Office workers risk accident in the workplace without proper precautions

Published on Oct 26

The risks of working in an office may not be immediately apparent but there are various factors in the office environment that may cause an accident in the workplace.

One of the main types of injury in the office is Repetitive Strain Injury. The NHS estimates that 1 in 50 UK workers has reported an RSI condition. RSI is caused by the same action being carried out repeatedly on a daily basis. In an office, extensive computer use can lead to ‘Writer’s Cramp,’ a type of RSI, which results in pain in the hands. RSI can also lead to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome or a Ganglion Cyst, amongst other conditions, which may need operating on.

A HSE case study describes staff in an office who were employed for repetitive keyboard work during shifts. They were required to hot desk so work stations were not adapted to individual members of staff. Several people took time off work with muscle pain and RSI because of this. As a result, work stations were looked at. Adjustable chairs were purchased and staff were trained in how to use them. Keyboard and mouse settings were also adjusted and the result was a reduction in the risk of accident in the workplace and thus a reduction in staff absences and lower staff turnover.

Another major risk in the office is from slips and trips. HSE statistics in 2008/09 indicate that slips and trips are the most common type of accident in the workplace and account for over a third of major injuries in UK industries. Electrical cables, worn flooring and objects obstructing pathways all provide trip hazards. Newly cleaned floors or wet patches in entrances may cause slips, particularly if there are no warning signs. One office was reporting a high incidence of workers slipping on one particular floor of its building. When it was investigated, it was found that the cleaner was using washing up liquid to wash the floor rather than the correct cleaning product which was stored on a different floor. Once the proper cleaning product was used, the number of slips reduced dramatically. This example indicates that there are precautions that employers can take to reduce the risk of their workers slipping.

A third type of risk in the office comes from manual handling. Because lifting heavy items is not usually part of an office worker’s job description, they may be untrained in how to do this properly. If a situation arises that manual handling is needed, for example, moving boxes of paper, then the worker may be injured if they don’t approach the task in the correct way. Therefore, it is important for employers to train workers in manual handling.

To avoid all types of accident in the workplace, the employer needs to carry out a thorough risk assessment. If a proper risk assessment has not been carried out by the employer, this negligence could result in injuries to workers.