Work Hard For Your Money, But Stay Safe

If you don’t count sleeping, most of us spend more time at work than at home. We all know how many accidents are possible in the house, which makes it important to be even more vigilant around the office. According to the International Labour Organization, there are 270 million occupational accidents and 160 million work-related diseases each year. Many of them, however, can be avoided.

For starters, help yourself by making sure that you work in a well lit area that’s decently ventilated. You can avoid long-term physical impairments like a strained back or carpel tunnel syndrome by taking breaks to walk around and stretch your most-used muscles, says Oklahoma University’s Environmental Health and Safety Department. But some things are out of your control. McGruff, the National Crime Prevention Council’s spokesdog suggests these ways to keep yourself safe during, and after work:

• Keep your purse, wallet, keys, or other valuables with you at all times or locked away
• Check the identity of any strangers who are in your office. If anyone makes you uncomfortable, inform security or the management.
• Don’t stay late if you’ll be alone in the office. Create a buddy system for walking to parking lots after hours, or ask a security guard to escort you.
• Report any broken or flickering lights, dimly lit corridors, broken windows, and doors that don’t lock properly.
• If you notice signs of potential violence in a fellow employee, report this to the appropriate person.
• Know your company’s emergency plan. If your company does not have such a plan, volunteer to help develop one.
• If the company does not supply an emergency kit, keep your own emergency supplies (flashlight, walking shoes, water bottle, nonperishable food, etc.).

If you work from home:

• Hang window treatments that obstruct the view into your office. You don’t want to advertise your expensive office equipment.
• Mark your equipment with identification numbers, and keep an updated inventory list (with photos, if possible) in a home safe or a bank safe-deposit box.
• Keep backups of your work in a secure, separate location.
• Follow the same caution with deliveries and pickups that businesses do. Anyone making a delivery to your home office should be properly identified before you open the door.

Accidents do happen, but most can be prevented. Disorderly or carelessly maintained work stations should never be part of the job. For more information on workplace safety, check out The International Labour Organization’s PDF guide “Safety at Work.”