HOW SAFE IS YOUR OFFICE ENVIRONMENT-SLIPS AND TRIPS CHECK LIST
Slips and trips are the joke that every office is made of. Remember that time when Andy from HR tripped over that vacuum cleaner lead the cleaner had left out (not our cleaner!) and ended up blushing and embarrassed on the floor? That's all good and well when the accident is innocent, but it may not be so hilarious when Jill from accounts goes flying down the stairs and has to have 6 months off work due to a slipped disc...
For ease of use, this check-list has been split into 2 parts. Expect the second part this Thursday.
PART 1
Walkways and areas of work
Let's take a look at your walk-ways and gang-ways. Offices are naturally busy places, but casting an eye over these may help keep things risk free and save on petty accidents that cause serious long-term problems. So, are there any loose floor-boards? What about that carpet that badly needs replacing? Masking tape might cut it until the carpet guy turns up, but stories abound of office environments where sticky-up carpet causes a routine hazard, so best get it sorted.
Now look beyond how the office appears. If possible, imagine the office without its desks and without the water filter. Now mentally fill the office back up with its various items. Does that box in the corner really need to be there after all? Objects which settle into place and literally become part of the furniture are a big problem which often get overlooked. Just because nobody has had an accident yet, well...that doesn't mean that it still isn't possible!
Now onto safety signs. For example, if Graham from Health & Safety is forgetting to follow his own advice and not putting up hazard signs after he's mopped the kitchen floor, Audrey from Finance may just go flying. Not so funny when twenty-five angry employees need to be paid!
Extra equipment and using it safely
One common problem for many offices is extra equipment. For example, aisles between work-stations may have been wide enough three years ago, but what about when mechanical equipment has been brought in? Are they wide enough now? If the equipment or machine is hitting every work station as it passes through, this needs to be looked at. Likewise, if a cleaner cannot fit through the gaps, how can they be expected to do their job properly? Not seeing to this crucial issue costs you time and ultimately makes you much less efficient.