synthetic_policies/workplace_safety_guidelines.md

EHS-GUID-002: Workplace Safety Guidelines

Effective Date: 2025-04-10 Revision: 1.1 Owner: Environmental Health & Safety (EHS)

1. Purpose

These guidelines are intended to promote a safe and healthy work environment for all employees by establishing clear expectations for workplace conduct, hazard identification, and incident reporting. Safety is a shared responsibility.

2. General Safety Rules

• Maintain a clean and organized work area to prevent slips, trips, and falls.
• Do not block fire exits, extinguishers, or electrical panels.
• Be aware of your surroundings and report any suspicious activity to security.
• Do not engage in horseplay or practical jokes that could endanger others.

3. Office Ergonomics

• Workstation Setup: Adjust your chair, desk, and monitor to maintain a neutral posture. Your feet should be flat on the floor, and your monitor should be at or slightly below eye level.
• Ergonomic Assessments: The EHS department offers ergonomic assessments upon request. We can provide wrist rests, footrests, and other equipment to help optimize your workstation.
• Breaks: Take short breaks every 30-60 minutes to stand, stretch, and move around.

4. Hazard Identification and Reporting

• See Something, Say Something: If you identify a potential safety hazard (e.g., a wet floor, a frayed electrical cord, a broken chair), report it immediately to the Facilities department via a Jira ticket or to your manager.
• Do not attempt to resolve a potentially dangerous situation yourself.

5. Electrical Safety

• Do not overload electrical outlets or use damaged cords.
• Keep liquids away from all electrical equipment, including computers and printers.
• Only authorized personnel may perform maintenance on electrical equipment.

6. Accident Reporting Procedure

• All workplace accidents, injuries, or near-misses, no matter how minor, must be reported to your manager and the EHS department within 24 hours.
• An Accident Report Form must be completed to document the incident. This helps us identify root causes and implement corrective actions to prevent future incidents.

7. Related Policies

• Emergency Response Plan (EHS-PLAN-001)
• Employee Handbook (HR-POL-001)

8. Revision History

• v1.1 (2025-10-28): Added sections on general safety rules and electrical safety.
• v1.0 (2025-04-10): Initial version.