Page 2 - Office

Manual Handling - 6 FAQs

Posted on August 14, 2013

Manual handling relates to the moving of items either by lifting, carrying, pushing or pulling. Pulling something may not be the case when it comes to the injuries, you can cause an injury by lifting, carrying or pushing an item. These injuries can be a result of, the amount of times you lift or carry an item, the distance you are carrying it, the height you are picking the item up from or putting it down i.e ground level and above shoulder height. Any awkward positioning whilst carrying out these tasks such as twisting, bending and stretching may cause injury also. Manual handling injuries are the most common kind of injuries covering over a third of all workplace injuries. These injuries include Musculoskelatal Disorder (MSDs) such as upper and lower limb pain/disorders, joint and repetitive strain injuries. These injuries can occur almost anywhere in the workplace. Heavy manual labour, awkward postures and previous or existing injury can increase the risk. Manual handling injuries that...

Cleaning up Workplace Cable Mess

Posted on May 23, 2013

Cable management is not going to be the highest priority for most people, but there are a few business benefits to keeping cables neat and tidy in the workplace. The most obvious advantage is aesthetic – no one can say that a rats nest of cables hanging off the back of every employees computer plus wires trailing everywhere is an attractive look. An office with tidy desks and a minimalist feel will generally be seen by customers (and staff) as being an efficient working environment and portray a good image of the business. Another advantage of good cable management is safety. A mass of cables bunched up behind desks can be a fire hazard through the generation of heat and the possibility of damage to cables leading to short circuits. Sometime you see power cable wrapped up in a tight coil which is bad practice as it can generate heat and lead to fires. In the case of things like aerial or Ethernet cable, if it is too tightly coiled it can effect the signal. On the other hand if the cable...

Kitting Out an Office

Posted on April 22, 2013

Not many offices have the luxury of open spaces, especially if a large number of staff are working in a small space. One of the problems with not having a large office is the storage space, whether it would be for personal or department use. You are given a desk to work at and no personal storage or space. Although it is important to consider the available space in the office, you need to ensure that the needs of your staff are met otherwise productivity could be reduced. When kitting out an office, think about what are the most important aspects: - The staff - Space - Making it look professional Let's start with the basics – desks. The type of desk you choose will be the star of the show – so to speak. They take up most of the space but they have to look great. Depending on your preference you can have wooden or plastic desks. In this case, we are going to choose wooden desks because they are stylish, professional and add a lot more light to the room. The Impact Rectangular Cantilever...

Why Choose Safety Steps?

Posted on April 08, 2013

Here at The Workplace Depot we have a range of mobile safety steps to suit any height and any type of access you need. Whether you work in an office, a warehouse or a supermarket storage facility, these steps will prevent any accidents and injuries to workers if they want to reach a high shelf. But why would you use safety steps rather than a ladder? One of the most common cause of injury when using a ladder is when the user carries out excessive overhead reaching which can lead to sprains and strains. Other injuries include, slipping off a ladder, the ladder wobbles and falls from under the user and the ladder breaking whilst in use. All of these can be prevented with a few safety checks listed in this table below, courtesy of HSE. Why not remove the risk of these injuries and use a safety step. Most safety steps have four legs with wheels on that can be secured so they do not move. The Foot Lock Safety Steps, have a mechanism which locks the front feet to immobilise the steps...

10 Workplace Security Tips

Posted on March 04, 2013

10 Workplace Security Tips Every company needs to have a security policy in place to keep employees, equipment and goods secure and safe. Having the right security measures can help prevent and deter burglars or people who intend to enter the property without permission. Security is something to always be concerned about, so take the time to carry out some security checks. 1. Check that all windows and doors are securely locked before leaving and closing the workplace. In the morning, check them again and see if anything is missing. 2. Keep all entrances and exits secure at all times. A combination door lock is ideal for controlling access into a building as a code is needed to gain entry. Or issue either cards, keys or ID badges to regular staff of your workplace. A door access kit is also another way of controlling who can access the building, with a choice of access kits, you can choose the right kit for the correct purpose. This way anyone who doesn't work in the building, will not...

Equipping a First Aid Room

Posted on October 11, 2012

Employers should consider having a first aid room if their workplace has significant hazards or where access to medical facilities is difficult. If you set-up a First Aid Room you will need to think about the following factors regarding the room: Requirements for privacy Entrance needs to be able to accommodate a stretcher or wheelchair Ideally has a wash basin and nearby toilet facilities If possible a ground floor location Adequate ventilation/heating/lighting Someone needs to take responsibility for the room and its contents (out of date/stock items, cleaning etc) The First Aid Room The Medical or treatment room needs to be equipped in a way that is appropriate to your workplace – there's quite a difference between a large factory using hazardous materials/machinery and a medium-sized office. First Aid Rooms will require some or all of the following: Lockable First Aid Cabinet First aid kits Medical waste disposal – clinical waste bins Signage – first aid room sign and first aid guidance...

Getting to Grips With Manual Handling

Posted on October 03, 2012

Over a third of injuries that keep people off work for more than three days at a time are caused by manual handling – falls and trips account for much of the rest. As a consequence there are many regulations governing activities such as pulling, pushing, carrying, lifting and loading. The following provides some suggestions on how to improve manual handling techniques and reduce accidents. The first thing to consider is whether the object needs handling at all – can the process be mechanised or made easier with handling aids such as sack trucks, pallet trucks, conveyors or other lifting devices. Has there been sufficient training for the person doing the moving, whether this involves the type of load, mechanical aids or other risk factors? Before doing any lift or handling of an awkward item it is advisable to have some kind of plan of action – this can include simple things such as removing obstacles out of the way or checking for potential trip hazards. For a particularly difficult item...

Don't Be the Fall Guy in Your Office!

Posted on August 21, 2012

Our range of office and external cable protectors are now on sale Thousands of people in the UK each year have accidents at work simply from tripping over. Some of these accidents are difficult to prevent if the individual isn't paying much attention to what they are doing! However, tripping over loose and trailing cables can be avoided by using cheap and easy to install cable protectors. Careful cable management can play an important part in helping to ensure a safer environment in your workplace, and cable protectors are needed for compliance with the Health & Safety legislation preventing accidents at work (Health & Safety Offences Act 2008). A cable tidy (protector) should be used in offices, shop floors or warehouse areas to prevent trip hazards. More heavy duty cable protectors and ramps can be used outside in parking areas, roads, construction and redevelopment sites both to protect workers from temporary electrical cables and/or as traffic calming, speed ramps. A standard indoor...