Top Health and Safety Tips for Office Furniture
The most common injuries that take place within an office environment are associated with ergonomics (referring to the science of equipment design). Due to the fact that the majority of an office worker’s time is spent sat at a desk while working on a computer, this exposes them to a higher risk of strains and other injuries concerned with posture and repetitive movement. There are a number of things you can do to try and reduce this.
Provide adjustable equipment
An office is the perfect example of a situation where one size definitely does not fit all. Everybody is different and therefore it is important to provide chairs, work surfaces, monitor stands etc that are adjustable to accommodate everyone. It is also important to source the furniture and equipment from a reputable company where you can be sure it is regulated and has passed numerous safety tests, for example by purchasing your office furniture in Manchester rather than from other countries where it may not be regulated.
Train workers how to use equipment
Once you have all of the correct furniture and equipment installed, it is your duty to ensure that the employees are also properly educated on the risks and trained to use the equipment effectively. You should make sure they are firstly aware of the correct way to set up their work station, the damage that could be caused if this isn’t carried out, and then how to use and adjust the furniture provided to achieve this.
Provide document holders
When copying from a hard copy, constantly switching position from looking down at the desk to up at the computer screen can lead to neck strain. A document holder that holds the hard copy up at eye level next to the computer screen will eliminate the risk of neck strain. It will also be beneficial of your eyes as they will no longer have to constantly change focus as you swap from the document to the monitor. It is also advised that employee’s feet are able to firmly touch the floor when seated, and the mouse always be placed level with the keyboard.
Healthy and safety in the office is essential as it concerns the welfare of employees, employers, and anybody else who enters the workplace from customers to the post man. There are a number of inevitable hazards within an office environment and accidents do happen. However, as an employer it is your duty to make sure you are aware of these hazards, and have put every possible measure in place to minimise the risks.