General safety and housekeeping in our busy office environment should not be
overlooked. Good housekeeping practices protect people from a variety of possible
injuries and illnesses and provide a pleasant and clean workplace !!
Electrical Equipment
• Extension cords should be used for temporary power
only. Cords on floors can be trip hazards and are easily
damaged by trolleys and chair castors which in turn can
create an electrical hazard. To install permanent wiring,
contact Facilities Management Services. Note: Extension
cords should not be run through doorways, walls,
across ceilings, or under carpets. They should never be
placed over radiators, steam pipes or plugged into other extension cords.
• Do not use power strips in multiple, “daisy chain” combinations.
• Avoid the use of three-prong to two-prong adapters. Find a three-prong outlet.
• The use of space heaters in the confines of office workstations can be hazardous.
Ensure that space heaters are UL-listed, are equipped with automatic
shut-offs that will actuate if the heater tips over and located at least
3 feet from paper and other combustible material.
Storage & Cabinets
• Don’t place file cabinets where people are likely to
walk into open drawers.
• Do not overload top drawers and create a top-heavy
file cabinet that could topple. Keep files loosely
packed to prevent hand and wrist strains.
• Store items in an approved storage space. Take care
not to stack boxes too high (It is helpful to label the
boxes with their contents to avoid unnecessary handling).
• Bookshelves and cabinets over 4 feet in height can be unstable and must
be secured so they will not fall over.
Slips Trips and Falls
• Trips often result from obstructions and uneven surfaces, and can usually
be avoided by ensuring that floor surfaces are clear and even.
• Ensure that office lighting is adequate and replace burned out light bulbs.
• Clean spills and pick up fallen debris immediately. Even a loose pencil
could cause someone to slip.
Additional information about office ergonomics, waste management and emergency
procedures can be found on the EH&S Web Page at:
http://capsnet.usc.edu/ehs/
References :
http://capsnet.usc.edu/EHS/documents/EHSFactSheet1006-OfficeHousekeeping.pdf