Office Safety Activities

• Fire safety activities are critical to the safety of office employees. Simon Brown/Digital Vision/Getty Images

  The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration requires employers to institute safety initiatives in the workplace to secure the health and safety of employees. Office work environments breed their own set of safety hazards, so the workforce must be aware of hazards, and everyone in the building must know how to avoid or eliminate them.

Fire Drills

• Conducting fire drills in the office gives employees the chance to practice emergency evacuation procedures in case a real fire ever occurs. Fire drills measure how effectively and efficiently employees vacate a building. By conducting fire drills, employees learn where the emergency exits are, and safety managers (or appointed personnel) can test the alarm system to make sure it functions properly. Where deficiencies are found, the company will make corrections or replace faulty equipment. An outdoor meeting spot should be designated for people to congregate once they evacuate the building, which, for maximum safety, should be at least 50 feet from the building.

Fall Protection

• Slipping and tripping in the office lead to falls, which can seriously injure employees. To prevent slip-and-fall or trip-and-fall accidents, walking surfaces must be free of spills, leaks, dust and debris that could cause employees to lose their footing and fall. Whenever leaks, spills, debris and dust are found on walking surfaces they must be cleaned up promptly to avoid slip-and-fall injuries. If the walking surface cannot be cleaned immediately, caution cones should be placed around the wet surface to warn others of the danger. It is also imperative to ensure that rugs and mats in an office lay flush against the floor. If they do not, it becomes easier for office employees to trip over them.

Equipment

• Office environments utilize electricity to power lighting and office equipment, such as computers, phones and fax machines. Electric shock, electrocution, sparks, fires and explosions are potential electrical hazards that could occur due to faulty equipment or electrical wires. Employers must perform routine inspections to make sure equipment, wires and cords are free from defects, frays, tears or other problems that could breed hazards. Tests should be performed by skilled workers, including testing power breakers, emergency lights, computers, elevators or escalators to make sure they are in safe operating order. Office employees should never attempt to repair or replace faulty equipment themselves. Rather, upon noticing a problem, workers should report it to the company's safety manager.