Moving to a new office? Then you need to have a look at our office health and safety checklist. The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 describes how it’s the legal responsibility of employers to complete risk assessments and ensure the workplace is safe for employees. Before you open your new office for business, you need to check if all your health and safety features are in place.

Complete A Risk Assessment

This is perhaps one of the most important tasks in your office health and safety checklist. For any business size, it is a legal requirement to complete a risk assessment.

Risk assessments are formal surveys which can be completed by yourself or an employee in your company. The assessment details any potential hazards in your office and what steps you’ve put in place to help avoid them.

It’s an annual responsibility to complete an assessment but they don’t take long to complete.

 

Check All facilities Are Working

The Workplace Regulations 1992 outline the requirements of business owners. It’s their responsibility to provide:

• Adequate lighting
• Heating
• Ventilation
• Clean workspaces
• Toilets and washing areas
• Safe walkways

All these factors help to keep the workplace a safe and healthy working environment for employees.

 

Appoint Health and Safety Personnel 

To meet the The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, you need to appoint employees from your staff to help oversee workplace health and safety. This role can be carried out by yourself if you have time.

The chosen person needs to be competent as they will be trusted to help oversee workplace safety.

 

Erect Hazard Signs

If there are any uneven steps or narrow walkways, then a safety sign should be put in place to alert any employees or visitors.

Accidents at work do happen but they can usually be avoided. Keep your employees safe by places safety signs in areas where people may need to be alerted of.

For example: shallow steps, slippery work surfaces and heavy doors.

There’s no limit to how many signs you need, all you need to do is put signs where you think people need to be warned about a potential hazard.

 

Prepare First Aid

All offices require to have first aid kits available. A medical box should always be fully stocked and anything used must be replaced. All employees need to know where the first aid box is located.

The Health and Safety Regulations 1981 requires you to have first aid supplies and trained personnel so you can offer immediate care for your employees, if they are injured or unwell at work. Keep your first aid box well stocked and have a sign clearly labelled then the box can be quickly found.

What you need in your first aid kit:

• 60 x Adhesive plasters
• 6 x No. 16 Eyepad
• 8 x Triangular bandage
• 24 x Safety pins
• 4 x Large HSE Dressing
• 12 x Med HSE Dressing
• 2 x Wipes
• 3 x Pairs of gloves
• 1 x Guidance Leaflet

This lists what you need in a first aid box for an office of up to 50 people. Used items should always be replaced.

 

Check Emergency Exit Signs

All escape exits should have clear signs to show the safest route of escape for emergencies. These signs are essential for any office. Your employees may know the best route to leave a building, but if you have any clients visiting you, they might not know how to escape the building safely.

You don’t need fire escape signs on the main route into/out the building, however any alternative routes need to have the appropriate signage. Check to make sure you have the most up-to-date signs.

 

Fire Action Notice

A Fire Action Notice has to be placed beside a fire alarm. This sign needs to be filled with the details of the building address and where the assembly point is located.

They don’t cost much and they’re quick to fill in.  Information should be clearly written as the most likely time anyone is going to read it, is in an emergency.

Depending on the size of your office, you may need to buy multiple Fire Action Notices. These notices need to be placed next to fire escapes and fire alarms.

 

Remembering all the things to remember when moving to a new office is easy when you’re organised.

 

Want The Complete Office Move Checklist?

We have created a printable checklist that helps you track and manage your own office move. Along with the health and safety checks, you can also track your costs, length of time and much more. Don’t let your office move get out of control, download our FREE checklist:

If you need help with your office move, find out how our all-in-one office move services can help you save time, money and stress.