Safety Tutorial
for the
Travel Clerk
Elizabeth Allen
State University of New York
Syracuse Educational Opportunity Center
Training Tasks for Travel Clerks:
•
•
•
Understand your
rights as a teen
worker
Define job hazard
Identify main
hazards in an office
setting
• Describe the
dangerous results of
main office hazards
• Identify practical
ways to overcome
common office
hazards
2
True/False Pre-Test
1. One of the most important factors for preventing workrelated injuries or illnesses is education and training.
2. Student on-the-job injuries are due to the students
eagerness to prove themselves to be good workers.
3. Since office workers do not use heavy equipment,
machinery, power-tools, or industrial chemicals, there
are no safety hazards teens need to be aware of.
4. If you report on-the-job injuries, you may get fired.
5. It is the student workers responsible to make their
work area safe and healthful in case the supervisor
has an inspection.
3
What is a job hazard?
• A job hazard is
anything at work that
can potentially hurt
you, kill you, make
you sick, or affect
your mental health.
4
Office job hazards can be:
• Physical hazards
• Chemical hazards
• Other-type hazards
Do we really know what’s
inside our office mail?
BEWARE! Office job hazards come in many different
categories, shapes, sizes, forms, places and personal
interactions!
5
Physical hazards in an office:
• Loose cords & carpeting
can cause workers to trip
• Unsecured furniture can
fall on workers
• Overloaded desks,
shelves & counters can
fall/break and cause
injury
• Overloaded electrical
circuits can cause fires
• Slippery floors can cause
workers to fall
6
Be physically safe in an office:
Do not run cords in public areas
Replace frayed & defected electrical cords
Keep carpets secured
Do not overload electrical outlets
Immediately clean up floor spills
Secure furniture, file cabinets, etc.
Do not overload desks, file cabinets,
shelves, etc.
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Chemical hazards in an office:
• Both ozone from
copier machines &
poor office air
quality can cause
breathing difficulty,
headaches, and
dizziness
NOTE: The Occupational Safety & Health Administration
(OSHA) requires employers to provide a workplace that is free
of serious recognized hazards.
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Did you know?
• Copier machines should be
kept in separate areas
• Office workers have the right
to good air quality
• You may ask your employer
to correct hazards even if
they are not violations of
specific OSHA standards
NOTE: The Occupational Safety & Health Administration
(OSHA) requires employers to provide a workplace that is free
of serious recognized hazards.
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Other-type office hazards:
• Repetitive work that may cause carpal tunnel
syndrome & tendonitis
– i.e. computer keyboards & mice
• Computer monitors may cause neck & eye strain
• Sitting for long periods of time may cause back
strain
• Contact with public may cause stress & dangerous
confrontations
• Sexual harassment CAUSES emotional stress &
fear
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Be safe from other-type hazards:
 Vary or rotate job
tasks requiring
repetitive movements
 Use adjustable chairs
& workstations
 Position computer
monitors correctly
 Have good posture
 Take regular breaks
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Be safe from other-type hazards:
 Avoid emotional stress & angry customer confrontations
by:
– completing a “customer service” training workshop
– alternating between jobs
 Avoid being sexually harassed on-the-job by:
– understanding company policy on sexual harassment
– completing a “sexual harassment” training workshop
 Be alert and report any hazards or unsafe personal
interactions to your supervisor IMMEDIATELY!
 If you are unsure about anything, ASK questions!
– i.e. policies, procedures, who to report information to, unsafe
practices, etc.
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REMEMBER!
• You have the right to work in an
environment free from harassment and
discrimination
• You have the right to work in an
environment that is safe & healthful
• You have the right to file a complaint if
your job is unsafe without the risk of being
fired
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Reporting an injury:
• Be sure to report ANY injury to your supervisor & WBL
Coordinator ASAP!
• Be aware that reporting an injury does not reflect
negatively on you or your job
• REMEMBER, if you are unsure about anything, ASK
questions!
– i.e. policies, procedures, who to report information to, unsafe
practices, etc.
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True/False Post Test
1. Office hazards can be described as physical, chemical
and/or other?
2. Examples of office physical safety hazards are
overloaded electrical outlets, unsecured furniture &
slippery floors?
3. Poor indoor air quality does not create an unsafe or
unhealthy working environment.
4. Repetitive tasks such as typing can contribute to
muscle, tendon or nerve strain.
5. It’s not your job to clean up floor spills, all spills should
be handled by the maintenance department.
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True/False Post Test (con’t)
6. One of the most important factors for preventing
work-related injuries or illnesses is education and
training.
7. One reason for student on-the-job injuries are the
students eagerness to prove themselves to be good
workers.
8. Since office workers do not use heavy equipment,
machinery, power-tools, or industrial chemicals,
there are no real safety hazards.
9. If you report on-the-job injuries, you may get fired.
10. It is the student workers responsible to make their
work area safe and healthful in case the supervisor
conducts an inspection.
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Who is OSHA?
• OSHA (Occupational Safety & Health
Administration) is a government agency
• OSHA was established to protect the
safety & health of our nation’s workers
• OSHA’s mission for teens is to help teens
stay healthy & safe while on the job
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Safety Web Resources
http://www.youthrules.dol.gov/
http://www.osha.gov
http://www.aflcio.org/yourjobeconomy/safety/
http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/workplaceviolence/
http://youngworker.healthandsafetycentre.org/s/Home.asp
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Pre/Post Test Answer Key
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
True
True
False
True
False
6. True
7. True
8. False
9. False
10.False
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