Safety Equipment That Can Turn a Workplace into a Safe Haven

Employee safety needs to be the top priority of every organization. OSHA created a very strict set of rules for construction and production businesses, since most employee injuries occur in these work environments. Fast digitalization created thousands of new office jobs and companies often need to turn big rooms into big open-space workplaces that host dozens of employees. These work rooms are often intersected with power cables and the lack of safety protocols and adequate equipment can cause significant damages to employee health and the company’s assets.

Since many occupational injury cases are followed by long and expensive lawsuits, it’s in the employer’s best interest to provide adequate protection to office employees. In this article, we’ll review safety tools that will help you to turn your company office into an employees’ safe haven.

Anti-Slip Mats

Slips, trips and falls are the most common occupational accidents. They are also the only accidents that are equally present in both office, construction and production work environments. Since most offices have slippery ceramic or wooden floors, they require some kind of non-slippery ground cloth. Most employers use high comfort non slip mats to cover their office floors. They are usually made out of nitrile-rubber or PVC, which means that they’re grease-resistant and durable. Most non-slip mats come with grip patterns that hold them in place and provide traction for employees as they walk over.

First Aid Kits

Every office needs to have at least one first aid kit. Employees should use them to provide help to their colleagues in emergency situations. The most common first aid kits can cover 10 or 20 employees and they are placed in the boxes made out of walled polypropylene. They are easy to open and carry around, since they usually come with pin hinges and clips. Their contents vary depending on the type of business you are doing, but most kits contain: several rolls of dressings, bondages, plastic gloves, sterile adhesive plasters and various disinfectants. When buying first aid kits, make sure that they come with an enclosed guidance card in English language.

Fire Extinguishers

In modern offices, paper bins and electrical devices represent the biggest fire risks. Solid combustibles, like wooden furniture or plastic chairs, can also burst into flames and that’s why every office should maintain a high level of fire protection. Although A and C Class fire extinguishers have excellent penetration and provide quick cooling blanket, most of them can’t be used around electric equipment and power cables. That’s why most entrepreneurs should purchase Class B CO2 fire extinguishers, which can be used for fires on electrical equipment. They’re also very clean and they don’t leave any harmful residues.

Firm Ladders and Stools

Occupational injuries in an office environment are often caused by falls from chairs and other types of office furniture. Some employees even stand on document piles when they want to reach some object. Each office should have at least one pair of firm ladders. They need to have a strong metal construction and wide steps. Some ladders also come with rubber coating on steps, so employees’ feet can’t slip. Entrepreneurs need to teach their employees how to use these ladders in a safe way and their bolts and screws need to be checked on a regular basis.

Alarm Systems

Offices that receive cash payments from their customers need to have advanced alarm systems. Alarm systems in banks and other offices that store large sums of money should be equipped with cameras and panic buttons that allow office employees to call the police or some other emergency service with only one click. Some of these systems also use CCTV cameras that can record or assess the emergency event.

In addition to all the protocols and safety equipment, employers also need to make sure that their office is clean and tidy. Noise pollution is also a common office environment safety risk. Although office noise is not loud enough to cause hearing loss, it can contribute to employees’ work-related stress and decrease their overall productivity.