Service sector - an accident-free zone?
The statistics speak for themselves: more than every second occupational accident occurs in the service sector. Likewise, absences - for example due to back problems - often have far-reaching consequences for companies.
Anyone who thinks the office is an accident-free zone is mistaken. Around 55 percent of all occupational accidents occur in the tertiary sector (trade and service companies). It is often tripping or falling accidents that lead to injuries and absences from work. The causes of these accidents are manifold: loose cables, open drawers and cupboard doors, slippery or wet floors, defective floor coverings, unexpected thresholds or steps, material placed on stairs, poor lighting or carelessly placed briefcases can become treacherous tripping hazards.
At the workplace itself, there are also complaints that are specifically related to sedentary work, such as back pain, tension, and tendon and muscle disorders. The best basis for safety and health in the service sector is therefore the timely anticipation of possible hazards and risks.
Work and space
Movement areas should be taken into account when planning office workplaces. The distance from the edge of a desk to an obstacle or passageway should be at least one metre. The access to a workstation should be at least 80 centimetres wide. Main thoroughfares should be planned to be even wider. The more space there is, the more safety is guaranteed.
Further stumbling blocks
But the hazards (such as trip hazards, e.g. tangled cables, wet or damp floors) are not always on the floor. Many modern buildings are now equipped with glass doors. It often happens that a glass door is not noticed. The consequences can be very painful. Glass doors should always be marked with bands, stripes, symbols or crossbars. Step edges on stairs should also be marked to increase their visibility.
Particularly important for staircases in the entrance area that are slippery when wet and dirty are handrails and anti-slip coverings or other profiles that provide a secure grip.
Support
The Federal Coordination Commission for Occupational Safety FCOS supports employers in assuming responsibility for occupational safety and health protection in the workplace. For example, the interactive EKAS box offers managers and employees practical tips on the topics of accident prevention, ergonomic working, office furnishings, office planning, buildings/maintenance, work organisation and self-management in an entertaining way. And with the two free smartphone apps SafetyCheck and ErgoCheck from the EKAS Checkbox, two further tools are available: With SafetyCheck, tripping hazards can be identified and remedied during a tour of the office. It can also be used to check safety precautions in office furnishings, climbing aids, means of transport, markings and escape routes in order to prevent accidents. The hazards are recorded and the app shows how they can be remedied. ErgoCheck includes various learning and check videos that can be used to set up and check the office workplace ergonomically. With the EKAS checkbox, the data collected with the apps can be accessed on the computer. (www.ekas-checkbox.ch).
