It is hard to imagine life without some of our
most utilized office products such as scissors, laminators, and paper
shredders. However, as helpful as these devices are, they can also be
dangerous. Here are the office devices you should be careful around
along with suggestions regarding their safe usage.
It's hard to imagine life without some of our
most utilized office products such as scissors, laminators, and paper
shredders. However, as helpful as these devices are, they can also be
dangerous. Here are the office devices you should be careful around
along with suggestions regarding their safe usage.
Any type of cutting device. Without a
doubt, cutting tools can be some of the most dangerous office devices.
This includes scissors/shears, rotary trimmers, and stack and guillotine
cutters. One false move with one of these items could easily cause an
injury so you need to be very careful when you're using them. A lot of
it boils down to common sense. (Such as, "don't run with scissors.")
Also, there are so many cutting tools that have safety features to help
you prevent injuries. For example, rotary trimmers often have blades
that are encased in plastic so that you won't accidentally run your
fingers over the blade. The best guillotine cutters have a spring-loaded
blade and a latch hook to keep the blade in place. And stack cutters
often require you to use both hands when cutting so that your hands
without them getting them trapped near the blade. Most of all, common
sense is often the most important component in staying safe when
cutting. As long as you have that, you should be able to cut without any
issues.
Laminators. Of all the document finishing
methods to choose from, laminating is one of the most popular. It's not
too difficult, it's pretty speedy, and it's something the whole family
can get involved in. However, you need to be careful when laminating,
especially when you're working with a roll laminator. Not only can these
devices become extremely warm to the touch, they can also pose a
problem due to their rollers. Hands and fingers can get stuck between
the rollers and children in particular are at risk for this. Luckily,
you can prevent disaster from occurring by staying mindful of the
situation and keeping at eye on everyone (including yourself) using the
machine. Some laminators do have safety shields so you should choose a
device with this feature if you'll be laminating around kids.
Paper and multimedia shredders. It's
probably no surprise to see paper and multimedia shredders on this list.
The shredder is one of the most dangerous office devices invented since
it's basically just a machine designed to chew things up. Depending on
the device, you'll be able to shred paper, CD's, credit cards, and so
on, so you can imagine how powerful shredders are. These machines can
really do damage if you're not careful. The best way to ensure a safe
shredding experience is follow the manufacturer's directions and keep
the machine away from kids and even pets. Most shredders have some sort
of safety feature (such as an interlock switch), so be sure the machine
you choose has one with which you're comfortable.
All of these office devices are helpful but you need to be careful when using them. Good luck with your work and stay safe!
Jeff McRitchie is the Director of Marketing for MyBinding.com.
He regularly writes articles, reviews, and blog posts on topics related
to bookbinding, laminating, paper shredding, and office equipment. More
than 2,500 of his articles have been published in thousands of
locations on the Internet. If you're looking for information about paper shredders his articles are a great place to start.
