May 27, 2005—The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has added a new safety and health topic page to the agency’s Web site. Office Environment & Worker Safety & Health provides links to related NIOSH topic pages, including Ergonomic and Musculoskeletal Disorders, Indoor Air Quality, Stress at Work, Noise and Hearing Loss Prevention, Occupational Violence, Women’s Health & Safety, Work Schedules: Shift Work and Long Work Hours, and more.
The publication explains that maintaining a healthy office environment requires attention to chemical hazards, equipment and workstation design, physical environment (temperature, humidity, light, noise, ventilation, and space), task design, psychological factors (personal interactions, work pace, job control), and sometimes chemical or other environmental exposures.
The page shows how a well-designed office allows each employee to work comfortably without needing to over-reach, sit or stand too long, or use awkward postures (correct ergonomic design). It adds that equipment or furniture changes may be needed to allow employees to work comfortably, or a task may need to be redesigned, such as adding short, hourly breaks for computer users.
Situations in offices that can lead to injury or illness are also cited, ranging from physical hazards (such as cords across walkways, leaving low drawers open, objects falling from overhead) to task-related (speed or repetition, duration, job control, etc.), environmental (chemical or biological sources), or design-related hazards (such as nonadjustable furniture or equipment), as well as job stress.
