4 Dangers Of A Cluttered Workplace

The UK has a severe hoarding problem, so the average Brit is no stranger to clutter. According to a comparethemarket.com study, the UK stores five times as much stuff as any of its European neighbours. Clutter can be a personal choice at home, even though it is a bad idea. However, there is no room for clutter in the workplace since it has many dangerous effects. Consequently, hoarding isn’t a habit you should adopt as a business owner who wishes to keep their staff and office building in top shape. Below are some of the most common dangers of clutter in the workplace.

• Fire risk

An office environment packed with cluttered items and poorly organised papers and files is a huge risk in the event of a fire. For starters, fire will easily spread if there is too much combustible clutter, like paper lying around. Also, heavy items that fall or start burning may obstruct fire exits and other obvious escape routes. Therefore, keep clutter in your workplace down to avoid stacking fuel for potential workplace files. Also, ensure that the floor remains clear to offer plenty of space to keep workers safe during normal and emergency times.

• Reduces productivity

Every worker would agree that clutter in the office is quite distracting. Indeed, a Princeton Neuroscience Institute study discovered that the more things in the view, the more competitors you have for your attention. Consequently, your staff can be less productive in an office with too much clutter because they will have difficulty focusing on key work tasks. Furthermore, clutter can slow employees down since they will waste a lot of time trying to find things. Employees can also be more stressed and anxious if there is too much clutter in the workplace. Fortunately, decluttering is one of the key components of commercial cleaning services. Therefore, it makes sense to invest in these services to free up more space in the office and increase productivity.

• Compromised structural integrity

Many businesses are guilty of piling items high against their walls and even to the ceilings instead of throwing them away. However, this practice puts immense pressure on your building’s structure, particularly if you use upper floors. This reality is because upper floors are not typically designed to contain large amounts of weight. Consequently, you may soon discover that your workspace is at serious risk of collapsing, ceilings falling through, or wall damage. If this issue is occurring in your workplace, you should look at a short term dumpster rental to clear out the junk as soon as you can. This is because a problem like this affects your building’s structure and can be devastating for staff and customers since it could result in serious accidents and injuries.

• Trips and falls

A reported 29% of workplace accidents in the UK were slip, trip, and fall-related, making them the most popular cause of workplace injuries. Clutter is a major trip and fall hazard, whether it is equipment left in the wrong place or loose wires. Badly stacked items can also fall and cause individuals to move or jump hastily, resulting in falls. Companies face negligence claims and lawsuits from clients and staff injured on their premises. Therefore, it is prudent to ensure a clutter-free workplace to reduce your chances of getting sued and reputational damage.