Fact Sheet

Office Safety

An office may seem like a harmless place to work, but it may contain potential hazards. Identifying the dangers and correcting the problems can help ensure a safe work environment.

Heavy Objects: Prevent back injuries by knowing how much you can lift safely and by getting help when needed. To learn more about safe lifting techniques, contact Health*Matters at 643-4646.
Unsafe Ladders: Never stand on a table, counter, or chair with wheels when reaching for items overhead. Always use a sturdy stool or stepladder.
Loose Electric Cords: Keep wiring organized and out of walking areas to prevent tripping. Don’t put wiring under carpets. This conceals frayed cords and increases the risk of fires.
Slippery Floors: Clean up spills on the floor to prevent slipping. Use non-slip backing beneath throw rugs to avoid sliding.
File Cabinets: Don’t place file cabinets where people are liable to walk into open drawers. Do not overload top drawers and create a top-heavy file cabinet that could topple. Keep files loosely packed to prevent hand and wrist injuries.
Broken Equipment: Do not use broken or unguarded equipment (such as a paper cutter without a guard). Mark the equipment “unsafe” and report it to your supervisor.
Unstable Furniture: Heavy equipment and furniture over 4 feet tall should be braced to prevent tipping and injuring anyone or blocking exits during an earthquake.

Propped-open fire doors: Do not prop open self-closing, fire-rated corridor doors. They can resist flames and keep smoke out of corridors only if they are kept closed.
Blocked Exits: Be sure you know the location of more than one emergency exit and that nothing blocks your egress.
Fire Equipment: Be aware of the location of the closest fire alarm and fire extinguisher. If employees are expected to use this equipment, contact EH&S at 642-3073 to arrange for fire extinguisher training.

Extension Cords: Extension cords should be used for temporary (less than 30 days) power only. To install permanent wiring, contact Physical Plant—Campus Services.
Multiple Power Strips: Do not use power strips in multiple, “daisy chain” combinations. Never plug a power strip into another power strip, or into an extension cord.
Electrical Outlets: Do not use three-prong to two-prong adapters. Find a three-prong outlet.

Computer Monitors: Monitors are considered universal waste and cannot be disposed of in campus trash receptacles or dumpsters. Contact EH&S (642-3073) for information on UC Berkeley’s program to collect and redistribute unwanted electronic equipment.
Toner: Empty toner containers may be thrown in the common trash, but it is better to send them back to your toner supplier for recycling. If you have an unwanted full container, you may not throw it in the trash. Please contact EH&S (642-3073) so that we can dispose of it as hazardous waste.
Batteries: Used batteries may not go in the common trash. EH&S will provide battery collection containers and will pick them up when full or at least yearly. Call 643-7195 to request containers and a recharge authorization if your department doesn’t presently have an account with EH&S.
Household Chemicals: Empty household chemical containers (for example, for correction fluid or furniture polish) can be disposed of as common trash.
Aerosol Cans: Aerosol cans must be empty before disposal in the common trash.
Other chemicals: Other hazardous chemicals must be disposed of by EH&S(call 642-3073).

• Find out who your Department Safety Coordinator (DSC) is and how you can contact the DSC if you have a specific safety question or concern.
  
• If you are injured in the workplace, immediately report the injury to your supervisor.
  
• Also report all unsafe conditions to your supervisor. Alternatively, you can use the Report of Unsafe Condition form, located on the web at www.ehs.berkeley.edu/whatwedo/healthsafety/iipp/form1.html. Submit it within your department in accordance with your IIPP.

• Find out who your Building Coordinator (BC) is and what that person’s role is during an emergency.
  
• Learn what your personal role is during a building or campus emergency, and know the location of your building’s Emergency Assembly Area (EAA).