Risks in office work may be divided into those which may result in an accident at the workplace or which, as a result of long-term effects, may adversely affect the health of the worker.

In office work, as with other types of profession, there may be a number of risks that can directly contribute to accidents at the place of performance of official duties.

As in most workplaces, there are also physical factors in office work that can result in accidents. Such factors include, for example:

• dangerous flat surfaces (slippery floors, uneven floors, etc.);
• stairs/thresholds;
• unstable ladders;
• open doors, windows, wardrobes, drawers, etc.;
• sharp instruments;
• electrical equipment, etc.

All the above mentioned factors occurring with certain actions can result in serious consequences, such as: sprains; fractures of limbs; concussions; bruising; burns; paralysis, etc.

Accidents and the effects mentioned above may consequently lead to long-term incapacity of the worker. The longer the sick leave is, the higher the costs for the employer, who finances the first 33 days of the worker’s illness, incur the additional costs of hiring new employees and training them as replacement for the sick person or the costs of overtime incurred for the remaining employees. The result of workplace accidents may also be an increase in the company’s accident insurance rate.

Chemical agents and dusts are another potential source of hazards in the workplace. Administrative and office work usually requires the employee to contact numerous devices and objects, the efficiency of which depends on various types of liquids, inks, toners, etc. In addition, there is also the issue of keeping the office clean – it is not uncommon for a company not to employ a person to clean office space, but it is the employees and the employer who try to maintain cleanliness in the environment, usually using numerous chemicals. All this, in a sufficiently high concentration, can lead to the emergence of risks to man: skin irritation; respiratory burns; poisoning; allergic reactions, etc.

Many factors that pose a risk to health and life are not of an ad hoc nature and only their long-term impact can expose a person and result in health consequences.

By law, any employee whose duties involve operating a computer should take a 5-minute break from looking at the screen every hour. Importantly, this break is granted to the employee only if the work on the on-screen monitor is carried out continuously for an hour. If, in the meantime, the employee leaves the computer and performs other duties assigned to him, in which case he shall not be entitled to this break. However, the employer may, in this situation, grant the employee a break – this is only his free will.

It is permissible for the employer, after an hour of work at the computer, to outsource another task to the employee and thus be relieved of the obligation to give a 5-minute break.

Threats in office work, contrary to appearances, may not be obvious. One of the more common factors harmful to health is exposure to noise. Other people can be a source of noise in the office: employees, customers or employees, but also office equipment, especially if there are several or even a dozen of them in the room.

Regular stay in a space where there are certain types of noise can result in hearing problems, nausea, imbalances, stress, cardiovascular problems. In order to determine whether the noise level has been exceeded, appropriate steps must be taken: the trader may carry out noise measurements. However, it is worth remembering that in the case of office work, they are not mandatory.

Improper lighting, ventilation or heating of the office space may also be a source of danger in office work.

The most pathogenic factor in this case may be – contrary to appearances – the lack of adequate lighting. Too poor or poorly chosen lighting not only tires vision, but can also cause a general feeling of fatigue or a decrease in the concentration of employees.

Lighting in the office room should have its source not only in lamps – it is also important in this case natural, solar lighting.

Effects of long-term work in a poorly lit room: faster fatigue; headaches; tearing and redness of the eyelids and conjunctiva; decrease in visual acuity; deterioration of well-being, increase in accidents, decrease in work efficiency.

All elements of the office and office desk are important – both the chair and desk we work on, as well as the monitor, keyboard or footrest.

Chronic work in a bad position forced by inadequate equipment, e.g. chair or desk, can carry a number of posture-related diseases, such as scoliosis, kyphosis, flat back, lordosis, etc.

The office chair shall be fitted with at least a five-support base, an adjustable seat, adjustable seat height and backrest deflections, the possibility of rotating around the vertical axis, armrests and running wheels.

On the other hand, the desk should be large enough, that is, wide and deep, so that the employee can position his equipment at a suitable distance from each other. The desk should be able to carry out the work entrusted to you freely.

Source:  https://poradnikprzedsiebiorcy.pl/-jakie-wystepuja-zagrozenia-w-pracy-biurowej