8 TIPS TO STAY SAFE AND HEALTHY WITH OFFICE WORK

It’s true that some jobs will generally be riskier than others. However, no matter what kind of job you’re doing, you’ll want to stay safe and healthy.

During this pandemic we are going through it is even more important to look after yourself and keep safe and healthy.

Even work environments like offices can come with their own occupational hazards. By being fully aware of them, you can mitigate the health hazard and safety risk to yourself.

1 – Know your Environment

No matter where you work, you need to learn about your work environment. In an office, you need to learn about everything, from where the cleaning supplies can be found to how to correctly use the photocopier. Most workplaces will provide training to help people stay safe at work. However, it is still upon you to stay mindful of your environment and watch out for any hazards that might be unfamiliar.

2 -Stay Relaxed

Believe it or not, one of the positions that puts you at the most risk is sitting. If you sit incorrectly then you may actually suffer from injuries to your neck and back. If you can seek support and advise from your employers and possibly ask them to buy some ergonomic chairs and desks. This will pay off in a big way for you and your colleagues. As for your sitting, make sure you sit with your hips and shoulders aligned to prevent your back from suffering from undue pressure.

3 -Don’t forget about your Eyes

Your eyes are another part of your body that you shouldn’t neglect. When you sit in front of a computer for a prolonged amount of time, then you are posing some serious safety risks for your eyes. They will suffer from long exposure to the screen. In light of this exposure, you need to take regular breaks in order to give your eyes time to recover. Also, don’t sit close to your screen as that can be detrimental for your eyes. Your best bet is to look away from the screen every 20 or 30 minutes. You should also get some screen covers for your laptop to filter most of the blue light that comes through. Blue light is usually the most harmful part of the light that comes from a computer screen.

4 -Know all the Emergency systems of your Workplace

Every workplace has an emergency system/plan in place and it is your duty to know everything about it. You need to know where all the emergency exits are. This doesn’t just apply to the floor on which you work, but also the floors that you don’t frequent as much. This will be useful knowledge when there is some kind of emergency at your place of work, such as a fire. Perhaps the most important factor that could save your life is knowing how to get out of a building in the quickest way. So make sure you don’t miss those fire drills.

5 -Speak up when you have to

If you don’t like the conditions at your place of work, or you feel like the safety has been compromised, then do not hesitate to speak up. It is your employers duty to make the workplace as safe as possible, from the structural integrity of the building to the air conditioning. So when the air conditioner isn’t working very well and the office is particularly hot, do not hesitate to tell your manager/employer about it.

6 -Be Kind to your Body

Try to take care of your body first before having great expectations of your boss to take care of it. It’s not a good idea to binge on junk food or go to work with a hangover. Working in an office is also likely to make you inactive, which means you will have to exercise daily to keep your body in shape and your energy levels high in order to avoid lethargy. Stay hydrated, watch your nutrition, and don’t overdo the sugar and cups of coffee.

7 – Do Breathing Exercises

Work can be quite stressful and, if left unchecked, that stress can affect your health in a negative way. As often as you can, stop what you’re doing and take at least 5 deep and slow breaths to let out the stress. Deep breathing exercises are known to help relax and relieve stress.

8 – Know when to give yourself a Break

It’s tempting to keep going at your work even when your body is throwing out all kinds of protests. It’s not, however, a good idea to go to work when you’re ill. It’s not good for your body and it’s certainly not good for your colleagues’ bodies because they might catch whatever you have. If you’re not feeling so well, ask your employer for a break so you can get better. It’s better to have one person gone with the flu than the whole team.

If you need any further information on workplace safety please don’t hesitate to contact me anytime joanne@chestnutassociates.co.uk