FD13 - Offices and Rooms

Purpose

To establish guidance for the design, contents and layout of offices at an Aquatic Facility.

Description

Poor office layout and design increases the risk of collisions, trips and falls as well as increasing the risk of sprain and strain injuries and occupational overuse injuries.

When designing and assessing the layout of offices in an aquatic facility, factors to consider include physical layout, lighting, temperature and ventilation. These include but are not limited to the following:

Physical Layout:

• Use chairs that can be adjusted for height and support your lower back. Choose a desk also that can accommodate a range of heights
• Ensure equipment is not left lying on the floor and passages and exits are kept clear at all times
• Equipment with dangerous moving parts e.g. Office shredder, must be properly guarded.
• Cords and extension leads are not in areas that can get wet and where people can trip over them
• Items that are stored in your office are at a suitable height to prevent twisting, bending and lifting

Air and Temperature:

• Make sure air conditioners are not positioned over workstations where they can cause draughts and discomfort;
• Ensure adequate airflow; and
• Office area is kept at a comfortable temperature

Noise:

• Noisy equipment should be kept away from where people are working, it can affect concentration and cause permanent hearing loss

Lighting:

• Ensure there are no lighting problems such as flickering lights
• Glare and a lack of natural light can cause eyestrain and vision problems

Design and layout of your office should include ongoing attention to deal with inadequacies which become evident during work. Regular inspections and checks can identify and control hazardous situations before they cause health and safety problems.

General Office Considerations

• Position your computer so that it does not cause glare from reflected lights, is at the correct height for the user
• Use appropriately placed keyboards and well-designed mouse to prevent strain associated with constant keyboard use
• Use devices such as document holders, wrist rests, angle boards, and footrests to assist keyboard work
• Regular breaks should be taken to reduce the incidence of neck strain
• Heavily used photocopiers may require isolation and adequate ventilation as they have parts which heat and produce potentially toxic fumes
• Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for photocopier chemicals should be made available
• Disposable gloves should be provided for handling photocopier toner

References

• Safe Work NSW – Health and Safety in the Office Guide 2004
• Safe Work NSW – Managing the Work Environment and Facilities – Code of Practice