Technology for
a smarter world
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Celebrating
FEBRUARY 2020 21
FMJ.CO.UK
three months.
FM’s can
also improve
the wellbeing
of sta in the
workplace
by providing
employees
with the
ability to
personalise
their working
area using
ergonomic
furniture. Most
employees
have access to an adjustable chair and many now enjoy
sit-stand desks to encourage movement and avoid
sedentary working which is known to cause a plethora
of health problems including back issues, poor blood
flow and swollen joints. But FM’s also need to consider
other solutions to complement this equipment.
A study by Raconteur found that only 57 per cent
of workers are satisfied with the light levels in their
workplace. This isn’t surprising when someone in their
mid-fi ies requires twice as much light to see to the
same level as someone in their mid-twenties. Flexible
lighting solutions from organisations such as LUCTRA
enable workers to adjust the light levels over their
own desk space to their personal preferences. Recent
technological advancements also makes it possible for
lighting manufacturers to mimic the natural changes
in sunlight throughout the day which supports our
body’s natural circadian rhythm and reduces the e ect
of sallow skin from sitting under the same light all day
every day.
There are also super-flexible desktop solutions
available which FMs should consider to improve
employee satisfaction. Lightweight desktop draw
sets are set to replace the need for big, clunky metal
draws and as they can be moved easily, they are more
ergonomic in design and function. Many sta members
crane over tablet computers in meetings, but there are
tablet stands available which can be flexibly adjusted to
each user.
FM’s are legally obliged to protect workers from the
health risks of their working environment, but they are
also in a position to ensure the equipment workers use
is right for their needs, actively promotes ergonomic
wellbeing and increases the comfort and e iciency of
employees in the workplace.
THE WELLBEING FACILITIES
SUPPLIER’S VIEW
JUSTIN SIRES, CO FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR AT
FIVE AT HEART
Wellbeing in the workplace is an ever-growing trend,
one that requires constant consideration when
developing, refurbishing or managing a facility. With so
many new wellness trends emerging from state-of-theart
bicycle parking to the less conventional gong baths
and sleeping pods, it is essential to create a wellness
space that not only looks great but also meets the
functional needs of the tenants and the building.
We recently conducted a survey at our Five At Heart
product launch where we asked building managers,
developers and architects to identify their main
concerns from a facilities perspective. Fi y-five per
cent of respondents said ‘understanding how to best
enhance the operation of a facility’, a further 60 per cent
of respondents
identified ‘not
enough space to
deliver planning/
certification
requirements’
and 51.4 per
cent said ‘not
enough space to
deliver facilities
to provide for
current tenant
demand’ as a
major concern.
What this
research tells us is that there is a lot of ambiguity
around what makes a great facility and equally how to
ensure it is utilised to its fullest potential. With building
regulations to consider and evolving tenants needs, it
is no wonder people are uncertain about the best route
to take. My top tips on how to successfully create and
optimise wellness facilities include:
Understand the demographic of your building
By analysing information like gender figures and how
tenants commute to and from work you are able to
use this information to create a facility that not only
meets the tenants needs but may encourage further
utilisation.
For example, if tenants in the building are very
active, consider how you can facilitate their lifestyles
by incorporating facilities like bicycle parking, change
rooms, shower facilities and perhaps a towel service.
You can even take this a step further by analysing what
types of bikes people ride and ensure you o er a wide
variety of bicycle parking to meet their needs.
Phase your facility plans
O en requirements and utilisation vary which is why
we recommend implementing a phased approach to
your facility. This not only helps you meet planning
requirements but it also ensures maximum facility
utilisation.
To illustrate this, let’s take cycling to work in London
as an example. Currently only three per cent cycle to
work (mode share) yet the ambition is to achieve 20
per cent by 2041 (dra London Plan) but planning
FM CLINIC
Sam Rylands
Justin Sires
ADVICE & OPINION
Connecting
people,
property and
data for peak
performance
Concept Evolution
CAFM / IWMS
FSI GO
Mobile Workforce apps
Concept Advantage
Workplace apps
30YEARS
in 2020
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