Office Safety Guidelines

The office work environment is generally considered a relatively safe work environment.
However, every year employees suffer injuries while working in the office. The following
guidelines are provided to make people aware of potential hazards and ways to avoid or prevent
injury.
 Avoid paper cuts by lifting individual sheets of paper at the corner, not at the side.
 Avoid cuts to the tongue when sealing envelopes by using moisteners.
 Pass scissors handle first, with blades closed together.
 Keep scissors and other sharp objects where they cannot fall.
 Place drawing pins, thumbtacks, and other sharp objects in containers and not loose in desk
drawers.
 Use a knife or blade with a handle for cutting and pasting work. Never use a double-edged or
unprotected razor blade. Whenever possible, cut away from your body.
 Avoid contact with broken glass. Call building services or use a dust pan and brush to clean up
broken glass. Do not pick up broken glass with your hands.
 Do not place sharpened pencils or other pointed objects with the points upright in a container.
 Spike-type note holders should not be used.
 All electrical equipment should be grounded.
 Worn or frayed electrical cables should be replaced.
 Report all equipment and furniture requiring repair.
 Isolate electrical equipment power supply before adjusting or cleaning equipment.
 Use handles to open and close drawers/doors of desks and cabinets, to avoid injuries to fingers or
hands.
 Passageways and walkways must be kept clear to provide access and egress in case or emergency.
 Never leave a desk or file cabinet drawer open.
 Never open more than one drawer of a filing cabinet at a time.
 Cables stretched across passageways or walkways are tripping hazards and should be covered
securely.
 Do not leave loose paper, paper clips, elastic bands, etc., lying around on the floor.
 Report any tripping hazards in carpets, stairs, or floor tiles to building maintenance or the
landlord.
 Do not use chairs, tables, or other furniture as step ladders.
 Never lean backwards on a straight chair. Sit with all four chair legs resting on the floor.
 Do not run, a fast walk is safer and gets you there almost as fast without injury.
 Watch where you walk. Look out for tripping hazards.
 Do not read while walking.

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 Be alert for doors opening into your path.
 When a door opens towards you, stand with your body to one side of the door. Someone may be
about to push the door from the other side.
 Be alert at blind corners.
 Do not push or crowd on stairways. Allow people going down to have room to move without
restrictions. One person falling may push others off balance.
 Store heavy files in the bottom of filing cabinets.
 Do not attempt to repair electrical equipment.
 Practical jokes and horseplay can be dangerous.
 The stacking of files and heavy objects on top of tall cabinets is dangerous. When cabinet doors
are opened, the objects may fall and cause injury.
 Fire/emergency doors must be kept closed when not in use.
 Do not block fire escape routes or passageways, etc. They may be required in an emergency.
 Keep fire extinguisher access clear.
 Never tamper with fire extinguishers; they may be required to put out a fire.
 Know what your fire alarm sounds like.
 Know your assembly points in event of emergency evacuation.
 Know your escape routes from place of work.
 Know where the First Aid Kit is.
 Know the nearest location of fire extinguishers and how to operate them.
 Do not use elevators in event of emergency, use stairs.
 Use proper lifting techniques to lift and carry objects—ask for assistance if needed.

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