In today’s fast paced and diverse workplace, there is a need for qualified people not only in the field but also in the workplace, that are trained in the basic essentials of safety and health, leadership, communication, and regulatory requirements.
We always focus on safety in the construction industry and many times overlook the office area.
Personal safety (whether on the job site, in the office, at home or at play) focuses on preventing the injuries to people, by controlling the risks of everyday activities and promoting the appropriate safety culture and behaviors.
Remember: Stay out of the “Line of Fire” (Any action that creates a reaction that puts you in an unsafe position)
Ask yourself “What is going on around me?”
Here are some examples to think about.
Standing by desk while an ergo adjustment was taking place.
The installers removed the top of the desk, a side panel fell and struck employee on leg.
No matter what your job, your hands are your most important instruments!
Because we use our hands so much, they are especially at-risk for injury. While you’re performing various tasks, think about your hand placement.
What are the worst things that could happen? What are you doing to prevent those things from happening? While this sounds simple, we often lose sight of how prone to injury our hands are. You don’t need to work with dangerous equipment to be at risk. We all pick things up, overuse our hands, place our hands out of sight to reach for things, interact with sharp objects, etc. Be sure to understand what could happen if things go wrong…and protect yourself.
When most of us throw something into the trash, we see that as the end of the process.
“Out of sight, out of mind”
Unfortunately, that is not the case.
In most cases, especially an office environment, at least one additional person handles the trash and is at risk if sharp items are not dealt with appropriately
In order to prevent injuries, we need to think further downstream.
There have been multiple Near Miss / Safety Suggestion entries regarding the disposal of sharp items in office trash cans. Sharp objects (i.e., tacks, razor blades, pencils, scissors, knives and paper cutters) should be stored in such a manner as to prevent anyone from being cut. Broken glass should be swept up into a dustpan, not picked up by hand. Sharp objects and hypodermic syringes must not be disposed of in regular trashcans.
Please avoid disposing of potentially-dangerous sharp items in office trash containers.
– Your actions could be “setting up” someone else for a serious injury
Some alternatives:
– Use approved containers for sharp items
• Some plants, labs and shops already have these
• If not, create a sharps trash area (box or can) for each designated area
– “Package” the sharp items to eliminate the hazard
• Place inside of another container, close tightly
• Wrap in cardboard and duct tape
– Ask the cleaning crew for help in ensuring proper disposal of questionable items
EYES
The good news is that 90% of all eye injuries can be prevented with proper eye protection. True some jobs are more prone than others for eye injuries, but we are always better off when we think safety first.
