If you are just starting out with health and safety, look at the 'making a start with health and safety’ page first, which outlines your main responsibilities in health and safety. You should now be at the point where you are ready to start your risk assessment. This page outlines some of the common hazards associated with offices to help you identify the main areas of concern. Of course there may be other hazards that you come across but these will start you off.
Electricity can kill. Installations must be properly maintained in a safe condition.
You could consider: -
- How long ago was the system last inspected?
- Are extension leads used (they are liable to much wear and tear?
- Is the person who carries out any electrical works competent?
- Are sockets overloaded?
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In offices, portable electrical appliances are common place. These items will suffer a considerable amount of wear and tear and so must regularly maintained by a competent person. Planned maintenance and testing regularly of these appliances is advisable.
Under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH) (as amended) you must make sure the risks from hazardous substances are controlled. In an office environment this is likely to be substances such as cleaning chemicals. Safety information is normally provided on the label or on a separate Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS). Check that staff are taking the necessary precautions in accordance with the product label or MSDS.
- Make sure there are no trailing cables
- Clear up spillages quickly
- Replace torn carpets
- Provide handrails and good lighting on stairwells
- Don't block passages and walkways
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- Provide adequate toilet facilities
- Provide drinking water
- Provide rest facilities
- Provide space of at least 11 cubic metres for each person
- Provide ventilation
- A temperature of at least 16oC is recommended - ensure this is carried out
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Carry out assessments of workstations.
The law requires that all lifts when in use should be thoroughly examined: -
- After substantial and significant changes are made;
- At least every 6 months if the lift is used at anytime to carry people and every 12 months if it only carries loads, or in accordance with an examination scheme; and
- following ‘exceptional circumstances’ such as damage to, or failure of, the lift, long periods out of use or a major change in operating conditions which is likely to affect the integrity of the equipment.
Use the links on the left to find out more about health and safety.
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