Office safety training is useful for anyone who works at a desk, whether in a corporate office, a plant office or a home workstation. Managers benefit too, since they set safety plans and policies. Office injuries from falls, poor ergonomics and stress are less visible than plant hazards but still cause lost time and costs.

Yes, OSHA applies to office workplaces. The General Duty Clause, Section 5(a)(1) of the OSH Act, requires employers to provide a workplace free from recognized hazards likely to cause death or serious physical harm. Hazard-specific standards, such as those for walking-working surfaces and exit routes, also apply in offices.

The most common office safety hazards include slips, trips and falls, poor workstation ergonomics, eye strain from screens and poor indoor air quality that can trigger allergies or asthma. Stress and related mental health problems are another major concern. Most of these hazards apply to remote workstations as well as traditional offices.

You can prevent eye strain from computer work by following the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look at something at least 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds. Reducing overall screen time, adjusting monitor position and brightness, and limiting glare also help keep eyes comfortable during long workdays.

An office safety plan should identify common hazards, set procedures to control them and train employees on those procedures. It should communicate safety policies clearly and give employees a way to report concerns. Periodic job safety analyses help catch recurring risks before they cause injuries, both in the office and at remote workstations.