While it is true that working in an office is not as hazardous as working on a construction site or in logging, there are several common injuries that happen to persons who work in offices. Staying alert to potential dangers can help protect you from a potentially serious injury.
There are many hazards in a common office environment. According to the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, the most common office accident is falls.
What causes office falls?
The most common culprit of office falls are objects forgotten in the middle of walkways. Tripping is very common in most office environments. It is common for people to leave drawers open or forget objects in the middle of a walkway. Cords may also be strung across walkways and cause tripping. In office environments that have old carpet, it can get pulled up in certain areas and cause falls.
Slippery floors can also pose a serious hazard if office workers are not aware of them. Finally, many office workers, if they need to reach something on a high shelf, end up standing on a chair to try and get the item down. Doing this is hazardous and results in many falls.
How can I prevent these falls?
Paying attention to your surroundings can help you prevent office falls. Namely, when you are walking around the office make sure that you have an eye out for objects left out in walkways and potential open drawers.
Also ensure that you have the proper equipment if you need to retrieve something high on a shelf. Taking the time to fetch a proper step ladder can help you prevent catastrophic injury from standing on a chair.