Four of the Most Frequently Ignored Office Maintenance Issues

Office maintenance is incredibly tricky to get right as it is so often left to the building owners and maintenance team, yet the actual users may not feel able or inclined to report faults and issues. There is thus a common occurrence of faults not being identified in time and then costing the business in lost time or legal compensation claims based on falls, trips, and other associated health and safety issues. This article provides some insight and advice as to the four most common office block maintenance issues that office workers, maintenance teams, and building management must be on top of.

Gutters

The roof is often number one on the list of things to do, and it is indeed one of the most important aspects of the office block and business centers. However, a great roof without accompanying guttering is only half a waterproofing solution. Clearing gutters must be a yearly process, and office occupants are informed and advised timeously. It’s generally a process that requires advance notice as there will be additional workmen on site, falling debris, and possible scaffolding.

Smoke detector

It’s a high-risk issue that the fire detector and alarm will deal with, yet the machine and maintenance are the simplest things to do. It’s generally going to be the office occupants who have to ensure that the detector works, press the test button, check batteries and report any failures to building maintenance. It’s something that must be on the yearly checklists and a task on the internal health and safety processes. The smoke alarms installed must have the details of a recognized testing lab and be installed in all rooms in spaces that are away from all vents and drafts or windows.

Front pavement

It’s this area that is not only the curb appeal for your office but also the area of the most trips and possible falls. The entranceway and porch require regular cleaning, and pavement maintenance must be part of this process. Uneven pavers and mossy coverings soon become trip hazards and incredibly slippery in adverse weather conditions.

Doors

Both internal and external office doors should be checked regularly. They have proven to be a common source of accidents and issues relating to health and safety incidents. Be it fingers getting trapped, doors jamming and or closing unevenly, or difficulty with locks. The doorway is another frequent accident space and, as such, must be maintained accordingly. Inspection routines for doors are an essential maintenance issue and must be included in a health and safety checklist.

Office maintenance must be about good communication between the office occupants and building maintenance. Those using the space must take responsibility and report any maintenance issues immediately. The issues above must be communicated timeously between office owners, landlords, tenants, and maintenance teams. These issues are noted as the most ignored of many, and this is perhaps based on their perceived simplicity; should they be ignored, the resultant problems and legal claims could be devastating.

About the author

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Elijah Lucas

Elijah is a tech enthusiast with a focus on emerging technologies like AI and machine learning. He has a Ph.D. in Computer Science and has authored several research papers in the field. Elijah is the go-to person for anything complex and techy, and he enjoys breaking down complicated topics for our readers. When he's not writing, he's probably tinkering with his home automation setup.