(Newswire.net — May 28, 2021) —
You might think that there is no safer place than the office—few accidents can happen when you’re sat at your desk working on the computer, right? However, your office block might contain certain hazards that could make it an uncomfortable environment to work in, and even potentially be hazardous to health. Fortunately, with regular maintenance and renovation updates, you can ensure that your office environment maximizes the productivity and comfort of your workforce. Here are some potential office-based hazards and how you can resolve them for a safer work space.
Asbestos
Asbestos is a group of naturally occurring minerals that are composed of soft fibers that are heat resistant. It was used extensively as an insulator in public buildings from the 1930s to the 1980s, but has since been dramatically dropped from use due to the discovery that exposure to asbestos fibers can cause debilitating life-limiting health conditions such as asbestosis and COPD. If your office block is an older building, you should bring in experts to check for and safely remove any remaining asbestos, and to ensure that you and your staff are not unwittingly exposed to harmful fibers. Seek a safer insulation alternative, such as cellulose fibers.
Elevator safety
Elevators are essential elements of an office block, particularly if you work in a building with many stories, as they transport you quickly and easily around the building without having to use the staircase. However, with so much use your elevator system can easily become overloaded and it requires a lot of maintenance to ensure that it remains working safely and efficiently; no one wants to experience the horror story of being trapped in an elevator for several hours before being rescued. Use elevator inspection services such as ATIS every couple of months to ensure that your elevator is working efficiently and safely, and to reduce any inconvenient down time from avoidable breakdowns.
Poor posture from bad chairs
You spend most of your time at the office sitting at your desk, so you need to make sure that your chair is comfortable and provides lumbar support. The wrong type of desk chair can result in poor posture and back pain that could worsen over time, becoming extremely painful and requiring an extended leave of absence for recovery. To prevent this, ensure that every desk is equipped with an ergonomic chair that provides back support and lumbar protection—ensuring that your employees can work in comfort.
Eye strain
When using the computer for an extended length of time, your eyes can easily become tired and strained by the screen. To combat this, equip computer screens with a screen protector that filters out tiring blue light. Furthermore, you could try to implement a policy of regular breaks away from the screen to give employees’ eyes a rest. Try the 20-20 rule: for every 20 minutes spent working at the computer, look away from the screen for 20 seconds at an object 20 meters away.