Health and safety hazards we often associate with construction sites and heavy machinery. Even in a climate-controlled office environment though, there still exists the potential for injury.

Now we know what you might be thinking. In a place where most people are sitting down, what safety risks could possibly exist – well, there’s actually a surprising number of injuries that can occur in an office. Supporting this is a recent statistic published by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, revealing there to be more than 80,000 work-related injuries that happen every year to office and/or administrative workers. Among the most common source of injuries are falls. Next in line, workers being struck by or against objects. Even in an office space, safety hazards are real and they need to be addressed.

The first step is to limit the risk for slips, trips, and falls. To this point, clutter is not acceptable. Boxes, files, and any items blocking part of an aisle or hallway need to be removed. Also, wire or electrical cords should also be under rugs and/or properly secured in an area that is not high traffic. If possible, having carpet or slip-resistant surfaces can ensure that no employee is caught off guard. To this point, entryways in particular should have some form of carpet placed there to dry one’s shoes off from rain or snow. The hazardous practices of some office employees also should be identified and eliminated, in an effort to curb safety incidents. Employees standing up on chairs – in particular chairs with rolling wheels – should be outlawed. Instead, ensure a stepladder is nearby.

Next on the list of hazards to address and/or eliminate is anything that can catch a worker. File cabinets with open drawers and desks with open drawers should have no sharp edges extruding into regions where employees are. In addition, heavy items that are being stored should be piled properly to ensure no risk of tipping or being accidentally knocked over. The heavier the object, the more it should be kept close to the floor. Be aware of load capacities of shelving units or storage shelves, and never go beyond the limits indicated.

The last item on our list to check for office environment safety hazards is in the ergonomics of the design. Workers in office spaces spend long parts of their day in positions that the body is not designed to be in for extended periods of time. Numerous studies have shown that prolonged sitting and the stresses that this puts on one’s body increases risk of many different types of injuries. Due to ergonomic-related injuries being not so obvious, office managers don’t often realize how furniture impacts the body. Adjustable ergonomic office furniture such as sit-stand desks, monitor stands, and adjustable ergonomic chairs are all recommended.

Eliminate clutter and re-design the office environment to ensure that safety hazards are mitigated. By putting in the effort to keep things safe and healthy, it keeps employees wanting to come to work and it keeps productivity high. As more office environments come to be re-designed in the coming years with ergonomic-friendly equipment, thankfully, there is expected to be less workplace-related injuries per capita.

Be sure to use these helpful tips and remember, what may be a minor change of action to some may prevent a significant office injury to someone else.