How to improve home office safety
The importance of home office safety
There are a lot of benefits to working remotely. Your home is a space you’re familiar with and you can design your home office the way you like it. To get work done, many people recognize the importance of having a comfortable space. But a safe home office is as important. Home office safety isn’t only important for your work, but it’s also important for your home. This space is your home and any hazards you might come across can affect your home.
Accidents can happen anywhere, especially in a home. There are many steps you can follow to avoid accidents from occurring in your home office. It’s important to minimize these risks associated with homes to ensure a safe work and living environment.
Here are some tips to maximize home office safety.
Tips for home office safety
A typical home office is a space that includes many devices, plenty of wires, furniture, windows, and more. All that combined can pose many risks to the safety of your home. To increase safety, take a look at your current home office and see if there are any changes you need to make:
Walking areas: As you step into your home office, take a look at your floor. Is there anything that can cause you to trip and slip? Is your carpet secured? Is your floor leveled? The risk of falling is common in any office area, that’s why it’s important to check daily for things that could cause one to take a nasty fall. Take a look at your workspace and double-check for any wires sticking out that may cause you to trip or get caught on your chair. Wires are another safety hazard.
Electrical areas: One major home office safety risk is an electrical fire. In your home office, it’s important to check the conditions of your plugs and cords. Any loose wires and unsafe plugs could cause a fire. Make sure all your wires are in good condition and stored under your desk.
For your home outlets, avoid overloading them with too many plugs. Overloading an outlet can lead to a house fire.
Storage safety: A home office is usually a place riddled with many of your work documents, tools, and more. An office is the best place to store all those things and keep them within reach while you work. Proper storage of your work items is important to avoid accidents and injuries. When storing these items, avoid placing them on top of tall cabinets. Having to reach too high could leave you at risk of falling. To avoid the cabinet from tipping over, don’t open more than one drawer at a time.
To increase home office safety, avoid placing your file cabinets in areas like the entryway.
Fire safety: House fires are more common than you think. That is why having a working fire alarm is vital. To avoid a fire erupting in your home office, there are a few steps you can take.
Avoid having any flammable materials in your office and especially on your desk. Have a working fire extinguisher close by and make sure your smoke detector is working.
Also, it’s important to have a fire escape route ready.
Safe workstations: Outside of fires and falls, a safe workspace includes taking your own wellness into check. Having an ergonomic workstation is important and is easy to achieve. Take note of your workdays and any pain you experience while working. Any pain you experience may stem from an uncomfortable work environment.
Rearrange your workspace to be more comfortable. Keep your keyboard in front of you and your screen at eye level. It could lessen the strain on your back, neck, and arm muscles.
Invest in a desk that is at a comfortable height for you and use a chair that provides you with the proper back support. This will lessen the strain on your legs and back.
Make your home office safe for others
If a co-worker or a guest injures themselves in your home office, it’s critical that you have a fully-stocked first aid kit nearby. This will help you treat any injuries while waiting for more help to arrive.
If you are a person with children, it’s not uncommon for children to stumble into a home office. To maximize home office safety, take extra precautions to make your office child-proof by:
- Keeping sharp and heavy objects stored away.
- Cover all sockets.
- Locking the home office door when not in use.
- Make sure all furniture is secure.
Ready to increase home office safety? An ergonomic expert at E3 Consulting is here to help.
Maximizing safety is what we do best. Contact us for a consultation today and discover a healthier, ergonomic workspace.
