Office Safety

Goals

• NMMI Safety Program

• Fire, Chemical, and Medical Emergencies

• Ergonomics, Stress, and Other Office Hazards

• Quiz

NMMI Safety…. Every New

Employee Should Know

–NMMI employment is not classified as hazardous, but accidents can and do happen anywhere

–Employees must be safety conscious while working and constantly on the lookout for hazardous conditions, report unsafe conditions, to include fire, to the Safety Officer and ask a supervisor if unfamiliar with a chemical, tool, or equipment or if you think a job is unsafe

–Management has an open door policy regarding safety, develops a safe work environment and continually works to prevent injuries

NMMI Responsibility

• Establish a Loss Control Program

to maintain

– A safe and healthful working

and learning environment for

all employees and Cadets

– An accident prevention

program

– Safety and health training

programs

• Facilities and equipment up to

safety and health standards and

applicable codes

• Records of occupational

injuries/illnesses

Safety Training

• Federal and State mandated safety training for all

employees

– State of New Mexico General Services Division, Risk

Management Bureau Rule

– Occupational Safety and Health Administration

• Employee safety training requirements are determined by

OSHA based on job tasks performed

– Administrative, custodial, food handler, medical tech,

etc.

• Training modules will be available on Physical Plant web

site

• NMMI Emergency and Disaster Preparedness Plan

– Safety training and records managed by Safety Officer

Know Your Work Area

• Fire extinguisher locations

• First-aid centers

• Areas where special Personal Protective Equipment is

required

• Evacuation routes and exits

• Site specific MSDS locations

Fire Prevention

• Emergency action and fire

prevention training

• Self-Inspection Program

– Conducted semi-

annually

• Report potential fire hazards

to supervisor or Safety

Officer

• Be aware of flammable or

combustible liquid storage

and damaged electrical

cords or outlets

Don’t take time to gather up your stuff!

Yell FIRE!!!

Crawl low to the floor

– Thick smoke can make it difficult to see

– Toxic chemicals from smoke can be deadly in minutes

Close doors behind you

– May help keep the fire from spreading

Pull alarm or phone for help once out of the immediate

danger area – Alarms and pull stations do not communicate

with fire department. They must be called!

Knock on other doors and yell FIRE!

What to do if you are caught in a Fire!

Extinguisher Use

• Pull the pin

• Aim at the base of the fire

• Squeeze the trigger

• Sweep back and forth

Reasons for Evacuation

• Natural disasters

• Fire

• Bomb Threats

• Chemical release

Evacuation Procedures• Building Supervisor coordinates

evacuation

• Everyone evacuates the building!

• Shut down all equipment and

appliances

• Go directly to the nearest safe

exit or predetermined evacuation

route

• Proceed to the predetermined

assembly area and remain for

accountability

• Determine if medical needs exists

and report

• Await further instructions from

Emergency Operations Center

Fire Extinguisher

EXIT

Emergency Light

Exit Sign

Alarm Bell

DOW HALL EMERGENCY EXIT PLAN

YOU ARE HERE

PRIMARY ROUTE

SECONDARY ROUTE

EMERGENCY ROUTE

104 105

106 107

103

124

122 121

113

101

102

123

120

119

118

117

116

115

114

112111

109

108110

FIRST FLOOR

Hazard Communication Program

• Hazard Communication Manual located at the Facilities Administrative Office

• Hazard communication training, locations, and uses of hazardous chemicals

– Container labels

– Material Safety Data Sheets

– Ask your supervisor

• Detecting a chemical release

– Emergency – notify Campus Police

• Chemical disposal

– Contact the NMMI Safety Officer

Chemicals and Spills

• Communicate the

hazards

• Evacuate the area

• Notify trained spill

responders

• Keep others away

from the spill area

First Aid

• First-aid kit locations

• Marshall Infirmary

• Safety shower and eyewash

stations

• Bloodborne pathogens protection

– Bio-Hazard Kits

Ergonomic Risk Factors

• Repetition

• Force

• Posture

• Contact stress

• Vibration

Musculoskeletal Disorders

• Injury to the nervous system or soft

tissue

• Pain in hands, wrists, fingers, forearms,

joints, or elbows

• Tightness, soreness, coldness, stiffness,

burning, tingling, numbness

• Report any of these symptoms

Ergonomic Posture

• Head facing straight ahead

• Knees bent 90 degrees

• Feet flat on the floor or footrest

• Wrists in line with forearms

• Shoulders not hunched

• Elbows close to the side

Reduce Repetition

• Alternate work

activities

• Take mini-breaks

• Take eye breaks

• Stretching exercises

Workplace Stress

• Stress factors

• Symptoms of stress

• Episodic stress

• Benefits of stress

.

Stress Management

• Control your reaction to

stress

• Exercise, eat right,

get adequate sleep

• Avoid stressful situations

• Get organized

• Laugh, relax, take quiet time

Back Safety

• Do not try to lift more than you can handle

• Maintain good back posture when sitting, standing, or lifting

• Use material handling aids

• Make sure you can see over or around loads you are carrying

Safe Lifting Techniques

• Establish a wide and stable stance

• Bend at your knees and hips

• Squat down next to the object

• Firmly grip the object

• Pull the object close

• Tighten your stomach muscles

• Rise up with your legs

Electrical Hazards

• Do not overload circuits

• Do not use damaged electrical cords

• Do not use plugs with missing ground

connectors

• Visually inspect electrical equipment

• Do not touch breaker panels

Cut Hazards

• Box knives

• Scissors

• Paper cutters

• Envelope openers

Slip, Trip, and Fall Hazards

• Water on the floor

• Torn carpet or flooring

• Cords across walkways

• Open file cabinet

drawers

• Standing on chairs to

reach high shelves

Other Hazards

• Poor lighting

• Staircases

• Computer screen

glare

• Poor housekeeping

• Busy hallways

Hazard Identification “See It…Report It”

• Unsafe conditions and hazards are identified and reported to the Physical Plant on Work Order

• Work Order forwarded to Safety Officer

– Examined or investigated

– Logged on Safety Hazard Log

– Hazard level

– Corrective action required

– Project date for temporary safeguard

– Actual repair date

• Information from the Safety Hazard Identification Log is reviewed by the Loss Control Committee and utilized in the continued development of the Safety and Loss Control Program

Quiz

1. The two main ergonomic risk factors for office workers are: ____________________, ____________________

2. Describe the first thing you should do if you discover a fire: _______________________________________

3. Name a fire ignition source that is found under many office desks: __________________________________

4. The best ergonomic posture for your wrists when typing is to have them in a straight line with your forearms. True or False

5. What tool should you use when you want to significantly reduce the strain on your back when you have to move an object? ____________________________________

Quiz (cont.)

6. Describe one way to reduce stress: ___________________________________________

7. Name an office tool that presents a cut hazard: ___________________________________________

8. When visually inspecting electrical equipment, what should you be looking for? _____________________

9. Name a slip, trip, or fall hazard that is common in your office: _________________________________

10. Describe an effective way to reduce exposure to repetitive motion: ____________________________

Quiz Answers

1. Poor posture and repetitive motions.

2. Yell “Fire!” and alert others

3. Space heaters.

4. True.

5. Material handling aids such as forklift, pallet

jack, hand truck, cart, dolly, etc.

Quiz Answers (cont.)

6. Control your reaction, eat right and exercise, avoid stressful situations, have quiet time.

7. Scissors, box knife, paper cutter, envelope opener.

8. Damaged cord, broken prongs, evidence of short circuiting.

9. Extension cords, water on floor, ripped carpet, open file drawers.

10. Alternate tasks, take mini-breaks.