19 min read
Office safety
Last updated September 2026
This chapter explains how to apply health and safety legislation in an office environment, and outlines common safety hazards in an office.
Health and safety obligations in the office
You have health and safety obligations under:
- Legislation: Health and safety legislation in every jurisdiction stipulates that you have a duty of care to ensure the health, safety and welfare of people in your workplace, and that you must manage risks.
- Regulations: Health and safety regulations set out duties in relation to the management of specific hazards that may arise in an office, e.g. manual handling and prevention of falls.
In addition, some codes of practice and Australian Standards relate specifically to office safety.
Caution: While office environments are usually low-risk workplaces, this doesn’t mean you should neglect your health and safety duties! Offices still contain health and safety risks you must manage.