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Topics: Offices

Introduction:

The office environment is not considered a high risk work place, however there are a number of areas which need to be considered to improve the safety of the office including:

  • Slip and trips
  • Electrical equipement
  • Visual Display Units and work stations are correctly adjusted for the person using them
  • Asbestos surveys of older buildings, who is responsible for the survey and removal of asbestos if required.  This maybe detailed in the lease agreement if applicable
  • COSHH assessments of any chemicals which maybe stored and used in the office area, including some strong bleaches and other cleaning products
  • Emergency fire evacuation procedures need to be in place and adequate signing in the office directing staff and visitors to the escape routes
  • Other information which needs to be considered and displayed would be Employers Insurance, who the first aiders are, and any general safety information that employees need to know.  There should also be an accident book within the office
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Key Issues:

  • Slips and Trips

    This would be the most common type of incident within the office environment.  Although rarely fatal, injuries from slips and trips can be severe enough to the injured person for them to be off work, resulting on increased costs to employers for replacement staff, disruption to work flow and any additional training for new staff, and also any legal costs encured from the injury.

    Typical reasons for slips and trips would include, electrical cables running along the floor, storage of paper in hallways and access ways, wet floor surfaces after spillages not being cleaned up promptly.

  • Electrical Appliances

    There are a large number of electrical appliances within the majority of offices ranging from computers and printers to toasters and kettles.  Each of these applicance will be subjected to some form of contact and movement from which they could receive damage.  Regular visual inspections of electrical applicances can highlight any damage and have that item repaired or replaced.  By removing or repairing damaged electrically equipment you can reduce the risk of electric shock to your eployees.  Visual inspections would cover the socket and plug of the item, any cracks to the casing of the plug or bare wires entering the plug.  The outer skin of the cable can be damaged which could result in bare wires being exposed.  The appliance itself may receive missuse or misshandling resulting in cracked casing or damaged internal components.  This visual inspection can be carried out by a suitable trained employee, futher Portable appliance testing of the applicane can be done by a competant person.

Key Legislation

The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000

The Health and Safety at Work (Northern Ireland) Order 1978

Please note that these links are to the original legislation, visitors should verify for themselves whether legislation is in force or whether it has been amended or repealed by subsequent legislation.