When people think of occupational hazards, images of construction sites often spring to mind. But they’re not the only workplaces that can endanger workers’ health and lives. Offices, though seemingly safer, are not that safe after all. In fact, a 2014 report by the Bureau of Labor Statistics stated that “more than 3 million nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses were reported by private industry employers in 2013.” These injuries and illnesses involved falling, slipping, musculoskeletal disorders, and workplace violence. If you want to boost your company’s productivity, it’s crucial to keep your employees safe.
1. Counter the negative health effects of Wi-Fi with special devices.
Every office needs Wi-Fi to function, often at the cost of the employees’ health. Wi-Fi routers are known to emit electromagnetic radiation that can alter human DNA. If you’ve been listening to your biology teacher, you’ll know the dangers of changing your DNA, like mutation and even cancer. There are a few products that lower or weaken the electromagnetic fields or EMFs emitted by Wi-Fi. There’s an EMF meter that lets you measure the actual magnetic, electric, and microwave radiation field in your office, so you’ll know where you stand.
There is also a Wi-Fi router guard that reduces the radiation it emits by 50% and an air tube headset that keeps radiation from coming up to your head, which normally happens with a standard wired headset. You can also purchase laptop pads that reduce the EMFs coming from your computers.
2. Keep every corner clean with a commercial janitorial service.
When left unchecked, your bathroom and kitchen area can accumulate disease-causing bacteria, germs, and even molds. Keep your office clean by hiring commercial cleaning services in Salt Lake City. When hiring a cleaning company, make sure to ask about their business registration, cleaning equipment and materials, schedule, and so on.
3. Consider switching to sit-stand office tables.
Bad posture among office employees is getting more serious by the year. The regular, hour-long use of computer screens resulting in awkward sitting positions, stagnation and lack of breaks, and repetitive movements that irritate tendons and increase nerve pressure, all result in musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), more than $15 billion in workers’ compensation costs are due to MSDs.
There are many ways to combat MSDs in the office. For one, consider switching to sit-stand tables that let your employees alternate between sitting and standing. Since sitting for too long increases one’s risk to a myriad of health complications such as heart disease and diabetes, you should encourage your employees to stand after every 20 minutes.
4. Establish a culture against any form of bullying.
Workplace bullying in the U.S. has been found to affect 60% of workers in 2017. Bullying has been associated with debilitating anxiety (80%), panic attacks (52%), and even clinical depression (49%). Not only is it your moral obligation as a manager or employer, but it’s also required by law. Utah HB 216, sponsored by Rep. Keven Stratton and signed into law by Gov. Gary Herbert, requires state agencies to train employees and supervisors on how to prevent abusive behaviors in the workplace.
More than installing CCTVs and alarm systems, keeping your workplace safe for every employee requires a deeper look at every factor that affects their safety and happiness. Taking careful measures to curb threats to their physical and mental health is bound to pay off in the long run.
