Category: Ergonomics

Purpose

The purpose of this safety meeting is to highlights everyday hazards in an office setting, and to ensure we are all aware of how to control and manage existing hazards in our everyday work space.

How many safety issues can you spot?

Did you know?

As an employee, you have a key role to play in preventing work-related injuries and diseases. First, you have to be careful and take the necessary precautions to ensure your own health and safety and that of any colleagues who may be affected by your work or activities.
Source: Government of Canada

Identify | Eliminate | Control -- General Office Safety Activities

The best way to control for hazards are to identify them, and then eliminate them!
Other simple controls can include administrative controls, that includes the safety check list below.

Office Safety Check List:

Ensure you are conversant with emergency evacuation.
Ensure that all electrical cords are in good condition and are not overloaded.
Ensure that computer monitors are adjusted to correct height and kept clean.
Ensure fans/space heaters are used to manufacturer specifications. Ensure floors and aisles are kept clear and not cluttered.
Ensure that only one drawer of filling is open at one time and that drawers are closed when not in use.
Ensure proper type of fire extinguisher is available.
When transporting materials of a heavy nature ensure that handcarts and trolleys are used properly.
Operate microwave according to manufacturer’s specifications.
Ensure coffee makers are used according to manufacturer specifications.
Ensure photocopier is maintained according to manufacturer’s specifications.
Ensure chairs are in good repair.
Ensure rugs are kept clean and in good repair – free of tripping hazard.
Ensure paper cutter blade is placed in closed lock position.
Ensure all loose clothing is tied back when using paper shredder.

Remember!
Safety is everyone's responsibility; you have the right to participate, and help your employer identify and correct work related health and safety concerns.

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In this safety meeting, we take a look into office set up, injuries, and how ergonomics helps us to address possible workplace strains and sprains, and potentially eliminates loss of productivity, and improves work related health and safety.

As more employees work from home, office ergonomics are a very important safety consideration. Adults now average up to 11 hours per day in front of a screen, so having a comfortable and efficient environment set up to prevent musculoskeletal injuries (MDIs/MSDs), that can include sprains and strains.

The estimated economic burden associated with MSDs in Canada is astounding. The Canadian Orthopedic Care Strategy Group deems occupational and non-occupational MSDs combined to be “the most costly medical condition in Canada”, estimating direct and indirect costs to be in the $22 billion range."
Source: www.whsc.on.ca

The most effective controls for setting up your home office will be engineering controls. Remember, engineering controls involve making physical modifications to control the hazard or reduce exposure.

They can include:
1. If you use a laptop, use an external keyboard or monitor.
2. Sit with your elbows and knees at 90 degree angles.
3. Look straight ahead, not at an angle, to your monitor.
4. Switch it up; at work you probably take more breaks than you think! Take breaks and get up and move around to relieve tension and strain.

Recommendations from the Mayo Clinic also include:

Chair
Choose a chair that supports your spinal curves. Adjust the height of your chair so that your feet rest flat on the floor or on a footrest and your thighs are parallel to the floor.

Keyboard and mouse
Place your mouse within easy reach and on the same surface as your keyboard. While typing or using your mouse, keep your wrists straight, your upper arms close to your body, and your hands at or slightly below the level of your elbows. Use keyboard shortcuts to reduce extended mouse use.

Footrest
If your chair is too high for you to rest your feet flat on the floor — or the height of your desk requires you to raise the height of your chair — use a footrest. If a footrest is not available, try using a small stool or a stack of sturdy books instead.

Desk
Under the desk, make sure there's clearance for your knees, thighs and feet. If the desk is too low and can't be adjusted, place sturdy boards or blocks under the desk legs. If the desk is too high and can't be adjusted, raise your chair.

Monitor
Place the monitor directly in front of you, about an arm's length away. The top of the screen should be at or slightly below eye level. The monitor should be directly behind your keyboard. Place your monitor so that the brightest light source is to the side.

Did you know that MSDs are the NUMBER ONE type of lost-time work injury reported:

cause pain and suffering for thousands of workers every year
cost workplaces hundreds of millions of dollars due to worker absence and lost productivity

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Safety Meetings

General Office safety

Purpose

How many safety issues can you spot?

Did you know?

Remember!
Safety is everyone's responsibility; you have the right to participate, and help your employer identify and correct work related health and safety concerns.

working from home

Jodi Lovelock

Archives

Safety Meetings

Categories

Safety Meetings

General Office safety

Purpose

How many safety issues can you spot?

Did you know? ​​

Remember!Safety is everyone's responsibility; you have the right to participate, and help your employer identify and correct work related health and safety concerns.

working from home

Jodi Lovelock

Archives

Safety Meetings

Categories

Did you know?

Remember!
Safety is everyone's responsibility; you have the right to participate, and help your employer identify and correct work related health and safety concerns.