OFFICE
SAFETY
Legislation
 Statute “obligations”
 employers, employees & others
 consultation
 classes of persons
 reporting & recording
 Common Law “duties of care”
 vicarious liability
 Other Legislation
 anti-discrimination act
 building fire safety regulations
 environmental protection act
What Can Go Wrong In An
Office?
 Statistics
 absences
 sickness
 conflict
 Injuries
 physical
 psychological
 illnesses & diseases
Types of Hazards
 Basic Hazard Categories
 Physical
 Chemical
 Ergonomic
 Psychological
 Radiation
 Biological
 Risk Assessment
Workplace Specific Hazards &
Risks?
 Manual Handling & Ergonomics
 Occupational Aggression & Violence
 staff
 public
 Physical Threat
 hold-up
 fire
 Slips, Trips & Falls
 Transportation
Office Machinery
 Electricity
 cords, cables & electrical hazards
 Photocopiers
 toner, developer, noise, ozone, light,
 Printers
 noise, inks, ozone (laser)
 Computers
 eyestrain, posture, radiation?
Manual Handling
 Statistics
 injuries
 costs
 Office Equipment & Furniture
 Stationery & Supplies
 Correct Lifting Techniques
 Twisting & Bending
 Mechanical Aids
 Teamwork Lifting
Office Ergonomics
 Office Equipment
 workstations, chairs, keyboards
 Placement of Equipment
 strains, sprains & O.O.S.
 Posture
 height & distance of equipment
 periods of sitting & standing
 Breaks & Exercises
 5-10 minutes per hour suggested
Electrical Safety
 What is Electrical Equipment?
 Injuries
 Types
 Testing & Tagging
 Frequency
 Contractors
 Reporting Faults
 how? to whom? when?
What’s in the office Air?
 Air Contaminants
 bacteria, viruses, mould spores, dusts
 Ventilation
 Air-conditioners & Cooling Towers
 Sick Building Syndrome (SBS)
 Legionnaires Disease
 Testing & Maintenance
 biocides
 Contractors & Specialists
 Enclosed Spaces
Contaminated Air
 Stale air
 CO2
 Heat
 Humidity
 Ozone
 Smoking
 Neighbors
Noise - In Here - Pardon?
 What is noise?
 Legal limits - 85dB(A)
 How it’s measured - DND
 Control strategies
 elimination
 engineering


separating
enclosed
 administration

staff rotation, timings
Lighting & Glare
 How do you Know?
 headache?
 fatigue?
 eyestrain?
 nausea?
 Testing
 who? how? when?
 Benefits
 reduced absenteeism, reduced sickness
Housekeeping
 What is Housekeeping?
 cleanliness, tidiness, maintenance
 taking care of your work area
 good housekeeping calls for constant care
 Benefits of Good Housekeeping
 safer, easier, better, more fun
 Advantages of Good Housekeeping
 less tiring, more space, less aggravating, more businesslike
 Part of YOUR Job
Slips, Trips & Falls
 General Housekeeping
 Cupboards, Cabinets & Carpets
 Cords, Cables & Wires
 Telephone outlets
 Personal Belongings
 Furniture
 Fluids & Floor Surfaces
Occupational Aggression &
Violence
 Legislation
 Anti-Discrimination Act 1991
 Sexual Harassment
 Types of Violence
 physical, psychological
 Control Measures
 procedures
 reporting system
 infrastructure, training
Stress
 Statistically increasing
 Costs
 Causes
 Effects
 Personal
 Social
 Organizational
Office Chemicals
 Cleaning Agents
 Toners & Developers
 Inks, Cleansers,
 Solvents
 Paints
Fire Safety in the Office
 Emergency Control Organization?
 Appropriate Equipment?
 alarms, extinguishers, hoses, detectors
 Know where to go? & How?
 Raising the Alarm?
 Training?
 Visitors, Clients, Public?
Resources
 Dept Training & Industrial Relations
 Workplace Health & Safety
 Bureau of Emergency Services
 Employee Assistance Programs
 Consultants