What Are Some Office Safety Tips?

Taking regular breaks can help reduce the risk of injuries. But knowing how to mitigate these risks is a great first step to creating a safer workplace . Office environments present their own unique set of safety risks. Office employees sit for most of the workday, putting them at risk for back and neck pains. Long-term repetitive use of phones and computers present additional risks. These include vision strain, hand and wrist injuries. Like any other workplace, injuries can also occur in various ways such as trip hazards from misplaced objects, worn-down furniture, faulty electrical cords and poor ventilation. Learn more about Some Office Safety Tips .

What Are Some Additional Workplace Safety Tips?

Many jobs require different safety guidelines, depending on specific responsibilities. No matter the job, proper safety training is essential to reduce risks . It can also help improve workplace health and safety. Train employees on safe workplace practices and to identify risks. Your employees should know where to find and how to use safety equipment. Employees should also be familiar with the proper use of any personal protective equipment. You can easily get a workers compensation insurance quote .

Workplace Safety and Insurance

Quote Today

Key Takeaways

Workplace injuries are common but often preventable, so understanding the most common risks can help reduce accidents and claims.
Improving ergonomics, providing ongoing training and regularly identifying hazards can help protect your employees and create a safer workplace for all.
Workers’ compensation insurance plays a key role in supporting employees who are injured or become ill from their job. It can also help business owners avoid significant financial setbacks.

Employers reported 2.5 million nonfatal workplace injuries in 2024, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.¹ While that number may seem staggering, work-related injuries have been declining. Some of that decline could be attributed to better workplace safety programs.

Safer workplaces can help business owners save money by lowering workers’ compensation insurance premiums and claims costs. That’s why it’s important to identify, understand and address workplace safety risks.

Understanding Occupational Safety Risks

Understanding the different types of workplace injuries is important because workers’ comp is not a one-size-fits-all coverage. Knowing the occupational safety risks their employees may face can help employers prevent injuries, respond correctly if something happens and ensure employees receive the right protection. Here are the top work-related injury risks to be aware of:²

Slips, Trips and Falls

Slips, trips and falls are common workplace hazards that can significantly impact worker safety, particularly in industries like construction and manufacturing where hazardous conditions are more common. Slip, trips and falls can happen from:

Slipping on wet floors
Inadequate lighting
Trips over equipment, desks, electrical cords, loose carpeting or misplaced objects in walkways

These tips can help you avoid falls in the office:

Keep walkways clear
Keep drawers closed when not in use
Encourage employees not to overreach for things while seated
Fix hazards such as loose carpeting and electrical cords
Pick up misplaced objects
Ensure rooms are brightly lit
Add signage for wet floors

Overexertion

Overexertion injuries are a common cause of workers’ compensation claims. They can happen when an employee strains their body through lifting, repetitive motion or prolonged physical stress. These injuries can affect many different professions. For example, construction roles often involve lifting heavy materials and repeated movements. Office workers have long periods of sitting and typing that can lead to back, neck and wrist strain. Promoting proper ergonomics, safe work practices and regular breaks can help reduce overexertion risks.

Conditions and Environments

Certain working conditions and environments can increase the risk of a work-related injury or occupational illness. Employees are at greater risk if they’re exposed to harmful substances or environments including extreme temperatures, infectious diseases, radiation and extreme or poor air quality. Identifying environmental hazards and taking steps to control exposure can help protect employees and reduce claims.

Contact With Equipment and Objects

If a worker is struck by, caught in or collides with machinery, tools or falling objects, it poses a significant occupational safety risk. These accidents can cause serious injuries or even death, especially in environments with heavy equipment or inadequate safety controls. Employers play a critical role in preventing these accidents by ensuring that proper training, equipment maintenance and safety precautions are in place to reduce these risks and protect workers on the job.

Transportation Accidents

Transportation accidents are another significant occupational safety risk when employees drive or ride in vehicles as part of their job duties. Collisions, rollovers and pedestrian incidents can lead to serious injuries or fatalities. Typically, these accidents are covered by workers’ compensation when they happen on the job while an employee is performing their work duties.

How To Identify Workplace Risks Using the GOAL Method

One of the easiest ways to identify hazards in the workplace is to use the GOAL Method. GOAL stands for “Go Out and Look!”

Schedule and document periodic safety inspections. Depending on the exposures and types of hazards, conduct inspections daily, weekly, monthly or on a quarterly basis.

