1. IN THE BUSINESS CLASSROOM AND OFFICE
SAFETY
IN THE BUSINESS CLASSROOM AND OFFICE

2. Maintaining safety in the office is a way employees can help manage risk for the company and themselves. A safe workplace reduces the possibility of financial loss as well as bodily injury. Unsafe conditions are those physical or environmental hazards present in the workplace. By thinking about the dangers and risks that you could encounter on your job, you will form good safety habits that will protect you and others from accidents and injuries. Some ways to avoid the dangers and risks are:

3. Good Housekeeping Habits

4. Sharp Objects
Store scissors, sharpened pencils, and other sharp instruments with the sharp points downward if storing them upright. These items are best stored flat. Keep sharp objects away from the edges of surfaces where they may be knocked off and puncture feet.
Do not examine a jammed stapler by holding it near your eyes or testing it over your finger.
Exercise special caution when operating a paper cutter. Keep fingers away from the cutting area; be especially careful when someone is helping operate the cutter with you. Always lock the blade – never leave it in an upright position.

5. Office Clutter
Avoid clutter that could cause puncture wounds by sharp objects underneath.
Store sharp objects such as pins and thumbtacks in covered containers to avoid puncture wounds.
Never reach blindly into a drawer.

6. File Cabinets
File drawers should be filed beginning with the bottom drawer and moving to the top drawer. On the other hand, file drawers should be emptied from the top drawer down.
Do not leave drawers open where someone might trip over them.
Do not push a drawer shut with your hand at the top or side of the drawer. Use the handle instead.

7. File Cabinets
File drawers should be opened one at a time and not left unattended. Severe injuries have occurred from employees standing up under an open top drawer, tripping over a lower file drawer, and even having a file cabinet topple over on them when more than one heavy top drawer is open at the time.
By keeping the workplace clean and tidy, employees can prevent slipping, tripping, and falling over boxes, wastebaskets, open file drawers, dangling cords and cables, or improperly placed furniture.
Replace static control mats that have curling edges to avoid tripping.

8. Clean Area
By keeping the workplace clean and tidy, employees can prevent slipping, tripping, and falling over boxes, wastebaskets, open file drawers, dangling cords and cables, or improperly placed furniture.
Replace static control mats that have curling edges to avoid tripping.

9. Safe Office
Exercise caution when using step stools with casters or stepladders in order to avoid falling.
Tape or sand sharp edges of furniture to avoid personal injury and damage to clothing.
Set adjustable chairs for personal comfort and back support.
Do not lean too far in any direction to avoid tipping your chair, be especially careful when sitting in chairs with casters.

10. Electrical Safety

11. Cord Safety
Frayed electrical cords with exposed wires, overloaded electrical outlets, and electrical appliances that come in contact with water are electrical hazards.
Damaged electrical cords connected to copiers, calculators, computers, etc., may have exposed wires.
Plugging too many items into wall outlets can create a hazard by overloading the electrical circuit.

12. Cord Safety
Frayed cords should be replaced immediately and outlets should not be overloaded.
Machinery or equipment in your work area should be properly plugged into electrical outlets. Remember that water and electricity are a dangerous mix.
Do not unplug equipment by pulling on the electrical cord. Grasp the plug at the outlet to remove it.
Do not stretch an electrical cord across an aisle where someone might trip over it.

13. Equipment Safety
Avoid food beverages near equipment where a spill might result in an electrical short.
Do not attempt to repair equipment while it is plugged into an outlet. To avoid damage, an authorized service technician should do most repairs.

14. Equipment Safety cont’d
Always turn the power off or unplug equipment when you have finished using it.
Do not lean over equipment that has moving parts when wearing jewelry, ties, scarves, loose sleeves, or other clothing that could get caught in the machinery.
Exercise caution when using chemicals such as toner and duplicating fluids to avoid toxic spills.

