Free checklist · 29 CFR 1910.22 / General Duty Clause
Office Safety Inspection Checklist: Desks, Walkways, and Shared Areas
An office safety inspection checklist helps office managers spot hazards in workstations, circulation areas, and shared rooms. The checks address workstation setup, chairs, lighting, floors, filing cabinets, cords, heaters, exits, first aid, and kitchen appliances. It also prompts attention to air quality concerns and any AED provided in the office.
The full office safety inspection checklist
Office Safety Inspection Checklist. Blanks in [brackets] are for your own details.
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Office workplace safety inspection covering ergonomics, fire safety, electrical, and general conditions.
Ergonomics
- 1Workstations set up ergonomically (monitor at eye level, keyboard at elbow height, feet flat on floor)
- 2Chairs adjusted properly and in good condition (working height/tilt adjustments)
Environment
- 3Adequate lighting for tasks (no glare on screens, supplemental task lighting available)
- 4Indoor air quality acceptable (no complaints of stuffiness, odors, or excessive temperature)
Housekeeping
- 5Walking surfaces clean, dry, and free of tripping hazards
- 6File cabinet drawers closed when not in use (tip-over prevention)
- 7Kitchen/break room appliances clean and in good condition
Electrical
- 8Electrical cords not running across walkways or under rugs
- 9No daisy-chained power strips or overloaded outlets
Fire Safety
- 10Space heaters (if permitted) have tip-over protection and are 3 feet from combustibles
- 11Fire extinguisher accessible and inspection current
- 12Emergency exits clearly marked and unobstructed
Emergency
- 13Evacuation route posted and visible from workstations
- 14First aid kit stocked and location known to employees
- 15AED location known and device inspected (if applicable)
The printable copy adds Pass, Fail and N/A columns with Inspector, Supervisor review and Date lines.
A starting point, not legal advice. Have a qualified person check it against your site, your state's rules and the standard before you rely on it.
Office safety inspection checklist: when it’s needed
Carry out an office walkthrough after moves, furniture changes, repeated discomfort reports, or reports of blocked paths and damaged equipment. Housekeeping and walking surface duties appear in 29 CFR 1910.22, and exit routes must stay unobstructed under 1910.37. Section 1910.151 addresses medical and first aid provisions. There is no federal OSHA ergonomics standard; the workstation checks are practical recommendations rather than a prescribed desk setup. Use this voluntary inspection record to organize fixes, while checking the standards that apply to each finding.
How to use this office safety inspection checklist
- Visit occupied workstations and ask employees about discomfort, glare, access problems, and damaged furniture before checking adjustments.
- Follow walking routes through copy areas, corridors, and break rooms, looking for loose rugs, spills, and trailing cables.
- Check filing cabinet stability, power strip arrangements, and any permitted heaters against equipment instructions and office policy.
- Locate first aid supplies, exits, extinguishers, and any AED, then verify staff know how to reach them.
- Separate urgent defects from planned workstation improvements and give each action a responsible person and completion target.
Before you use this office safety inspection checklist: what to fill in and check
- Employee workstation needs, chair adjustment ranges, task lighting, and any reported discomfort patterns.
- Building management responsibilities for corridor maintenance, ventilation complaints, and electrical repairs.
- Heater permission rules, manufacturer clearances, and approved locations for portable appliances.
- First aid supply locations, responder arrangements, and maintenance responsibility for any AED.
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Office safety inspection checklist questions
Does OSHA require office monitors to be exactly at eye level?
There is no federal OSHA ergonomics standard that prescribes one monitor height for every worker. Treat the checklist’s workstation prompts as a starting point, not fixed measurements for every body and task. Adjust the chair, display, keyboard, and lighting together. Consider individual needs, including vision correction, and respond to discomfort instead of forcing everyone into an identical arrangement.
Are portable space heaters allowed in an office?
Whether a heater is allowed depends on your building rules, applicable fire provisions, equipment instructions, and site policy. The checklist prompts tip-over protection and separation from combustibles, but do not treat one clearance as universal for every model. Confirm the heater’s required clearance and electrical supply arrangement, and remove damaged or unsuitable appliances rather than improvising connections.
Does every office need an AED and a first aid kit?
Section 1910.151 requires readily available medical advice and adequate first aid supplies, plus trained first aid personnel when no infirmary, clinic, or hospital is in near proximity. It does not impose a blanket AED requirement on every office. Evaluate your first aid arrangements for the workplace, and check any other applicable requirements. If you provide an AED, assign responsibility for inspections, supplies, accessibility, and staff awareness.