Safety Tutorialfor the

Travel Clerk

Elizabeth Allen

State University of New York

Syracuse Educational Opportunity Center

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Training Tasks for Travel Clerks:

• Understand your rights as a teen worker

• Define job hazard

• Identify main hazards in an office setting

• Describe the dangerous results of main office hazards

• Identify practical ways to overcome common office hazards

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True/False Pre-Test

1. One of the most important factors for preventing work-related injuries or illnesses is education and training.

2. Student on-the-job injuries are due to the students eagerness to prove themselves to be good workers.

3. Since office workers do not use heavy equipment, machinery, power-tools, or industrial chemicals, there are no safety hazards teens need to be aware of.

4. If you report on-the-job injuries, you may get fired.

5. It is the student workers responsible to make their work area safe and healthful in case the supervisor has an inspection.

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What is a job hazard?

• A job hazard is anything at work that can potentially hurt you, kill you, make you sick, or affect your mental health.

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Office job hazards can be:

• Physical hazards• Chemical hazards• Other-type hazards

BEWARE! Office job hazards come in many different categories, shapes, sizes, forms, places and personal interactions!

Do we really know what’s inside our office mail?

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Physical hazards in an office:

• Loose cords & carpeting can cause workers to trip

• Unsecured furniture can fall on workers

• Overloaded desks, shelves & counters can fall/break and cause injury

• Overloaded electrical circuits can cause fires

• Slippery floors can cause workers to fall

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Be physically safe in an office:

Do not run cords in public areasReplace frayed & defected electrical cordsKeep carpets securedDo not overload electrical outletsImmediately clean up floor spillsSecure furniture, file cabinets, etc.Do not overload desks, file cabinets,

shelves, etc.

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Chemical hazards in an office:

• Both ozone from copier machines & poor office air quality can cause breathing difficulty, headaches, and dizziness

NOTE: The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) requires employers to provide a workplace that is free of serious recognized hazards.

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Did you know?

• Copier machines should be kept in separate areas

• Office workers have the right to good air quality

• You may ask your employer to correct hazards even if they are not violations of specific OSHA standards

NOTE: The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) requires employers to provide a workplace that is free of serious recognized hazards.

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Other-type office hazards:

• Repetitive work that may cause carpal tunnel syndrome & tendonitis – i.e. computer keyboards & mice

• Computer monitors may cause neck & eye strain• Sitting for long periods of time may cause back

strain• Contact with public may cause stress & dangerous

confrontations• Sexual harassment CAUSES emotional stress &

fear

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Be safe from other-type hazards:

Vary or rotate job tasks requiring repetitive movements

Use adjustable chairs & workstations

Position computer monitors correctly

Have good postureTake regular breaks

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Avoid emotional stress & angry customer confrontations by:– completing a “customer service” training workshop

– alternating between jobs

Avoid being sexually harassed on-the-job by:– understanding company policy on sexual harassment

– completing a “sexual harassment” training workshop

Be alert and report any hazards or unsafe personal interactions to your supervisor IMMEDIATELY!

If you are unsure about anything, ASK questions!– i.e. policies, procedures, who to report information to, unsafe

practices, etc.

Be safe from other-type hazards:

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REMEMBER!

• You have the right to work in an environment free from harassment and discrimination

• You have the right to work in an environment that is safe & healthful

• You have the right to file a complaint if your job is unsafe without the risk of being fired

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Reporting an injury:

• Be sure to report ANY injury to your supervisor & WBL Coordinator ASAP!

• Be aware that reporting an injury does not reflect negatively on you or your job

• REMEMBER, if you are unsure about anything, ASK questions!– i.e. policies, procedures, who to report information to, unsafe

practices, etc.

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True/False Post Test

1. Office hazards can be described as physical, chemical and/or other?

2. Examples of office physical safety hazards are overloaded electrical outlets, unsecured furniture & slippery floors?

3. Poor indoor air quality does not create an unsafe or unhealthy working environment.

4. Repetitive tasks such as typing can contribute to muscle, tendon or nerve strain.

5. It’s not your job to clean up floor spills, all spills should be handled by the maintenance department.

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True/False Post Test (con’t)6. One of the most important factors for preventing work-

related injuries or illnesses is education and training.

7. One reason for student on-the-job injuries are the students eagerness to prove themselves to be good workers.

8. Since office workers do not use heavy equipment, machinery, power-tools, or industrial chemicals, there are no real safety hazards.

9. If you report on-the-job injuries, you may get fired.

10. It is the student workers responsible to make their work area safe and healthful in case the supervisor conducts an inspection.

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Who is OSHA?

• OSHA (Occupational Safety & Health Administration) is a government agency

• OSHA was established to protect the safety & health of our nation’s workers

• OSHA’s mission for teens is to help teens stay healthy & safe while on the job

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Safety Web Resources

http://www.youthrules.dol.gov/

http://www.osha.gov

http://www.aflcio.org/yourjobeconomy/safety/

http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/workplaceviolence/

http://youngworker.healthandsafetycentre.org/s/Home.asp

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Pre/Post Test Answer Key

1. True

2. True

3. False

4. True

5. False

6. True

7. True

8. False

9. False

10.False