1. Staying Safe During Your Office Move
Office Safety Awareness Training

2. Safety is Our Value -Riley Bechtel August 15, 2001
“We measure safety performance by the number of incidents. But let’s be clear…
it’s really not about incident rates… it’s about people.
People who have faces, names, families, hopes, and dreams.”
-Riley Bechtel August 15, 2001

3. Office Safety During Moving: Enabling Learning Objectives
Planning a safe move
Your responsibilities
Identifying potential hazards
Packing and moving tips
Lifting and carrying tips
Injury prevention
Safety in your new space
Arranging your workstation

4. Plan Ahead! Dispose of unwanted materials appropriately
Don't schedule any important deadlines near your move date and get all of your work done early
If you do a lot of mail correspondence with customers or clients, it's important to inform them prior to your move
Give clients your cell phone number if you're changing business phone lines
Move only items of use or value to the new facility; all equipment moved should be in good working order
You are not authorized to be in the space before the move is complete

5. Your Responsibilities
Clean out storage and common areas
Organize office files for packing and transportation
Pack safely and with consideration for the people who will be moving the boxes you pack
Take valuables, breakables, sharps and personal plants home before the move; items you want in the new office can be brought back after the move
Know what you need to get up and running, then pack those things together and make them easily accessible

6. Office Move: Potential Hazards
Slip, trip, and fall hazards due to clutter from boxes, furniture, trolleys, etc.
Strain and overexertion from lifting, shifting, pushing, pulling, packing, unpacking, etc.
Obstruction of corridors, hallways, doorways, etc.
Toxic fumes from use of cleaning products
Dust
Poor ergonomic set-up at new work-station

7. Packing Your Office Space
Spring clean—do you really need to take it all with you?
Stage a recycling can for purged paper
Schedule enough time to pack over several days, avoid long packing sessions
Get adequate rest, fatigue induces injury
Identify items others will handle
Plan so pathways will be open
Obtain a stepladder for over shoulder reaching
Get a cart, if necessary, to position and move boxes

8. Moving Your Office Space
Leave frequently used items until the end; mark those boxes with items needed immediately after the move
Label your boxes both for destination and for contents to aid unpacking
Pack from the top down and unpack from the bottom up to keep cabinets stabilized
If filled boxes would be too heavy, only partially fill boxes
Place packed boxes in a location that will minimize bending and twisting
Take breaks; mix packing with other activities

9. Avoid Inhalation Hazards
Thoroughly inspect for dust, insects and mold contamination
Wear gloves if using cleaning agents; read all labels carefully, don't mix chemicals
Dust mites are invisible and are a fairly common allergen
People who are allergic to dust mites may experience itchy, irritated eyes, runny nose, cough and in more severe cases, shortness of breath and difficulty breathing (asthma)
Wear clothes that can be machine washed; wash clothes after packing and before wearing again

10. Lifting and Carrying Tips
Use appropriate lifting and bending techniques: tighten your abdominal muscles and bend at the hips, maintaining the natural curves in your back
Lift with your knees and not with your back
Turn with your feet to prevent twisting your body
Use proper carrying techniques: test item for reasonable weight, hold item close and waist high, keep view unobstructed by items

11. Prevent Falls Be sure the pathway is clear before you walk
Close drawers completely after every use
Avoid excessive bending, twisting, and leaning backward while seated
Secure electrical cords and wires away from walkways
Always use a stepladder for overhead reaching; chairs should never be used as ladders
Clean up spills immediately.
Report loose carpeting or damaged flooring to Security
Never carry anything that obscures your vision.
Wear stable shoes with non-slip soles

12. Please DO NOT Move furniture or heavy boxes/items
Move materials that don’t belong at the new location (e.g., materials that should be recycled or archived)
Stand on a chair/furniture to retrieve items stored at heights
Push boxes with your feet or pull them across the floor
Work from a ladder alone (use 2 people)
Use a hand truck or wheeled cart to move items unless you have your supervisor’s permission
Stack loaded boxes/crates more than 3 high

13. Safety First in Your New Space
Review emergency response and emergency exit plans
Learn the security rules (e.g. site control and access)
Identify at least two exits
Look for potential hazards
Ask how to report illness or injury
Identify your Bechtel Emergency Response Team (BERT) members and Floor Searchers
Locate fire extinguishers, fire alarm pull boxes, and nearest AED

14. Setting up Safely in Your New Space
Spread unpacking over several days
Prioritize essential start-up items: computers working, network requirements, mail/phone, etc.
Confirm all furniture and equipment in your workstation are installed correctly
There must be an 18” clearance between the top of the cabinet to the ceiling to ensure the sprinkler system can work efficiently without hindrance
Ensure your work area is free of potential slip/trip/fall hazards (e.g. boxes in walkways, uprooted carpet, electrical cords)
Design your work area with ergonomics in mind to help prevent repetitive-motion injuries

15. Arranging Your Workstation to Fit You
Adjust the chair seat height so your thighs are horizontal while feet are flat on the floor
A footrest may be necessary if you cannot rest your feet comfortably on the floor
Adjust the seat pan depth so your back is supported by the chair back rest while the back of the knee is comfortable relative to the front of the seat
Adjust the back rest vertically so that it supports/fits the curvature of your lower back
With arms at your sides and the elbow joint approximately 90 degrees, adjust the height/position of the chair armrests to support your forearms

16. Arranging Your Workstation to Fit You (continued)
Adjust the height of the keyboard so your fingers rest on the keyboard home row when the arm is to the side, elbow at 90 degrees, wrists straight
Place the mouse next to the keyboard tray; keep wrist in neutral position with the arm and hand close to the body
Move the monitor away from sources of glare or direct light; use an anti-glare filter on the screen, adjust blinds
Adjust the monitor height so the top of the screen is at eye level; if bifocals/trifocals are used, place the monitor at a height that allows easy viewing without tipping the head back
Place reference documents on a document holder close to the screen and at the same distance from the eye

17. Apply Safe Work Practices
Avoid cradling the telephone between the head and shoulder; use a headset
Keep frequently used items like the telephone, reference materials, and pens/pencils within easy reach
Move between different postures and stretch regularly
Use the minimum force necessary to strike the keyboard, or to activate the hole punch and staple
Take mini-breaks and vary tasks to rest the eyes and muscles
Don't lean back in your chair, keep both legs on the floor

18. Flex N Stretch
Stretching is a simple and effective activity that will help you enhance your work performance, decrease your likelihood of a work-related injury and minimize muscle soreness.
Stretching increases the length of both your muscles and tendons (which improves range-of-motion) and brings oxygen to your brain and muscles.
Just stretch far enough until you feel some resistance and stop – do not overexert yourself. If at anytime you feel discomfort or pain, you need to STOP.
Stretch with your team at the start of the day, and make it a habit to start team meetings with simple stretches.

19. Test Your Learning
What are your responsibilities in ensuring a safe move?
What are three examples of potential hazards that may be encountered while moving?
What is the proper way to lift an object?
What should you do to ensure safety first when you move into your new space?
What is a simple and effective activity that will help you enhance your work performance, decrease your likelihood of a work-related injury and minimize muscle soreness? 19

20. We value your Safety and Health
Questions?
Report near-misses and injuries to Security immediately 20

21. Learn More about Office Safety
Bechtel Core Process 110: Manual Material Handling (BecWeb)
Bechtel Core Process 231: Office Facilities (BecWeb)
National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health (NIOSH.org)
National Safety Council (NSC.org)
Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA.gov)
Safetycare Office Safety Training Video available at