Office work is considered light and is often not under consideration where an injury could happen–at least no more serious than a paper cut. That is not true however, an employee can be injured in an office environment. It may not always be severe but the injuries can still be debilitating, even though there nature is different that injuries in other work environments. The following are some easy ways to avoid common office injuries. By being proactive, you could avoid a lot of future problems.
Tripping and Falling Hazards
Trips, slips and falls are quite commonplace accidents that occur in office environments. In order to minimize the risks of these types of accidents and injuries:
- Keep all walkways clear.
- Be sure to close all drawers when you are done with them.
- Keep electrical cords out of walkways or secure them if they are absolutely necessary.
- Never run in the office–you may be in a hurry, but it’s not worth risking it.
- Have any spills dealt with and cleaned up immediately.
- Be sure that all carpets are secured.
- All stairways should have proper railings for fall prevention.
- Have any loose tiles dealt with immediately. If need be have a sign placed warning people until it can be fixed.
Back Injuries
Typically you would not associate heavy lifting with an office position. There may be times, however, when you are required to lift heavy boxes of files or computer paper. In these scenarios it is of the utmost importance that you use proper lifting techniques in order to prevent back injury. This means lifting in a way that will prevent strain on the back muscles.
Other Aches and Pains
Some other ways in which you could sustain an injury are through the everyday tasks that are required of you. In order to avoid strain injuries it is advisable to perform tasks in an ergonomic work environment.
- Have your chair set at a height that does not have you reaching up to a keyboard. Your chair should be at a height that allows your arms to rest comfortably.
- Try an Aeron chair. The Aeron chair is an ergonomically designed piece of furniture that boasts it’s adaptability to any person’s body.
- Take frequent stretch breaks. Reach, flex and roll your wrists. Your hands are doing a lot for you, give them a quick rub to help circulation.
- Make a conscious effort to maintain proper body alignment while seated.
- Have a footrest…especially if your feet don’t touch the floor.
- Place your mouse in an area that doesn’t make your lean or reach to use it. This will avoid having unnecessary strain on your back and shoulder.
By observing the safety guidelines, and taking some measures to make your workspace more ergonomically friendly, you can protect your body from easily preventable strains and injuries. In addition, a healthy active lifestyle can help protect your overall health, and this includes office injuries. Take the steps to protect yourself, in order to avoid what could be a chronic condition.