After a long stressful journey in to work it can sometimes be a huge relief to arrive in the office safely and settle in to the comfortable position behind the desk.

Alternatively a bad journey in to work because the train was late and overcrowded or the traffic on the roads was hideous, can really put an office worker in the wrong frame of mind.

Arriving to work already stressed and wound up can lead to worse things ahead, as the office can be an obstacle course of disasters waiting to happen.

With the mind on other matters it is easy to not to look where you are going sometimes, and when a colleague leaves their desk draw open, before you know it you are lying flat on your face in he middle of the office.

In most instances the humiliation of tripping over is the worst scenario, as tactful colleagues try to suppress their giggles, whilst less tactful ones roar with laughter pointing at the clumsy idiot on the floor.

That said it is easy to laugh at a seemingly comic situation, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States, believe office workers are 2 to 2.5 times more likely to suffer a disabling injury from a fall than non-office workers.

Scenes we may have seen in comedies or cartoons really happen, with staff using their wheelie chair to stand on as they reach for a file on top of the cupboard.

Boxes waiting to go to storage are left out in the open waiting to be tripped over, or if stacked high enough are ready to topple on top of someone.

The key is to employ a modicum of common sense and keep the eyes peeled for any potential dangers, as you would in any environment.

The problem is that in stressful situations common sense can often go out the window, so using the old ten second rule to allow time to calm down before getting up from the chair applies in office safety.

Office safety should be a team effort starting with the management, who should ensure that staff is made aware of the pitfalls and that the office is safe.

Equally staff should not be afraid to point out potential hazards such as loose carpeting, cables and poorly stacked boxes amongst other things to see that they get rectified as soon as possible.

Another cause of injuries in the office is back problems, most commonly through bad posture but also from lifting heavy items. The important thing is to not try and lift too much in one go and if necessary carry items like printer paper, boxes and files in stages or even better ask a colleague to help.

Remember when lifting something from the floor to squat towards the floor and then use the legs to straighten.

The back should stay straight and when carrying heavy items it should not be twisted, as anyone who has back problems will explain it is a problem that will live with you forever.

The majority of the time problems with safety are not an issue in the office, but they tend to strike when you least expect them.

It's as well to be vigilant at all times, and work with your colleagues to keep the office a safe place to work in.

Useful Links:
The Law Society
0800 Compensation Claims Advice
Health & Safety Executive
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