Safety Tutorial for Office Work

1. Safety TutorialforOffice Work Mrs. Marks C-PP School District

2. Communicate with customers, employees, others. Answer questions, give out information, take orders, address complaints. Answer phones, direct calls, take messages. Operate office machines (computers, copiers, fax machines). Maintain & update filing & inventory. Open, sort, and route incoming mail, answer mail, & prepare outgoing mail. Training Tasks for Office Work

3. Pre-Test – True/False Questions • Employees should report all unsafe conditions & practices to the WBL Supervisor. • All employees, each day before beginning work, should inspect their work area for any dangerous conditions. • There are no chemical hazards involved with office work.

4. Pre-Test (continued) • Using a computer and monitor everyday can cause eye strain. • There is very little stress involved when dealing with the public.

5. Appropriate Clothes • When working in an office, it is very important to be aware of what other people in the office wear. • What is appropriate for school, may not be appropriate in the office. • If you are not sure, ask your WBL supervisor or your site supervisor!

6. Safety Equipment • Look around your office!! • Be aware of any potential hazards! • Know where the fire extinguishers are!

7. Computers • Using a computer monitor for long periods of time can cause eye strain. • Position the monitor correctly • Try to change positions frequently • Have good posture • Take regular breaks

8. Electrical • Be sure that there are no overloaded electric circuits because that is a fire hazard. • Cords and loose carpeting can cause tripping.

9. Floors, Doors, Exits • Know where all the exits are in your office. In case of an emergency, you should know beforehand where to go.

10. Chemical Hazards • Ozone from copiers & poor indoor air quality can be hazardous • Symptoms may include breathing difficulty, headaches, dizziness

11. Ergonomic Hazards • Using keyboards and mice on a regular basis can cause tendon and nerve problems (carpal tunnel syndrome) • Have good posture • Take regular breaks • If possible, use an adjustable chair to help alleviate the strain on your wrists

12. Other Hazards • Sitting for long periods of time can cause back pain. • Contact with the public can cause stress. • Sexual Harassment can cause emotional stress & fear in the workplace.

13. Fire • Where are the fire extinguishers? • If you are not sure where they are, ASK your supervisor.

14. Robbery, Bomb Scares • Ask your supervisor what the company policies are for bomb scares and robbery. • You should know what to do BEFORE it happens!

15. Angry/threatening Customers • Ask your supervisor what the company policy is for dealing with angry or threatening customers. • You cannot predict what will happen when you deal with the public, so you need to be prepared.

16. HOW and to WHOM DO YOU REPORT AN INJURY • Always report an injury to your immediate supervisor as soon as possible!!

17. To prevent overloaded electric circuits which can result in a fire, make sure there are enough electric outlets. As a co-op student, you do not need to report any unsafe conditions. Being aware of all fire exits and locations of fire extinguishers. No employee should be harassed on the job; employees should know the workplace policy for reporting harassment. Post Test

18. Post Test (continued) • Because of ozone from copiers, copiers should be placed in rooms with good ventilation. • To help eliminate eye strain caused by computer use, change positions frequently, have good posture, and take regular breaks. • Employees should not handle or tamper with any electrical equipment or machinery unless they have received specific instructions.

19. Post Test (continued) • Good housekeeping must be practiced at all times in the work area. • Communication is important with your supervisor, co-workers, and customers. • What you wear to the workplace is not very important.

20. Safety Web Resources • http://bensguide.gpo.gov/subject.html (good site for kids) • http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/adoldoc.html (good site for working teens) • http://www.health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/consumer/environ/homeenvi.htm (good site for NYS safety for home, work, and outdoors)

21. Answers to Pre-Test • Employees should report all unsafe conditions & practices to the WBL Supervisor. FALSE – They need to be reported to the site supervisor. • All employees, each day before beginning work, should inspect their work area for any dangerous conditions. TRUE There are no chemical hazards involved with office work. FALSE – There are hazards from the copiers if no proper ventilation.

22. Using a computer and monitor everyday can cause eye strain. TRUE There is very little stress involved when dealing with the public. FALSE – Dealing with the public can be very stressful. Answers to Pre-Test (continued)

23. Answers to Post Test • To prevent overloaded electric circuits which can result in a fire, make sure there are enough electric outlets. TRUE • As a co-op student, you do not need to report any unsafe conditions. FALSE – You must report unsafe conditions. • Being aware of all fire exits and locations of fire extinguishers. TRUE • No employee should be harassed on the job; employees should know the workplace policy for reporting harassment. TRUE

24. Because of ozone from copiers, copiers should be placed in rooms with good ventilation. TRUE • To help eliminate eye strain caused by computer use, change positions frequently, have good posture, and take regular breaks. TRUE • Employees should not handle or tamper with any electrical equipment or machinery unless they have received specific instructions. TRUE

25. Good housekeeping must be practiced at all times in the work area. TRUE • Communication is important with your supervisor, co-workers, and customers. TRUE • What you wear to the workplace is not very important. FALSE – You are representing the company, so how you dress is very important.