OH&S - Office Safety & Ergonomics

Hazards in the Office

There are many hazards when working in an office environment including incorrect workstation set-up, poor lighting, poor layout of furniture and equipment, poor housekeeping, electrical hazards, equipment hazards and environmental hazards(poor ventilation, temperature).

Prevention of accidents and injuries in the office

Accidents and injuries in the office can be prevented by following the guidelines below

• All electrical equipment must be tested and tagged before use
• Never use double adapters
• Report any damaged power cords or power points
• Minimise the use of power boards and extension cables and ensure they are not trialing across walkways
• Ensure that floors, walkways, stairs and storage areas are free from obstructions
• Check that emergency exits are not blocked
• Ensure that all floor surfaces are properly maintained and, if required, covered with non-slip material
• Provide adequate lighting in all areas
• Use step stools or step ladders to reach items above shoulder level, Not chairs or tables
• Stabilise filing cabinets and bookcases to prevent their falling over
• Do not stack files or equipment on top of high cupboards or cabinets
• Regularly maintain all equipment to the manufacturers specification
• Do not overload bookshelves and store heavy items at a low level

Workstation set-up

Prolonged work at a computer can strain your arms, neck, hands and back and in most cases, injuries occur because of a poorly setup workstation and poor posture.

Setting up your workstation correctly is the first step in preventing overuse injuries. Below are some general guidelines in setting up your workstation. For more detailed information refer to the 5-steps in setting up your workstation information sheet in the links.

• Your chair should be set-up so your back is supported and so that your elbows are even with the level of your desk. If your feet are not supported by the floor use a footrest.
• Your knees should be at a 90 angle and your legs should be supported by the floor or a footrest
• Your wrists should be straight and forearms horizontal when fingers are on the keyboard
• Your keyboard and mouse should be as close to you as possible to avoid over reaching
• Your shoulders should be relaxed with elbows close to your body
• The top of your monitor should be at approximately eye level. You can use an adjustable stand if your mointor is too low. Adjustable stands are available from CSU.
• Your head should be upright
• Remember to take regular rest breaks if you are working at your computer for long peroids. You should take a 2-3 min rest break if you have been typing for 30min.
  

Laptops were designed to use for short periods of time. If you are using a laptop for long peroids it is a good idea to:-

• Place your laptop on an ajustable stand, so you can view the screen at eye level
• Attach an external keyboard and mouse

Further Information