quality associated with change in weather condition has contributed to a rise in occupational asthma and other respiratory disorders, chemical sensitivity and allergies, according to government agencies.

Some of the reasons for poor air quality are inadequate ventilation systems; office over-crowding; the presence of cleaning chemicals and pesticides; water damage and mold growth; cubicle design that blocks off air flow to work areas; too much or too little humidity; and poor housekeeping, which leads to dirty work environments.

The office’s air quality can be greatly improved by proper maintenance, cleaning and filtration of the ventilation, heating and air conditioning system. This will help reduce respiratory irritants, infections and illnesses in our opinion.

Preventing the accumulation of dust, pollen, dirt and other buildup on all surfaces, especially in carpeting, will also cut down on respiratory irritants, infections and illnesses.

Cleanliness and orderliness, we suggest, may prevent the spread of illnesses and diseases in the workplace. Restrooms, break rooms, lunch areas and refrigerators should be regularly sanitized, and workers should be told to throw out or dispose food before it spoils.

Waste management in an office environment should be given prompt attention.

The best time to prevent accident is before it happens