An Injury-Free Office



                       A SAFETY TALK FOR

                      DISCUSSION LEADERS



This safety talk is designed for discussion leaders to use in

preparing safety meetings.



Set a specific time and date for your safety meeting.  Publicize

your meeting so everyone involved will be sure to attend.



Review this safety talk before the meeting and become familiar with

its content. Make notes about the points made in this talk that

pertain to your workplace.  You should be able to present the

material in your own words and lead the discussion without reading

it.



Seating space is not absolutely necessary, but arrangements should

be made so that those attending can easily see and hear the

presentation.



Collect whatever materials and props you will need ahead of time. 

Try to use equipment in your workplace to demonstrate your points.





                      DURING THE MEETING



Give the safety talk in your own words.  Use the printed talk

merely as a guide.



The purpose of a safety meeting is to initiate discussion of safety

problems and provide solutions to those problems.  Encourage

employees to discuss hazards or potential hazards the encounter on

the job. Ask them to suggest ways to improve safety in their area.



Don't let the meeting turn into a gripe session about unrelated

topics.  As discussion leader, its your job to make sure the topic

is safety.  Discussing other topics wastes time and can ruin the

effectiveness of your safety meeting.



At the end of the meeting, ask employees to sign a sheet on the

back of this talk as a record that they attended the safety

meeting.  Keep this talk on file for your records.











An Injury-Free Office

TF21



Although accidents involving office personnel generally occur less

frequently than mishaps to industrial workers, the resulting

injuries can be just as painful and severe. Each year in the

United State between 300 and 400 deaths occur in an office setting.



A broken bone sustained from a fall in an office costs just as much

to treat as a broken bone caused by a fall in the plant. Of course,

not all office injuries are serious, but even slight injuries may

result in lost workdays, which interfere with normal operations.



Office safety is everyone's responsibility. It involves two major

factors; first, developing employee interest in safe practices both

on and off the job; and second, correcting unsafe conditions.



Falls are the most common office accident, accounting for the

greatest number of disabling injuries. The disabling injury rate of

falls among office workers is two to two and one half times higher

than the rate for nonoffice employees.



Walking, climbing ladders or stairs and even sitting in a

chair--all of these activities can result in a fall. To prevent

these accidents, keep floors clean, dry and free of refuse. Also,

make sure they're in good repair. Telephone and electrical cords

should not be placed where you or your co-workers could trip over

them. Where collision hazards at blind corners exist, properly

angled mirrors could be installed to eliminate this hazard. Special

walkway or aisleway problems may be handled by painting a center

line on the floor to define the direction of pedestrian travel.



Replacement or repair of defective chairs will reduce the number of

falls from chairs. Chairs should never be used as ladders.



Ladders should be equipped with nonslip material on the feet and

treads; they should also be suited for the purpose intended and

properly maintained. Braking attachments on rolling and

trolley-type ladders must be checked to make sure they function

properly.



Stairs are safer when equipped with anti-slip treads, approved

handrails and adequate lighting.



Striking against an object can also cause many office injuries.

These accidents result when employees do not notice open desk or

file drawers and other office equipment. Whether seated at your

desk or walking, you should be aware that hurrying can produce such

injuries. Always walk in designated aisles--avoid shortcuts.



Striking against sharp burrs on metal filing cabinets and office

furniture can cause injuries.  These burrs may also tear or damage

clothing, they can be eliminated by filing the rough metal edges.

Splinters and loose veneer on desks and chairs can produce similar

results. Repairs to chipped or broken furniture should be made

immediately.



Workers being struck by objects are usually attributed to falling

equipment. Small index card files, calculators and typewriters, for

example, should not be placed near the edges of desks, filing

cabinets or tables because these items can slide onto the floor.



If a filing cabinet is unbalanced, with heavier material in the top

drawers, it could easily fall over when drawers are pulled out.

Personnel may also sustain injuries when caught in or between

machinery or equipment.



When closing drawers in desks or filing cabinets make sure your

hands, with the fingers brought into the palm, are held against the

drawer face to avoid caching your fingers. Always use the

handle when opening or closing the spring-loaded shelf on a

typewriter desk; these shelves may open and close rapidly and

present a definite hazard. Doors, windows and some office

machinery are similar handtraps.



Strains from overexertion often disable employees.  These injuries

usually occur when employees move heavy or awkward loads. By

avoiding sudden movements and getting help for heavy tasks, you can

avoid a serious strain or back injury.



Numerous fires causing loss of life and property have been the

result of neglecting some simple fire prevention rules. You should

be familiar with fire escapes, fire alarm systems and

firefighting equipment. By observing strict housekeeping standards,

storing flammable substances in approved receptacles and

extinguishing matches and cigarette butts before discarding them,

the ravaging effects of fire can be minimized.



Through a program of scheduled inspections, unsafe conditions can

be recognized and corrected before they lead to serious injuries.

Take a few moments each day to walk through your work area. You

will be surprised how many unsafe conditions exist. Look for items

previously pointed out, such as objects protruding into walkways,

file cabinets that are weighted toward the top or frayed electrical

cords.



Keep in mind that office machinery and equipment can be hazardous

if used improperly.  Even a simple procedure o adding developing 

fluid to a copier requires special precautions.  Some copier fluids

are extremely flammable or caustic. Care should be taken to prevent

this fluid from splashing into your eyes. Flammable liquids require

special storage; they should be locked in fireproof cabinets and

the rags used to wipe up duplicating fluid should be appropriately

stored.



ù Smoking should be prohibited with l0 feet of where flammable

duplicating fluids are being handled or stored. Every employee

should know the location and the proper use of the firefighting

equipment located in the area.



Although many injuries sustained in an office affect only the

employee involved, remember that your actions can also affect

others. New employees may learn many of their work habits

by observing co-workers. Bear in mind that you may be one of those

"teachers."

Text Version