Five Ways to Make Your Office Safer

September 4, 2020
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Clare Louise
Posted in Business
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Generally, it is easy to establish potential risks in an office space. Most initial assessments will identify common hazards, detailing the necessary precautions to take to minimise damage and harm. Such risks will be general and widely understood among offices, such as those involving heavy lifting or the operation of machinery. However, there are other, relatively common hazards that are prone to be overlooked.

Adjustable Office Equipment

By limiting the options of office equipment to your employees, you are increasing the likelihood that they will develop and experience discomfort and injury during their work. Such ailments, like carpal tunnel syndrome, can lead to significant pain, requiring time away from work or limiting the amount that can be completed during regular hours.

As such, it is in the interest of both the employer and employee to consider adjustable, ergonomic office equipment, from keyboards to chairs, to support sustainable health and performance within the workplace.

Prepare For The Worst

It often happens that disastrous events are given little credence within the office space. It is hard to envisage the occurrence of extreme events that call for an evacuation. However, no matter how farfetched they may seem, it is crucial that your office and the building is ready and aware of how to handle major events.

Regularly reviewing your evacuation plan as well as your office’s fire door survey is a small cost that will prevent significant consequences should they ever be tested.

Medical Training

Your office’s ability to respond to an emergency is a strong defence that may prevent a minor risk spiralling out of control. This preparedness can be as simple as ensuring that first aid boxes are full of all necessary items and can extend to ensuring that medically trained personnel are available at all times.

Having a staff member who is able to handle basic medical situations, knowing the measures to enact, can make all the difference.

Maintain Cleanliness

A significant number of office incidents occur due to poor housekeeping. Stacks of papers can encourage fires and neglected wire management increases the occurrence of tripping. Approaching the continuous need for tidy office space should be the responsibility of every employee. To manage this, consider regular reviews of workplace hazards as well as an appropriate channel for employees to voice their concerns of potential risk.

Calm and Stress-Free

Mental health is commonly disregarded in the workplace. It can be immensely difficult for an employee to express their concerns over stress and mental wellbeing for fear of being ostracised or penalised because of it.

Without due care, mental health issues can be hugely detrimental to both individual staff members and the office as a whole. A judgement-free environment should be available to those working in the office, one that supports open and honest communication. Additionally, stressors, such as noise and workload, should be monitored to ensure they do not overwhelm the wellbeing of your staff.