In FMJ's regular monthly column, our team of FM experts answer your
questions about the world of facilities management
HEALTH & SAFETY
EXPERT’S VIEW
KATE GARDNER, HEALTH
AND SAFETY CONSULTANT,
INTERNATIONAL WORKPLACE
A firm commitment to the
mental and physical wellbeing of
employees has never been more
critical for businesses large and
small,” says Neville Koopowitz,
CEO of Vitality UK and one of the
authors of a new report, Healthy
Hybrid: A Blueprint for Business.
“Now is the time for businesses to reset their approach to
health and wellbeing and prepare for a hybrid future.
Trying to create inclusive productivity gains means aiming for
a ‘best of both’ in two distinct senses. Firstly, it means aiming
for productivity that is consistent with healthy behaviour
and wellbeing. Second, it means trying to understand the
productivity potential of diƒ erent work settings.
Bringing employees back into the oƒ ice will
mean managers and leaders need to review
their physical workplace design and should
strike a careful balance between promoting
connectivity and calm.
“The key priority is surely to reimagine the
environment so that it is more conducive
to ‘deep’ work,” says the report. “With
fewer distractions and dedicated quiet
zones, it may even mean that the physical
workplace can unlock the creative potential
of ‘serendipity’ and ‘social capital’ that for
many homeworkers currently appears to be less
important.”
I’d suggest opting for a reduction in the size of openplan
20 AUGUST 2021
spaces achieved by the use of pods or layout designs
that can be more easily adapted to changes in the needs of the
workforce. Sound transfer is
going to be a consideration. For
many, working from home has
provided us with control over
the amount of ambient noise
that we can operate in. Returning
to a noisy workspace with little
opportunity to work in a quiet area
could be a major issue for many.
There are also COVID-associated
concerns, such as ventilation. The
Government has set out new guidelines for
ventilation and maximising fresh air in the workplace,
which includes open windows as well as the use of air cleaning
and sterilisation units.
New technology within the oƒ ice could help prevent the
spread of bacteria. The increased use of no touch technology
for lights and doors and the use of app-based visitor
management can reduce congestion at pinch points as well as
reduce the frequency and volume of people touching surfaces.
Some companies may continue to operate a one-way system
in and out of the building, and may introduce temperature
screening booths or rapid flow testing areas to screen staƒ and
visitors prior to admitting them into the main work area.
Managers will also need to review their health and wellbeing
policies in line with a new hybrid way of working.
A hybrid working policy should contain guidelines for
managers and employees, outlining goals and expectations for
hybrid working as well as the type of tasks that should be done
in the oƒ ice and those that may be done at home.
It should also outline any limitations to remote working, such
as working outside of the UK, and circumstances where you
may require team members to come into the workplace, such
as for training or to attend meetings.
From a health and safety perspective you need
to review what, if any, equipment will be
provided to enable employees to work
from home safely and all associated
risk assessments should be updated
to include working from home
arrangements.
Loneliness and isolation can have
a significant impact on people’s
ability to manage stress so it’s going
to be important to ensure that time
is built into the working day for social
interaction.
Employees’ homeworking conditions
are also a key issue, as working in unsuitable
conditions could be an ergonomic timebomb
for musculoskeletal injuries and pain. According
to a survey conducted by Nuƒ ield Health during the first
FM CLINIC
As employers draw up
their post-lockdown
plans, a new report
urges organisations to
explore the potential for
a ‘healthy hybrid’ model
that can deliver inclusive
productivity gains for their
business, alongside a healthier,
happier workforce. What can
facilities and workplace managers
do to ensure that worker’s wellbeing is
safely delivered in the months to come?
Kate Gardner
ADVICE & OPINION
I’d suggest opting for a
reduction in the size of openplan
spaces achieved by the use of
pods or layout designs that can be
more easily adapted to changes in
the needs of the workforce.”
Kate Gardner