Safety in Reality part 2: Office

Hello everyone..Sorry for the late post on this topic. I can say that it's been a tough for the past few week for us students due to the assignments and the presentations. Guess what? We cannot complain about it because those stuff are piece and parcel of student's life.. It's a lie if a student never stay up late at night..Let's hop to our main topic. Today, I was following a friend who happens to have an interview in Bukit Jelutong. Whenever I think about an interview, it made me think about OFFICES.. Now, what can we think about office? What are the hazards that can be found there? On the same day, I happened to bring my phone and gained a permission to take a few pictures in the office while my friend is being interviewed, just for this article. Now, lets get through the pictures...

1. In this picture, we can see that a few of the staff is busy inserting documents in the box. The good thing about the task is, see the lady right there? Instead of lifting the box around, she uses a trolley to transport them. Good job!

During an interview with one of the staff who preferred to be called Prem, many of them suffers sore eye, headaches, dizziness, running nose and even nausea for the past three weeks. As a student of Occupational Safety and Health, I recalled back the symptoms and I was sure that they were suffering from Sick Building Syndrome (SBS). My classmate, Ruzaini, provided more information where a combination of poor ventilation, temperature, air-conditioning, room humidity, lighting and psychological factors such as stress and work hour can lead to SBS.

Recommendation

* Increase the frequency of ventilation's maintenance.

* If possible, open the window to ensure fresh air can enter the building.

* Take a break to allow the staff to relief their stress.

2. This picture is showing us about an overloaded socket. this is a hazard because it can cause a short circuit and worse, fire. If too many electrical appliances uses power from just one socket, it can start overheating and if it is not prevented, it can catch on fire. The entangled wire also can cause other hazard; tripping.

Recommendation

* Don't plug adaptors into adaptors ( This allow the main socket to supply more power, thus increase the likelihood to short circuit)

* Only use one adaptor per socket. ( This allow the adaptor to gain heat faster; reducing life span)

* Use cord cover. (Not only it prevent people from tripping over the cord, it protects the cords from being damaged)

3. Here we can see that the emergency exit door is being blocked. With this situation, how could the emergency exits handle in the event of an emergency? How would you escape from your workplace efficiently without taking someone's life? In my observation, there was also no signs along the exit access indicating the direction of travel to the nearest exit. The security guard told me that the desk and the garbage bin was placed here when a renovation was made at the store room last week. Clearly, the contractor did not do their closing well.

Recommendation

* Clear the walkway from any obstruction.

* Post signs along the exit access indicating the direction of travel to the nearest exit.

4. This is what I found during my observation in the visitor's restroom; the floor was wet and smelly, the dust bin was full of trash, tissues were scattered on the floor and I saw a 'GIFT' inside the toilet bowl..NICE ONE.. Does the cleaner even do their work over here? It was a disappointing display from a company which own a safety and health department.. Biological hazards such as scabies can linger and infect other person who comes in contact with this kind of environment.

Recommendation

* Provide a checklist to ensure the cleaner done their job properly and accordingly.

* Post a signage to inform toilet users to clean as they go.

5. Overall, the staff's workstation were in good condition, but as I encounter and explore more, I found out that one of the workstation was in a terrible condition. I mean, how come a person can do their job in that kind of mess. As you can see, there were no arm rest attached to the chair which can cause the staff to fatigue faster. Secondly, the opened cabinet can expose the staff to tripping hazard. Thirdly, papers and materials on the floor or piled on the desks can become a hazard. Papers can lead to fire hazard because it is highly flammable (if stored next to an electrical source). A single sheet of paper on the floor can create a slip hazard.

Recommendation

* Change the chair with arm rest to relief fatigueness.

* Closed all opened cabinet to avoid tripping hazard.

* Arrange the workspace. Organise tools around the desk to reduce the distance you have to reach for them. Divide your work space into three zones:

- Primary work zone - the distance from elbow to hand.

- Secondary work zone - within arm's reach.
Use this zone to position those object that you use frequently, but don't need all the time.

- Reference zone - outside arm's reach.
Use this zone for your least-often used items.

At 2.30 p.m. , we head back to Setiawangssa as the interview and my observation was done. It was a productive day for me as I can apply the knowledge that I learned to the real world. I would like to thank all the lecturer, my beloved family and friends for all the help that I can get.

GOOD LUCK FOR THE 4TH SEMESTER FINAL EXAMINATION! :)