15. Fire Hazards  

16. Power Cord
Some fires result from damaged electrical cords, faulty wiring, and overloaded or improper connections.
Another type of fire involves flammable liquids such as cleaning solutions or office cooking and heating.
One should be observant and careful regarding fire hazards.
It is a good idea, for example, to unplug the coffee pot and ready it with cold water for the next day before leaving the office each evening.

17. Unsafe Equipment

18. Sharp Objects
Equipment such as X-acto knives and paper cutters has potential for danger if not used properly. One should be careful when handling these pieces of equipment.
For example, using a knife to open a sealed box is correct, but it becomes a hazard when one draws the knife toward rather than away from the body.
Even paper cuts cannot only be painful but can easily become infected. They should be cleansed thoroughly and disinfected as necessary.

19. Poor Personal Habits

20. Stress At Work
Personal habits or family problems, stress, anger, fatigue, and drugs can cause behavior problems, which can lead to unsafe conditions. These problems can lead to lack of concentration, carelessness, impaired judgment, and diminished coordination.
People who eat a balanced diet, get plenty of sleep, and exercise regularly are more rested, alert, and able to concentrate on their work.

21. Emergency Procedures
Learn the location of emergency telephone numbers; post them near each telephone.
Learn emergency evaluation procedures and follow them precisely.
Never ignore an evacuation alarm.
Learn the location of the first aid kits and be sure they are routinely inspected and restocked.
Learn the names and locations of those who are trained in first aid of CPR; take a course if possible.

22. Office Safety
Do not tempt a potential thief by leaving personal valuables in plain sight. Lock them in a drawer, file cabinet, locker, or closet.
Learn and follow security procedures, especially those that apply to being in the building during non-working hours.
Report unauthorized visitors immediately.

23. Working Alone
When working alone after hours, always work near a phone and keep emergency telephone numbers nearby.
When working alone, lock all doors to your work area; do not open the door to anyone you are not expecting or cannot identify.
Become acquainted with the maintenance staff and learn when to expect them when working alone.

24. Working Safely
Do not use an elevator if anyone suspicious is in it; stand next to the control buttons.

25. Parking Lot Safety Park near the building entrance near a light.
Check the parking lot visually before leaving the security of the building.
Keep car keys in hand ready to use when leaving work alone.
Request an escort from security personnel if it is available.

26. Lifting Improperly

27. Heavy Objects
Many people do not learn proper lifting techniques. They often lift loads which are too heavy, stand too far from the load as they lift, or lift using their back and arms instead of their legs.
Know the proper amount that you are capable of lifting and lift with the legs when lifting is necessary.

28. How to Lift
Face the object you are lifting, place your feet firmly on the ground about 10 inches apart, and point them outward. Bend your knees and crouch as low to the object as possible. Grip the object by placing one hand under it and the other on the opposite top corner or end. Use your leg muscles – not your upper arm or back muscles – to push  
yourself into standing position. Keep your spine and neck as straight as possible. As you set the load down, do not arch your back.

29. Safe Lifting
Use a hand truck or other conveyance if possible when moving heavy equipment.

30. Driving Safety
Everyone should observe proper and safe driving. This means observing speed limits and practicing defensive driving. One should allow enough time to reach the workplace without feeling rushed.
Restraint belts should always be worn even if one’s workplace is a short distance away.
One should never even back his/her automobile out of the driveway or parking lot without wearing a seat belt.

31. Driving Safety
Much has been publicized recently about the dangerous effects of anger and frustration behind the wheel resulting in unsafe situation whose causation is becoming upset with others’ driving habits (Road Rage).
One should not only drive defensively, but politely as well. It is important that anger and frustration not be reflected in driving habits.
Unless a student is 18 years of age, child labor laws prevent driving as a part of the job unless the driving is occasional an incidental to the job. It is recommended that students refrain from driving a vehicle while at work unless they are 18 years of age

32. Stay Safe
By practicing general safety procedures, you will form good habits that will help you prevent accidents. Be safety conscious. This means being aware of risks and trying to eliminate them. Know your company’s safety guidelines. Correct simple safety hazards or report major ones to your supervisor. Ask questions if you do not understand and never take shortcuts. Haste can cause accidents.