You may think your employees are safe at their cubicles while sitting in their ergonomic desk chairs — but think again. While an office may not have as many active hazards as a construction site or warehouse, there are still plenty of risks to people’s safety.
As an employer, it’s your responsibility to ensure you equip the office with the right safety equipment to reduce your employees’ chances of hurting themselves. Here are three tools that will help you do that.
In an emergency, your elevators and escalators are out of order, making the stairs the only safe way to escape the building. Unfortunately, people with reduced mobility may not be able to descend the stairs in a safe or efficient manner, and they may injure themselves or others if they attempt to navigate the stairs on their own.
That’s why every multi-storied office building should provide evacuation chairs. They are mobility tools equipped with wheels that make it easy to glide the seated individual down the stairs, and its sophisticated braking system ensures their descent is smooth and controlled.
To see how an evacuation chair works in action, visit Evacuscape for more information. Although sturdy and robust, a stair chair is lightweight and foldable, making it easy to store near a stairwell when not in use.
It doesn’t have to be an emergency for an employee to get hurt. Someone can injure themselves by tripping over electrical cords or an open desk drawer. Wet floors can be another tripping hazard, as are stairs when inadequate lighting or handrails are provided.
An employee may even hurt themselves while carrying out everyday tasks while using a paper shredder, or they could burn themselves while boiling water for tea.
A fullystocked first aid kit is ready for any injury, so your kit should include the following items:
For a more detailed list, look to your health and safety experts or labour board for guidance. You’ll want to check your supplies on a regular basis to stock up on any missing or expired items.
No office is complete without a set of fire extinguishers. How many you need depends on your local safety authority. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), there needs to be at least one extinguisher for every 3,000 square feet, and it shouldn’t be more than 100 feet away from employees.
In other words, an effective fire extinguisher is one that’s easy to reach, so consider installing them along hallways, in meeting rooms, and by common exits.
You should also consider what kind of fire extinguisher your place of business needs.
Adding fire extinguishers, first aid kits, and escape chairs to your office will immediately improve the health and safety of your office. But for the best result, make sure your employees know where to find these items and how to use them.