SIMPLE SOLUTIONS FOR OFFICE HAZARDS & OFFICE SAFETY
By Sandy Smith
Office work spaces often have overlooked hazards that threaten the physical
well-being of all who enter. Company co-workers or, if work is done from a
home office, family members and pets, unknowingly can be in harm’s way.
While some threats are fairly obvious, others can lurk in the most
unexpected places.
In the office, equipment cables and wires can become a trip-and-fall hazard
– and an expensive workers’ compensation case. Poised and ready to trip all
who pass, office cables and wires are far more than an unsightly nuisance.
Slips, trips and falls constitute the majority of general industry
accidents. In the United States, they cause 15 percent of all work-related
deaths and are second only to motor vehicles as a cause of fatalities,
according OSHA.
In a home office environment, small children and common household animals
like cats, dogs, rabbits and ferrets often see equipment wires as play
things – all too often as chew toys. Clearly such a circumstance puts the
child or pet at great risk, with electric shock and strangulation at the top
of the list.
The experts at http://CableOrganizer.com offer
these simple office safety solutions:
Cable Control on the Cheap: For just a few dollars, computer cables
can be easily shielded with a split wire loom, a flexible and durable
polyethylene corrugated tube with a split down the side where you enter your
multi-cable bundle. If you have to add another wire later on, you can easily
slip it into the split wire loom along with the others without removing the
entire bundle.
Achieve Lift-Off: Cables,
power adapters, power strips, hubs, modems and other small devices can be
readily lifted off the floor and put safely out of harm's way with cable
management products that loop, tie and hang “cable clutter” off the floor to
reduce work space risks including snags, trips and liquid spills.
Wire Fire Can Be Dire: With
a glut of equipment, wiring and electrical outlets conducting heat, often
over long periods of time and in compact spaces, fire safety is an important
workspace consideration. In addition to the standard fire extinguisher,
other fire safety measures also should be employed. Flame spread is one
vital safety consideration that easily can be addressed. Flame-retardant
wire sleeving that does not support combustion can significantly reduce
office fire hazards. You also can establish an effective insulating barrier
to prevent the spread of fire and smoke through structural gaps and voids
with fire-rated expanding polyurethane foams – a cost-effective way to
establish an insulating seal on concrete, brick, wood, metal, aluminum and
steel.
An Important Mat-ter: Use
traction floor mats in high-traffic and extended-use areas, particularly
those prone to moisture or spills. Be sure to use a floor mat with beveled
edges to eliminate trip risk. Mats with sponge bases will enhance ergonomic
safety for employees who must stand for longer periods of time.
Surface Raceways: Home office wires that run across the floor to a
distant outlet are among the most dangerous office situations, with a high
risk of injuries or damaged equipment. Fortunately, surface raceways are a
readily available and easy way to organize and protect electrical cords that
run along the floor or on the wall. These “cable channels” are made of tough
PVC and can be painted to match office décor.
Cord Protectors: These
wire cover systems are another great way to keep from tripping on loose
cables and cords running across a walkway or behind your desk. Cord
protectors cover, hide and protect cords and cables while keeping floors
clear and safe. They also lie flat, and stay flat, and are easy to install.
Heavy Metal: Whether
you want greater protection for your wires from children, animals, rodents
or pests, or have a need to protect outdoor fiber optics, RG-6 coaxial cable
or Category 5E cables from wildlife or the elements, metal braided sleeving,
made from tin-coated copper, is both flexible and strong, and also offers
electromagnetic interference (EMI) protection.
Take the Edge Off: Wrap
anything with a sharp edge such as broken/cracked glass, brittle plastic
casings or other materials that may break and produce a sharp or rough edge
in corrugated cardboard and secure with a heavy-duty duct tape to protect
yourself and others from accidental lacerations. This is especially
important before placing such items in a trash container.
For information about office safety solutions, visit http://www.cableorganizer.com.
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