Is Your Office Safe? A Practical Workplace Safety Checklist

A simple workplace walk-through can uncover blocked exits, overloaded outlets, unstable storage and other conditions that become easy to overlook during normal operations.

Originally published January 2013. Updated October 2026 to reflect current workplace safety practices.

Most office safety problems don’t begin as major problems.

A box gets left in a corridor. An extension cord becomes permanent. Storage creeps higher. A cabinet gets overloaded. Someone puts equipment in front of an electrical panel because the space was available.

Individually, these may seem minor.

Walk through the office looking specifically for them and you may see the workplace differently.

The question is:

“What has changed since the space was originally designed and occupied?”

The following checklist is intended as a practical walk-through, not a substitute for applicable OSHA requirements, building and fire codes, or review by qualified safety professionals.

Emergency Preparedness

Check whether:

• Employees know how to report an emergency.
• Emergency contact information is readily available.
• Evacuation procedures are current and communicated.
• Exit routes and emergency equipment are accessible.
• Fire extinguishers and other life-safety equipment are being inspected and maintained as required.
• Employees know where AEDs and first-aid supplies are located, where provided.
• Changes to the workplace have been reflected in emergency plans.

A relocation, renovation or departmental move is a good reason to revisit emergency procedures rather than assuming the old plan still works.

Exits and Aisles

Walk the normal circulation paths and look for:

• Boxes, furniture or equipment obstructing exit routes.
• Doors that are difficult to open or have become obstructed.
• Storage extending into corridors or circulation areas.
• Loose flooring, damaged surfaces or other trip hazards.
• Temporary cords crossing walking paths.
• Changes in furniture layout that have narrowed circulation.

Do not rely on a generic minimum dimension from a checklist. Required egress widths and configurations depend on the applicable codes, occupancy and conditions of the space.

Electrical Conditions

Look for:

• Damaged cords, plugs, outlets or equipment.
• Extension cords being used as permanent wiring.
• Improper or overloaded power strips.
• Electrical panels or equipment blocked by storage.
• Temporary electrical arrangements that have become permanent.
• Equipment with power requirements that may not have been considered when it was installed.

If something appears questionable, have it reviewed by the appropriate qualified person rather than improvising a solution.

Cabinets, Shelving and Storage

Check whether:

• Shelving and cabinets are stable and in good condition.
• Heavy materials are stored appropriately.
• Frequently used items can be reached safely.
• File cabinets and drawers do not create tipping or circulation hazards.
• Storage has accumulated around mechanical, electrical or fire-protection equipment.
• Storage rooms are being used for the materials they were intended to contain.

Available space has a way of becoming storage space.

Over time, that can interfere with equipment access, sprinkler protection and safe circulation.

Work Areas and Office Equipment

Look at how people are actually using the space.

Check for:

• Damaged chairs, desks or other furniture.
• Equipment positioned where it creates a trip or access problem.
• Paper cutters, shredders and similar equipment in safe operating condition.
• Kitchen and break-room equipment being used appropriately.
• Workstations that have accumulated improvised electrical connections.
• Equipment added since occupancy without considering power, ventilation or other requirements.

The original furniture plan may tell you how the office was intended to operate.

The walk-through tells you how it operates now.

Building and Maintenance Areas

Don’t limit the review to employee workstations.

Utility rooms, storage areas and other back-of-house spaces can accumulate problems because fewer people see them.

Look for blocked equipment, inappropriate storage, leaks, damaged finishes, temporary repairs and other conditions that warrant attention.

Where specialized mechanical, electrical or other equipment is involved, inspection and servicing should be performed by appropriately qualified personnel.

Security and Access

Safety and security can overlap.

Consider whether:

• Public access is appropriately controlled.
• Restricted areas remain secure.
• Employee access procedures reflect current staffing and operations.
• After-hours procedures are understood.
• Emergency responders can reach the areas they may need to access.

Changes in occupancy or office layout can make an old access-control plan less effective even when the equipment itself still works.

Don’t Just Make a List

The walk-through only has value if identified conditions are assigned and closed.

For each issue, record:

What was found?

Who owns the corrective action?

When will it be completed?

Who confirms that it was corrected?

Some findings may be simple housekeeping issues. Others may require the landlord, building management, an electrician, fire-protection contractor, safety professional or another specialist.

The important part is identifying the right response and making sure someone owns it.

Leadership Takeaway: A workplace changes continuously after occupancy. Periodic safety walk-throughs help identify the small operational changes that can gradually create larger problems and give the organization a way to assign and close them before an incident exposes them.