Avoiding Injuries in an office chair

Week 4 (June 25-30) of National Safety Month is taking a closer look at hazard recognition. This week covers many different topics like: being alert, avoiding medication mishaps and ‘Gamer’s Thumb’, preventing clothes dryer fires, effective incident investigations, and recognizing hidden dangers in the office. All of these topics are applicable both in the workplace and off-the-job to keep you and those around you safe. 

While you may assume health and safety hazards exist all over worksites with heavy machinery and equipment, you are correct. However, people often overlook the many hazards present in the office where most work is completed while sitting in a chair in a climate-controlled office building. In 2008, a study showed that over 80,410 private-industry office and administrative workers suffered on-the-job injuries that could have been prevented if workers or supervisors recognized the risks and immediately intervened with simple workplace modifications. 

Below we will walk through the top 3 office workplace injuries and risks and easy steps to mitigate them:

Falls are the most common type of office injury and can often be reduced just by raising employee awareness. Other steps to take include: staying clutter-free, avoiding standing on chairs especially those with wheels, maintaining clear vision and incorporating carpeting or skid-resistant surfaces in the office.

Workers are often struck or caught by objects in the office. To prevent this: shut file cabinet and desk drawers and put away large stacks of materials that can topple over.

The most prevalent injuries are related to ergonomics since workers spend hours upon hours seated as a desk and are thus prone to strains and posture injuries. To prevent this: provide adjustable equipment like ergonomic chairs and standing desks and train workers on how to use equipment.

To learn more about how to recognize various hazards in your workplace or at home, reach out to an agent at Diversified, or visit: https://www.nsc.org/workplace/national-safety-month/nsm-public-materials/week-4-public-materials

DII is your partner in workplace safety. Our team of experts can work with you to understand the best plans and lessons to prepare your employees for working in or out of an office setting. Please contact your DII representative for more information. #ergonomics #hazards #office #NSC #NSM