Office Safety Awareness Training

1. Purpose
The purpose of this training is to increase awareness of the requirements surrounding office safety and to reduce hazards and injuries that may be encountered in the office.

2. Scope
This training is required of all CHD Consulting employees and consultants who occupy office space.

3. Key Responsibilities

Each box must be checked to serve as proof that you received the following information!
3.1: The following key responsibilities apply to the company office safety program:

The HSE Director will be responsible to train/orientate employees within his/her area.The office manager will be responsible for ensuring all office equipment is in good working order and maintenance is done regularly or as recommended by the manufacturer.Employees are required to maintain compliance with this procedure.Employees will be responsible for safe work practices, reacting properly in the event of emergencies and being proactive in their work environment.
3.2: Communication is key to efficiency, solving problems, being proactive, and being more productive:

I agreeI disagree

5. General Requirements

Each box must be checked to serve as proof that you received the following information!
5.1: Hazard Communication Program:

Each office employee must be made aware of all hazardous materials they may contact in their workplace.Safety Data Sheets (SDS's) are available for each hazardous substance used.The SDS lists the specific safe handling uses and disposal requirements.Employee office safety training will be required of all office-based employees.

5.2: Elements of Material Storage include:

Trash removal and recycling.Destruction of discarded sensitive CDH Consulting information.Office maintenance.Office storage.Removal of ice/snow during inclement weather.Shelf storage should be used for office supplies.Paper products and flammable/toxic materials should not be stored in HVAC closets or electrical rooms.Materials should not be stored within three feet of exits/emergency equipment or within 18 inches of ceiling sprinkler heads.

5.3: Office general safety best practices includes the following:

Heavy items, such as cartons of office supplies and boxes of paper should be broken down to individual reams and stored at waist level.Commonly used items, like pens, paper clips, staples and other misc. office supplies should be stored at chest to eye level.Proper step stools or ladders should be provided to reach items stored overhead or out of reach.Materials should not be stored on a bare floor, within 18 inches of sprinkler heads or block any aisles or exits.For convenience and safe handling, material should be stored near areas of use.Employees should ask for assistance when lifting bulky or heavy items or using hand carts or dollies when necessary.Employees should lift with their legs keeping a straight back while holding bundles close to their center of gravity.Carrying small loads close to the body and below chest level will reduce chances of slips and falls.New materials should be properly stored as soon as possible after arrival, this will avoid creating trip hazards and clutter.

5.4: Workstations:

Ergonomics means fitting the workplace to the workers by modifying or redesigning the workstation, implementing new tools or adjusting the environment. Workstation design can have a significant impact on office workers health and well-being. There are a multitude of discomforts, which can result from ergonomically incorrect computer workstation setups.The most common complaints relate to the neck, shoulders, and back. Others concern the arms and hands and occasionally the eyes. For example, poorly designed chairs and/or bad postures can cause lower back strain, or a chair that is too high can cause circulation loss in the legs and feet.Certain common characteristics of computer workstation tasks have been identified and associated with increased risk of musculoskeletal problems. These include:Design of the workstationNature of the taskRepetitiveness of the jobDegree of postural constraintWork pace and rest schedulesPersonal attributes of individual workers

5.5: Ergonomics:

Although a typical office job may not involve lifting large or especially heavy objects, it’s important to follow the principles of safe lifting. Small, light loads (i.e., stacks of files, boxes of computer paper, books) can wreak havoc on your back, neck, and shoulders if you use your body incorrectly when you lift them.Backs are especially vulnerable. Most back injuries result from improper lifting. Before you pick up a carton or load, ask yourself the following questions:Is this too heavy for me to lift and carry alone?How high do I have to lift it?How far do I have to carry it?

5.6: Lifting:

If you feel that the lift is beyond your ability, contact your supervisor or ask another employee to assist you, and recognize the following safe lifting steps:Take a balanced stance, feet placed shoulder width apart.When lifting something from the floor, squat close to the load, keep your back in its neutral or straight position, tuck in your chin so your head and neck continue the straight backline, grip the object with your whole hand rather than only with your fingers, draw the object close to you holding your elbows close to your body to keep the load and your body weight centered, and lift by straightening your legs.Let your leg muscles, not your back muscles, do the work and tighten your stomach muscles to help support your back and maintain your neutral back position as you lift.Never carry a load that blocks your vision.To set something down, use the same body mechanics designed for lifting. Lift from a seated position bending from a seated position and coming back up.

6. Electrical Safety

Each box must be checked to serve as proof that you received the following information!
6.1: Today's office utilizes numerous electronic equipment. A common occurrence is that some office work areas have only one or two poorly placed outlets. The result is overloaded circuits and use of extension cords. Hazards in this situation would include:

Fire, electric shocks, trips, and falls.Solutions Include efficient work station design.Adding convenient outlets.Use of fixed power strips with ground fault circuit and circuit overload interrupters in place of extension cords.Replacing worn or broken power cords.Never running power cords under carpet or chair pads.Having an electrician run additional power outlets.

7. Emergency Action Plan

Each box must be checked to serve as proof that you received the following information!
7.1: Emergency Action Plans are designed to control emergency events and minimize the effects. Through careful pre-planning, training, and drills, employees can be safeguarded, and potential for damage to CDH Consulting can be minimized. An Emergency Action Plan includes:

Exit routes and accounting for employeesEmergency evacuation and notification to emergency servicesHow to manage injuries and property damageSevere Weather (floods, tornadoes, snow, etc.)Facility securityFirst Aid responseElevator entrapmentViolent disturbances

Office Safety