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Lisa Hoover 0 Junior Poster

From the "some-studies-will-grasp-at-any-straw" department comes word that female tech workers are more likely than their male counterparts to get hurt in the workplace. If that's the case, I'll bet it's because men are more likely to "rub some dirt on it and shake it off," rather than report tripping over some Cat5 in the storage room.

The study, conducted by the U.S. Department of Labor, doesn't give a breakdown of the nature of the injuries but Computerworld's Patrick Thibodeau says similar indicate they're probably related to muscle strains, sprains, and bruises.

Kristin VanSoest, director of operations and a consultant at Safety Resources Inc. tells Computerworld she pins the blame on the high-heeled shoes women wear at the office. "If I'm setting out to go shopping, I'm not going to put on my most uncomfortable dress shoes," says VanSoest. Therefore, she says, she's less likely to get injured at the mall than at work.

In all seriousness, the risk of massive amounts of tech worker injuries is pretty small. Of the 356,000 employees working in data processing services, ISPs, and Web search portals last year, only about 900 reported getting hurt on the job. I'd imagine there are far more instances of repetitive stress injuries in the tech sector than trips, falls, or bonked heads. Take a minute to review these tips on how to avoid this common problem among tech workers.

And save the fancy footwear for weekends.

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raised a useful point about server-room hazards. The following is a compact, practical guide that focuses on immediate controls and simple procedures that reduce trips, falls, equipment damage, and ESD exposure in equipment rooms.

Basic prevention (applies to staff, contractors and visitors)

  • Footwear: prefer closed-toe, low-heel or flat shoes with slip-resistant soles; avoid shoes with exposed metal points that can damage raised tiles or concentrate point loads. When facility ESD procedures exist, follow the provided grounding practices rather than relying on street footwear for ESD protection.
  • Cable management: keep walkways free of loose cables by using overhead/underfloor routing, cable trays, Velcro ties, and removable cable ramps for temporary runs.
  • Housekeeping and environment: maintain even, clean flooring, good lighting, and clear signage. Secure raised-floor tiles and repair chips or cracks promptly.
  • Work practices: use carts for equipment moves, two-person lifts for heavy racks, and anti-fatigue mats where prolonged standing is required.

After an incident (quick, standard sequence)

  • Attend to the injured person and call medical services if needed.
  • Photograph the scene, preserve evidence (cords, tiles), and complete the incident report per company policy.
  • Remove or isolate the hazard immediately and schedule a short root-cause review (what caused the trip, why was the cable/run exposed, were footwear or floor conditions factors?). Implement the simplest permanent fix that eliminates recurrence.

Manager checklist (annual or semiannual)

  • Risk assessment of access routes and raised-floor conditions.
  • Written safety rules for server areas (footwear guidance, visitor escort rules).
  • Regular inspections, ESD training, and a clear incident-reporting process.

This keeps the focus on practical, low-cost controls that prevent the rare but avoidable mishaps in server rooms.

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