SAFETY SKILLS The following slides (pages) are procedures you should memorize and abide by as you work at school or the office!

#1 - Falls are common in offices especially for women with high-heel shoes. Wear shoes that make it easier to balance yourself! Always wear shoes. Objects such as staples, tacks, or pins could be on the floor and cause injury!

#2 - Watch for items that make you trip! ( Keep your feet, books, purses, & other materials out of the way where someone could trip over them.) Make sure that loose carpet is taped down. Be alert for coffee spills, dropped pens, or extension cords! Wipe up small spills and find the person responsible for large spills before someone slips and falls.

#3 - Keep file cabinet and desk drawers shut! This will eliminate you tripping over them or the file cabinet falling on you. Keep fingers out of the way as you shut the drawer Also remember to balance your file cabinets -- and keep your heavy items in the bottom of the file cabinet. DO NOT open two drawers at once since the cabinet could become off balance and fall forward.

#4 - Watch out for shelves. Shelves can also cause a tripping danger. Wall shelves should be anchored properly, and make sure the books and supplies do not exceed shelf capacity. Keep heavier items on the bottom and always use a step stool to reach the top shelf.

#5 - BEWARE of sharp edges! Leave the blade on the paper cutter down and locked when NOT in use! ( When using a paper cutter - your hands should be placed on the paper NOT being trimmed and the other hand on the handle that controls the blade!)

#6 - Roll Your Chair under your desk - this keeps you and your fellow workers from tripping. Keep your weight evenly distributed when sitting in a rolling chair - leaning away from the chair will cause the chair to roll and leaning back on two legs may cause the chair to dump you!

#7 - Watch out for electrical equipment and connections in an office. Cords and cables wrap around the computer, printer, modem, typewriter, telephone, etc. and wait for you to trip over them. Run long phone or electrical cords behind furniture and out of traffic paths. Keep the cords as short as possible.

#8 - Know where the fire extinguishers are and what types of fires for which they are used. Keep emergency numbers posted by your phone!

#9 - Keep your filing current -- piles of files are fire hazard and boxes piled up can be a danger of either falling boxes or tripping hazards!

#10 - When you pick up boxes of paper or other heavy supplies, bend your knees and use your leg and arm muscles to lift - don’t strain your back!

#11 - Open all doors slowly - someone may be entering from the other direction. Do not visit in a doorway-- someone may be coming through!

#12 - Avoid sitting on furniture or counters that were not designed for seating purposes. Tipping or collapsing furniture can cause serious injury.

#13 - Liquids should be kept away from electrical floor outlets or equipment. A spill could cause an electrical short or fire!

#14 - Keep pens, pencils, clips, etc. out of your mouth - you leave yourself open to problems from choking to catching a disease.

#15 - Use a stepladder or stool for high reaching objects. Do not climb on chairs or desks.