5 The spread of the Covid-19 pandemic made it necessary to establish new rules concerning the number of people working together in an office and the presence of ventilation systems to ensure a continuous supply of clean air SAFETY IN AN OFFICE Even though there is no heavy machinery or tools involved, working in an office has some risks for workers health and safety that must be taken into consideration both by workers and employers. Most common risks Tripping and falling: these accidents often happen when workers use improper ways to reach objects in a high place, for example climbing on a chair instead of using ladders. Cables of PCs and other devices may cause workers to trip over them if they are left running through the office and not properly positioned. Physical problems caused by bad posture: to avoid these problems, office workers must be provided with ergonomic chairs, desks, keyboards and mouses; employers should also train office workers on the correct way to use this equipment. Eye strain: spending a long time at the computer can cause eyes to become dry and irritated. To solve the problem, workers can close blinds on windows to reduce glare, position monitors below eye level and increase computer font size. Experts also recommend a ten-minute break for every hour spent looking at a computer screen. 20 COMMON GROUND Indoor air pollution: this may be caused by the overcrowding of offices or bad ventilation systems. Indoor air pollution can cause respiratory problems and allergies and the fast spread of viruses and bacteria . For this reason, if it is not possible to open windows often, offices should install air filtering plants to grant a good quality of air. Fire: it may be generated by electrical equipment and can spread rapidly due to the high quantity of paper and other flammable materials, which can also release toxic fumes. Employers should provide regular check of the electrical equipment and the fire extinguishers and office workers must be trained on the evacuation procedures in case of fire. blind: tapparella, oscurante eye strain: affaticamento oculare glare: riflesso ladder: scala a pioli overcrowding: sovraffollamento posture: postura to trip: inciampare