Office Safety

If reaching, grabbing, clenching, twisting or bending causes pain, you may have a repetitive strain injury.

Do your employees know what to do in the event of a fire or a tornado? What about a nearby chemical spill or a gunman in the building? Ready.gov, a FEMA website aimed at educating people about preparing and responding to emergencies, urges all employers to train workers on evacuation, sheltering and lockdown procedures.

Chicago – Working near a window could improve an employee’s sleep and overall quality of life, suggests a study from Northwestern University and the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

Tokyo – Office workers who spend long hours in front of computer screens experience changes in their tear fluid similar to people who have dry eye disease, according to a study from the Keio University School of Medicine in Japan.

Safety+Health shares – in pictures – how the National Safety Council conducts ergonomics assessments of workers’ desks and chairs to help prevent MSDs.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists steps employers can take to help minimize the spread of flu.

Perth, Australia – Promoting activity in the workplace can help reduce sitting time, but not by much among workers with fixed schedules, according to a new study from Curtin University.

What are cumulative trauma disorders, and what steps can be taken to help prevent employees working on computers from experiencing them?

A workplace shooting or other violent incident can harm employees and damage morale. What signs should employers look for to recognize potentially dangerous employees, and how should they respond to the threat?

Canned-air products commonly are used in offices to remove dust from computers, shredders and other electronic equipment.