Office Safety: Housekeeping March 2017
Housekeeping Safety Simple changes in basic housekeeping practices can go a long way towards keeping our office safe. Use our tips on the following topics to keep your workspace safe: Personal workspace safety Keeping common areas safe General housekeeping What to do if you see a safety hazard Take personal responsibility for potential safety hazards and you can greatly reduce the number of injuries in the workplace.
Personal Work Space Safety Space heaters are not allowed Practice the 18 storage rule Please be mindful when storing/stacking items near the ceiling. The sprinkler protection system needs 18 of clearance to operate efficiently in the event of a fire. 18
Personal Work Space Safety Watch for tripping hazards Keep desk and cabinet drawers closed when not in use. Minimize stacks of paper and other materials. Large piles can topple over and cause a hazard, and are also highly flammable.
Personal Work Space Safety Practice Cord Safety Cord safety is an extremely important part of office safety. Use the guidelines below to help improve cord safety in your workspace. Do Use power strips Cover cords with trip guards Check behind furniture to make sure cords aren t bent at the plug Do Not Use extension cords. Use UL rated power strips instead. Do not plug power strips into one another. Place cords on pipes or windows Drag cords over sharp objects that can cause cuts in the insulation Contact Building Management at 214.812.6060 if you have any questions or concerns.
Common Area Safety Common area safety includes break rooms, restrooms, lobbies, parking lots and other related areas. Follow our tips for good common area safety practices: Dispose of trash and recyclables properly Leaving open perishable food out in kitchens, break rooms and even personal work areas can create pest control and safety issues. Keep paper away from heating elements Paper and other combustibles pose a fire hazard when placed near heat producing equipment such as copiers and coffee makers.
Common Area Safety Store cleaning supplies correctly Always keep cleaning supplies separate from food and other materials in their original containers. Know the National Poison Control Hotline: 1.800.222.1222
General Housekeeping Here are some housekeeping tips to keep in mind as you inspect your personal workspace and common areas: Keep stairwells clear Our stairwells are critical during evacuations and should be completely free from obstructions such as chairs, ladders, boxes and debris. Turn on the lights Adequate lighting is a key component of good safety in and around buildings and parking lots. Submit a maintenance request to report lights that are out or areas where there is insufficient lighting. No obstructions blocking the stairwell entrances.
General Housekeeping Prevent slips and trips. Take responsibility for yourself and others. Clean up spills, leaks or obstructions on the floor quickly to prevent slips. Remember that leaks don t always occur on the floor. Wet ceiling tiles may indicate a leak, which poses an additional risk due to the electrical wires in the ceiling. Report any loose or wet ceiling tiles promptly.
Maintenance Requests When you see a safety hazard, act using the following guidelines: Take personal responsibility for items you can handle yourself Clean small spills such as ice on the break room floor Close file cabinets that are left open Organize power cords Discuss good housekeeping in your personal office space with co-workers and managers Contact Building Management, facilities, security or your office manager if you see hazards such as overflowing trash, large spills or loose ceiling tiles. For urgent issues such as smoke, fires or medical emergencies, call 911 followed by Building Security at 214.812.6767 as soon as possible.
Discussion Can you identify the housekeeping safety issues below? Answers: 1. Exposed cords can cause trips. 2. Open file cabinet drawers can cause injuries. 3. Space heaters are not allowed in the building. 4. Combustibles should not be placed on and near heat-producing equipment.