Office Safety Training

Training Objectives:
Slips, Trips & Falls Warning Signs of Escalating
Electrical Hazards Behavior
Office Related Ergo issues Reducing the Risks
Housekeeping Defusing a threatening Situation
Workplace Violence Recap
Signs of Crisis Emergency Preparedness
 Slips, Trips & Falls
Prevent them by remembering the following:
Do not allow cabling to create a tripping hazard
Clear up spillages quickly
Do not block passageways
Keep office areas clean
Keep stacking and storage areas safe
 Slips, Trips & Falls
Watch out for:
Worn or loose carpets
Broken stair tread edges
Chipped floor boards and tiles
Watch where you walk
High heels
Pick up objects that fall (i.e. pencils etc.)
 Electrical Hazards
Extension cords shall only be used in
emergency situations
Cords shall be kept in good repair - no
cuts or missing ground points
Cords placed so that they do not become
a tripping hazard
Never place a cord under a rug or through
doorways - both may cause fires
Do Not overload circuits
 Electrical Hazards
Do Not piggy back surge protectors
Avoid overloading outlets and power strips
Don’t plug one power strip into another
Check for worn or frayed cords and have them
replaced immediately

Piggy backed
Multi-plug strips
Office Related to Ergo Issues
What is Ergonomics?
Ergonomics is the science designed to “fit” with
human capabilities and limitations.
Improving the “fit” between work environment and
employee can result in:
improved employee comfort
improved employee productivity
reduced chance for occupational injuries/illnesses
improved employee satisfaction
Office Related to Ergo Issues
Repetitive Strain/Motion Injuries (RSIs/RMIs)
occur from repeated physical movements that
place unnecessary stress on and damage to:
Tendons
Nerves (Hand, wrist, arm shoulder, neck & back)
Muscles
and other soft body tissues
Office Related to Ergo Issues
Catalysts: at-risk typing/mousing technique,
poor body positions, lack of adequate
rest/breaks and excessive force.
Office Related to Ergo Issues
Desks
Work Surface Depth
Location of Frequently Used Devices Should
be located in Repetitive Access Zone

Recommended Zones for Workplace Components

Office Related to Ergo Issues
Feet, Knees, and Legs
Use an adjustable work surface and
chair that allow your feet to rest
firmly on the floor, or use a footrest
If you use a footrest, be sure it is
wide enough to accommodate
different leg positions within your
comfort zone.
Knees should be about hip level and
form a 900 angle between the thighs
and lower leg
Office Related to Ergo Issues
Back
Arrange your work so that you are looking
straight ahead most of the time.
Make sure your keyboard is parallel to the
front of your desk when you are using it.
Sit back in your chair and rest your upper
body against the backrest.
Change your sitting position at regular
intervals by leaning slightly forward and
then slightly backward.
Office Related to Ergo Issues
Forearms, Wrists, and Hands
Check your seat height - your
elbows should be no higher than
keyboard height.
Don't deploy rear keyboard feet
unless your elbows are below desk
height.
Thoroughly revise your whole
working posture, making sure that
your hands are in line with your
forearms.
Office Related to Ergo Issues
Forearms, Wrists, and Hands
At regular intervals do some exercise with your
hands. (This relieves tension in the fingers, hands,
wrists and forearms).
Sit close to the desk and don't put things between
you and the keyboard except a gel wrist rest
 Office Related to Ergo Issues
Forearms, Wrists, and Hands
Use your whole arm and shoulder to move the
mouse, not just your wrist. Don't rest or anchor your
wrist while using your pointing device; keep your
wrist, arm, and shoulder free to move.

RIGHT WRONG
Keep your wrist in a Don't angle your wrist
straight, neutral when using
position when using your your pointing device.
pointing device.
 Office Related to Ergo Issues
Shoulders and Elbows
Adjust your chair height or keyboard height so that
your shoulders are relaxed and your elbows hang
comfortably at your sides
 Office Related to Ergo Issues
Eyes
Working at your computer for long periods can be a
visually demanding task and may cause your eyes to
become irritated and fatigued.
Resting Your Eyes.
Cleaning Your Monitor and Glasses.
Use blinds or curtains to reduce the Glare from windows.
Office Related to Ergo Issues
Eyes Cont.
Set the monitor at 0-15 degrees off
the vertical. Start at 0 degrees, then
angle it if you find an angle
preferable.
Your eyes should be at a comfortable
viewing distance from the monitor
(about arms’ length)
Office Related to Ergo Issues
Eyes Cont.
Look away from the screen every few
minutes at a distant object.
Symptoms (Eyes)
General tiredness
Dry, itching feeling
Irritated eyes
Blurred vision
Headache
 Office Related to Ergo Issues
Neck and Head
Set your computer so that the top of the visible area of
the monitor is level with your eyes, when sitting up.
Your head and neck should be upright, relaxed, and
balanced between the shoulders
Use a document holder to raise your reference
material as close to the computer screen as possible.
 Housekeeping
Good housekeeping is an important
element of accident prevention in the office
Poor housekeeping may lead to:
Lead or contribute to fires
Injuries to personnel
Unhealthful working conditions
Free and clear of obstructions:
Proper layout, spacing and arrangement of
equipment or furniture
 Housekeeping
Materials stored in supply rooms:
Neatly stacked
Heavy files placed in the bottom file draws
Nothing above shoulder height
Anchor single file cabinets where possible
Lower drawers should bear the heaviest load
Never open more than one drawer
Always close drawers when finished
 Housekeeping
Office Furniture:
Always use approved ladder or stool
Never lean back in chair and put your feet on desk
Use proper office equipment/tool for the job at
hand (e.g., staple remover to remove staples).
Damaged chairs, file cabinets, desks must be
replaced
 Workplace Violence
Any act against an employee that
creates a hostile work environment and
negatively affects the employee, either
physically or psychologically.
Any physical assault, threatening behavior, or
verbal abuse occurring in the work setting.
 Signs of crisis
Confusion
Frustration
Blame
Anger
Hostile

Call Police
 Recap
Employee Responsibilities under the Law
If you witness or are a victim of workplace
violence, YOU MUST REPORT it to
University Police.
Emergency Preparedness
Emergency Planning Steps:
Become familiar with evacuation routes
Know where the evacuation assembly
area(s) are for your building(s)
Look around and note locations of:
Exits (not elevators)
Fire extinguishers
Fire alarm pull stations
First aid kits
Emergency shower and eyewashes
Memorize emergency phone numbers
• Any Questions

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