Fall injuries can happen anywhere, even in offices that seem like they do not pose any kind of threat to employees. Indeed, tripping, falling and slipping injuries are the most frequent injuries that happen in offices throughout the United States. According to the National Safety Council, disabling injuries related to falls are 2.5 times as likely to happen in an office than other workplaces and tens of thousands of workers are hurt in these kinds of accidents every year. This article will discuss some steps that employers can take to minimize the threat of fall injuries in their office spaces.
First, offices should be made free of clutter. Files, boxes and other items should be never be piled in walking areas. Also, electrical cords that pose both tripping and electrocution risks should never be strewn across walking paths. The Occupational Safety and Health Association says that these kinds of hazard should be prevented at all cost.
Second, workplaces should discourage employees from using rolling office chairs and other chairs in place of stepladders. Numerous and serious falls happen every year when employees try to stand on chairs. Workers should further be trained how to use a stepladder safely to avoid injury.
Third, employers should install mirrors so that workers can see around corners. Numerous collision accidents happen when workers blindly go around cubical walls and hallway corners and bump into each other.
Fourth, slippery surfaces can also result in serious injuries, so any area that could become slippery should be equipped with a non-skid, slip-resistant surface. This is especially important in areas that could become wet. Also, non-slip rugs and carpets strategically placed in entrance ways can help prevent slips and falls caused by people entering an office with wet shoes during snow and rain conditions.
California workers who are hurt in on-the-job slip and fall incidents may want to file a claim for workers’ compensation benefits. Depending on the severity of the injuries and the level of medical care required, workers may be able to get financial assistance to pay for their time out of work and medical bills.
Source: Safety Health, “Recognizing hidden dangers: 25 steps to a safer office,” Lauretta Claussen, accessed Oct. 13, 2016
