5 Office Safety Tips and Training Topics

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Office Safety Tips and Training Topics

While we most often associate workplace injuries with construction, drilling, mining, or manufacturing jobs, injuries can occur even if you spend most your workday sitting at a desk. Therefore, office safety training is vital to creating a safer workplace. A clutter-free office environment and first-aid training can go a long way in ensuring occupational safety at the office.

We'll give you some tips for keeping safe in the article below.

5 Safety Tips for Office Workers

The tips below aren't the full key to office safety, but they'll go a long way in keeping workers safer and healthier.

Office Safety Tip 1: Prevent Office Falls

Falls and slips are the most common office injury. The National Safety Council explains that falls and slips on the same level and to a lower level lead to 25% of injuries that result in lost work days. To prevent trips, make sure that aisles are always clear and spills are immediately cleaned. When a spill occurs, make sure it is appropriately marked until it is cleaned.

This Slips, Trips, and Falls training video may help you reducing these hazards at your workplace.

You may also find this Slip, Trip, and Fall Prevention Inspections training video helpful.

Office Safety Tip 2: Use Proper Ergonomics

Many jobs in office environments require workers to sit at desks for long periods of time. Sitting in an awkward position such as sitting with slouched shoulders can cause stress on your body. This daily stress can give you a musculoskeletal disorder, also called an MSD. To prevent your body from becoming overstressed, check that you are not slouching at your desk. Also, check that your arms are in a comfortable position when typing, not overextended. If you have a keyboard tray on your desk, keep your mouse on the tray and not on your desk, as this will allow you to easily access your mouse without straining your arm. Also, take the time to stretch once an hour to alleviate stress.

Taking Convergence Training’s Ergonomics for Office Environments course will teach you tips on how to avoid suffering from an MSD and how to have a healthy and productive work experience.

Office Safety Tip 3: Treat Burns Quickly

Burns in the workplace can occur from various causes from coffee spills to getting shocked by electricity. The severity of a burn is determined by its degree.

A first-degree burn is a minor burn that only harms the outer layer of skin. These burns produce redness and swelling. In the case of a first-degree burn, place the wound under cold tap water.

A second-degree burn affects both the first and second layers of skin. Blisters usually develop from this type of burn. Unless this burn is on the face, neck, or more than 1 inch (3 cm) wide, you can treat it yourself with cold, running water. After placing it under tap water and treating it with antiseptic solutions, wrap the wound in Vaseline gauze and change the bandage each day. It's a good idea to see a doctor for this kind of burn.

A third-degree burn is the most serious type of burn because it penetrates deep into the skin. Since this type of burn destroys nerve cells, the victim might not feel pain. However, it is crucial to call 911 and get the patient to the hospital immediately.

This First Aid for Burns training video explains the above information and more.

Office Safety Tip 4: Diabetic Emergencies

Diabetes makes it difficult for a person to control the amount of sugar in their blood. There are two types of diabetes: hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia. If the person has too much insulin, they will have a low sugar level (hypoglycemia), which can lead to diabetic shock. Hyperglycemia is caused by a low level of insulin which causes a high level of sugar. Hyperglycemia can cause a diabetic coma. In both cases, give the person sugar or their medication if the person is alert. If the person is unconscious or unresponsive, call 911. If they are unconscious and not breathing, begin CPR.

The sample below is from our First Aid for Diabetic Emergencies training video.

Office Safety Tip 5: Breathing Emergencies

Breathing emergencies include choking, asthma, and allergic reactions. If someone is choking, call 911. As long as they can talk or breath, let them continue to choke without trying to use the Heimlich maneuver. Only use the Heimlich maneuver under the most extreme circumstances.

If a fellow office worker is having an asthma attack, locate their inhaler and help them take their medicine. In the case of an allergic reaction, find your coworker’s EpiPen and help them administer the shot. If you cannot find the appropriate device to give medication to someone suffering from an asthma attack or allergic reaction, call 911.

The First Aid for Breathing Emergencies training video below offers additional helpful information.

Conclusion: Office Safety is Serious Business

Now that you know these safety tips, you are on your way to creating a safer workplace. If you would like to learn more about these and other office safety training topics, watch Convergence Training’s eLearning first-aid training courses. These videos will provide additional workplace safety tips while also teaching you what to do in dangerous and life threatening situations.

Please feel free to DOWNLOAD OUR FREE ONLINE SAFETY TRAINING BUYER'S GUIDE CHECKLIST while you're here.

Online Safety Training Buyer's Guide Checklist

Online Safety Training Buyer's Guide Checklist

Learn how to evaluate the different online safety training solutions that exist to find one that best fits your company's needs with our FREE informative guide and checklist.

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Online Safety Training Buyer's Guide Checklist

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