Daily: High hazard or frequently changing operations or equipment (forklifts, power press guarding)
Weekly: High hazard areas (flammable storage areas, construction sites and hazardous manufacturing areas)
Monthly: Most manufacturing, retail and warehousing areas
Quarterly: Offices, grounds and parking lots

Be sure to document the inspections for various regulations and follow-up questions. Records should include:

Name(s) of the individual(s) conducting the inspection
Unsafe conditions and/or work practices identified
Action(s) taken to correct the identified unsafe conditions and work practices
Documentation of any identified conditions and remediation methods

Aside from identifying risks through periodic inspections, there are some basic safety tips businesses can follow to create a safer workplace.

How To Promote Health and Safety in the Workplace

You can promote health and safety in your workplace by taking proactive steps to help prevent injuries before they happen. From ergonomics and training to having the right insurance in place, these actions can help protect your employees and your business.

Improve Ergonomics

Not all workplace injuries happen suddenly. Many develop gradually over time, especially repetitive stress injuries (RSIs) caused by repeated motions, poor posture or improperly set up workstations. Focusing on proper workstation ergonomics can help reduce strain, support healthy movement and lower the risk of long‑term injuries. When setting up a new workstation, consider these ergonomic best practices:

Adjust chairs to the employee’s height. Thighs should be parallel with the floor, while feet are flat on the ground.
Adjust keyboard height. While typing, elbows should be at a 90-degree angle and wrists should be straight.
Raise the computer monitor to eye level.

Prioritize Training

Proper training is essential for worker safety and overall health in every job. Effective training can help your employees recognize risks, use equipment correctly and follow safe work practices. Training for managers should include how to respond if an accident occurs, including documenting what happened and filing a claim. Your employees should also know how to use safety equipment and protective gear, with hands-on training that includes safety in the workplace examples relevant to their roles.

When new equipment is introduced, safety risks can increase if employees aren’t fully prepared. Successful use depends on training that covers:

How the equipment works, including key design features and limitations
How movement, posture and regular breaks can help reduce strain
How to apply basic ergonomic practices to daily tasks and workstations
Who to contact when equipment or ergonomic issues arise

Protect Workers With the Right Insurance

Workers’ compensation insurance helps cover medical care costs and lost wages if an employee is injured or becomes ill from their job. It also helps financially protect small business owners from having to pay those costs out of pocket if an accident happens. The Hartford is here to help you find the right amount of workers’ comp coverage to protect both your team and your business.

Workers’ Compensation From The Hartford

With a thoughtful plan for workplace safety and insurance in place, you can minimize the severity and cost of workers’ compensation claims. You may also be able to reduce your workers’ comp rates. Learn more about the cost of workers’ compensation and get a quote today. If you prefer to speak to one of our insurance specialists, please call 855-829-1683.

Frequently Asked Questions About Workplace Safety and Insurance

What Should I Do if an Employee Is Injured?

If an employee is injured on the job, you should follow these seven steps:

Act fast: If your employee needs immediate medical attention, call 911 or an ambulance to take them to the hospital.
Follow all Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recommendations: OSHA requires employers to notify the agency when severe work-related injuries occur. You’ll need to report employee deaths within eight hours and hospitalizations, amputations or eye loss within 24 hours. Call the 24-hour hotline at 800-321-6742 or report the incident online.
Review your emergency plan: Follow the steps outlined in your plan for work-related injuries. If you don’t have an emergency plan, consider creating one that outlines the steps for different emergencies, including accidents and fires.
Get employees to a safe place after an injury: Move any other employees in the area to somewhere safe. This can reduce the risk of additional injured workers.
Review the situation: When your employee is injured at work, you’ll need to determine how severe it is and what caused it. This can help you decide whether you need to file an injury claim.
Get information, evidence and photos: Document your employee’s injury with photos. Even if they say they’re fine, you should still note the injury in case they file a claim in the future. You may also want to speak with other employees who witnessed the accident.
Maintain open, honest communication: Be transparent with your employee and insurance company while going through the workers’ compensation claim process.

What Does Workplace Safety Include?

Workplace safety includes giving employees the training and awareness they need to recognize risks, work safely and speak up when something doesn’t feel right. It also means outlining a clear plan for how to report injuries and filing workers’ compensation claims if an accident occurs.

flower shop owner uses his laptop to find out How Much Does Workers’ Comp Insurance Cost?

How Is Workers' Comp Calculated?

How To Get Workers’ Comp Insurance

Workers’ Compensation FAQs

¹ Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Employer-Reported Workplace Injury and Illnesses, 2023-2024,” viewed February 2026.

² National Safety Council, “Top Work-related Injury Causes,” viewed February 2026.

This article provides general information, and should not be construed as specific legal, HR, financial, insurance, tax or accounting advice. As with all matters of a legal or human resources nature, you should consult with your own legal counsel and human resources professionals. The Hartford shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, special, consequential, incidental, punitive or exemplary damages in connection with the use by you or anyone of the information provided herein.