According to NSC’s Safety + Health magazine, it can be obvious that there are safety and health hazards to watch out for in worksites that have heavy machinery and equipment, but not many employees think about the surprising number of hazards in an office setting. Week 3 of National Safety Month concentrates on falls.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) states that the most common types of injuries, slips, trips, and falls, sidelined 25,790 workers in 2008. Fall protection was in the top 10 OSHA violations list for 2017 not once, but twice (for construction and for training requirements).

Here are some tips so you don’t get tripped up at the office:

• Stay clutter-free in the work space. Have a clear path for walking.
• Don’t stand on chairs, particularly rolling chairs! Use a stepladder to reach elevated items. Do not climb higher than the step indicated at the highest safe standing level.
• Watch out for wet or slippery floors at work. Wipe your feet carefully at the door if it is raining or snowing outside.
• Shut open drawers on file cabinets and desks. They can present tripping hazards.
• Safely stack items for proper storage so that they do not get knocked over, risking at-work falls. Store heavier items close to the floor, and do not exceed load capacity on shelves or storage units.
• Check that the carpet or rug in your office is secured down. Wrinkles in the carpet can cause you to trip and fall.