5 Life Hacks to Instantly Make Your Workplace Safer

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, a life hack is defined as: A strategy or technique adopted in order to manage one’s time and daily activities in a more efficient way. As occupational safety professionals, one of the most common criticisms of health and safety we hear is that it takes too long and slows down productivity…

Of course we know that nothing could be further from the truth, as according to the HSE, work-related illness and injury are responsible for an astonishing 27 million lost working days each year – a colossal waste of both time and money! That’s where these ‘life hacks’ come in.

Designed to increase both efficiency and workplace safety, even the most grizzled cynic will have to agree that these small tweaks to your systems could have potentially huge impacts. Let us know how you get on in the comments below, and be sure to share any ‘life hacks’ of your own that have made your workplace a safer place for everyone!

Hack 1: Encourage reverse parking

If you have a car park at work, then why not encourage staff to reverse park? Of course this will depend on the layout of your car park, but in general reversing into a static parking bay is safer than reversing out into a road or car park. It helps to improve visibility and reduces the risk of collisions with traffic and pedestrians. If some of your workers are concerned about their parking abilities, you could also consider a driver development course, specifically designed to help improve the all-round confidence and safety of driving.

Hack 2: Be aware of the danger of personal phone chargers

A recent study of phone chargers showed a sharp increase in the number of incidents being reported about faulty electrical goods, particularly fake, cheap and unbranded chargers – many of which fail to meet UK safety regulations and can lead to electric shock, injury and fires. Under the The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, all workplaces are legally obliged to ensure electrical equipment is ‘maintained in a condition suitable for that use’ – and as a result many workplaces spend a fortune ensuring their electrical equipment is PAT tested. By allowing employees to bring in untested chargers from home, you may be leaving your organisation open to unnecessary risks. As a compromise you might consider purchasing a few properly maintained ‘company chargers’ for everyone to use. Remember, the safest option is always to switch off the socket and pull the charger out when not in use.

Hack 3: Use the “20-20-20” Rule for Eye Strain

This is a perfect life hack for any office worker! Staring at a screen all day leads to “digital eye strain,” which causes headaches, blurred vision, and dry eyes. The fix? The 20-20-20 rule. Every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds. This simple hack forces your eye muscles to relax, dramatically reducing fatigue and improving comfort and focus for the rest of the day.

Hack 4: Make Lifting a Squat, Not a Bend

Back injuries are one of the most common and painful workplace injuries. The ultimate “life hack” for lifting is to stop thinking of it as a *back* movement and start thinking of it as a *leg* movement. Before lifting, get close to the object, plant your feet, and squat down. Grip the item and drive *up* with your legs, keeping your back straight. This channels the pressure into your powerful leg muscles instead of your vulnerable spine.

Hack 5: Create Clear Walkways with Floor Tape

Slips, trips, and falls are a top cause of injury. The problem is often “clutter creep”—boxes, carts, and materials slowly invading walkways. A simple but powerful hack is to use high-visibility floor tape to *permanently* mark out your designated walkways. This creates a powerful visual cue that makes it obvious when something is in the wrong place. It’s a cheap, one-time task that makes your entire facility safer, every single day.

Frequently Asked Questions About Workplace Safety

What is the easiest safety “life hack” to implement?

The easiest hack is awareness! A simple “life hack” is to get into the habit of “scanning” your environment. When you enter a room or a new worksite, take 5 seconds to spot the nearest exit, find the fire extinguisher, and check the floor for trip hazards. This 5-second habit builds situational awareness.

How can I make my office desk safer?

The best desk hack is all about ergonomics. Adjust your chair so your feet are flat on the floor and your monitor is at eye level. This prevents you from hunching, which is a major cause of back and neck pain. The “20-20-20” rule is another great hack to prevent eye strain.

Why is reverse parking considered a safety hack?

It’s a “hack” because it flips the risk. Reversing into a *controlled, empty* parking space is low risk. Reversing *out* into a *dynamic, active* lane with moving cars and pedestrians is high risk. This simple change reduces the chance of a collision by getting the most dangerous part of the maneuver (reversing) over with first.