Most organizations have now recalled majority of their workforce back to a regular face-to-face setup. With the increasing number of employees and workers in offices, the importance of workplace security and safety has now become paramount. In many of our blog posts, we’ve talked about being healthy in the workplace, keeping spaces ergonomic through electric standing desks and adjustable chairs, and it turns out this is one important part of workplace safety… But it’s not the only one.

In this blog post, we’ll talk about the common hazards in the workplace and how you can help avoid them.

Most Common Hazards in the Workplace

Take a look at these workplace hazards and check if your office space may be susceptible to any one of these.

Slipping, Tripping, and Falling

Perhaps among the most common hazards in the workplace, slips, trips, and falls can happen because of a lot of reasons.

• Slippery or wet floors
• Unkempt wires
• Insufficient lighting
• Clutter on the floor
• Incorrect placement of office equipment

Most of these accidents can be avoided and prevented by simply keeping things in proper order—cleaning up clutter, securing cords and cables, and making sure that any spills are attended to right away. If you’re an office employee, make sure to use proper footwear. And, don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need to handle something that is beyond your capability.

Electrical and Fire Hazards

All offices today use electronic equipment, so all are susceptible to both electrical and to fire hazards. When it comes to avoiding these hazards, it all starts in the beginning. All wires should be placed strategically away from areas with heavy foot traffic. All electrical equipment should be properly grounded. And, employees should receive some training in safe electrical practices. In day-to-day office operations, regular inspection should be done on electronic equipment and wires. Check for damage in the form of tearing in the wires, wire placement, and other potential problems.

Meanwhile, all offices must have a fire safety procedure in place, including training for employees as well as clear evacuation guidelines in case fire occurs. Making sure that fire extinguishers are readily available and regularly inspected is also important.

Health Hazards

Unlike most workplace hazards, health hazards may not occur immediately and may not be as noticeable. Many of these hazards develop over time, the most common of which are musculoskeletal or cardiovascular in nature brought about by the sedentary lifestyle in most workplaces.

This is where ergonomics plays a very important part. Standing desks, adjustable chairs, and ergonomic accessories are all designed to help you maintain a natural and healthy posture and position at work so that you can add more movement to your day and get the needed body support even for those times when you need to sit for a longer period of time.

Hazards Related to Manual Handling of Objects

These hazards are most common in workplaces that include heavy physical work, such as carrying and lifting objects, pushing or pulling them. Hazards may be avoided via the following:

• Ensuring that there are proper equipment available to help workers perform the work expected of them. Carts, hoists, and dollies must be regularly inspected to make sure they are in top shape.
• Hiring people who are fit for the job in the first place, making sure they are familiar with the work and have the capability to perform them.
• Providing all workers with proper training to get the job done efficiently and safely, as well as giving them adequate rest breaks and making sure they are not overworked.

Chemical Hazards

Though not common in most offices, chemical hazards remain as a top office hazard. The effect can range from simple skin irritations to more serious respiratory issues and other illnesses. Similar to minimizing manual hazards, chemical hazards may be avoided with the use of proper equipment and materials, specifically protective equipment such as gloves, respirators, and protective clothing. Proper training on the use of chemicals and the dangers they pose should also be provided to all employees and workers involved in the job.

Which of these workplace hazards do you need to address and minimize in your specific place of work? Pay attention to any sign of potential danger and risk, and be sure to address them right away. Workplace safety and security is not something you can take lightly, so be sure to handle potential problems as soon as they arise.

About Us

MotionGrey is a Canadian standing desk company that specializes in ergonomic furniture. We supply and install only the best quality standing desks and ergonomic chairs in the country.

Our products are designed with wellness as the focal point. From our electric standing desks to our office and gaming chairs, we deliver best value by putting your health, safety, and comfort as top priority. Boost your creativity and level up work performance. We want you to create great outcomes so we’re providing you only the best tools to make them possible.
 
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