Being an employer it is your responsibility to ensure that you provide a healthy work environment for your employees. Working in an office everyday can have a negative impact on people’s health, especially as they are all working in such close proximity to each other, meaning illnesses and germs are extremely easy to spread. Here are some top tips to ensure your office and work environment is as healthy as can be.
Clean The Work Areas
Desks are a breeding ground for bacteria, especially if people eat at their desks. You should encourage regular cleaning sessions where each employee wipes down their desk and all of the equipment on it. The keyboard, mouse and phone are places where germs linger, which is why a disinfectant or antibacterial cleaner should be used. If you have the resources and funds to pay for a cleaner this will ensure that a more thorough job is carried out.
Ensure You Have The Correct Lighting
If you do not have sufficient lighting in your office it can often leave your employees feeling drained and lethargic, which can have a negative impact on the work they produce. Natural light is best but if that is not available then you should ensure that the artificial lighting that you install throughout the office is up to standard and fits in with all of the regulations.
Have The Correct Posture
The chairs that your staff sit on can have a huge impact on their health and posture during their time at work. You should ensure that the chairs that your employees use are properly supportive and keep the back in the correct position. If an employee is not comfortable at work, or is not using a properly supportive chair, this can lead to aches and pains which can have an effect on their performance as well as their attendance. You should encourage them to come forward if they have any issues so they can get an ergonomic assessment and a suitable chair.
Provide Plenty Of Water
Hydration is key when it comes to focusing, alertness and awareness. You should ensure that there are adequate facilities for staff to access clean drinking water on a daily basis. So whether you decide to fit a water filter in the staff room tap or have a number of water coolers around the office, the choice is yours. Specific workplace equipment, like bottleless water coolers for offices, provides filtered, purified, and great-tasting water to keep your team healthy and productive. This can prevent dehydration and increase concentration in the office.
Get The Temperature Right
Trying to find an ideal temperature for an open plan office can be difficult but it is recommended that it should be between 22°C and 25°C. This can be easily controlled with an air conditioning system, which can not only ensure that the temperature is ideal, but can also filter the air so that germs and impurities are removed. Airflow Design Services supply a range of high quality air conditioning systems that may help to reduce sickness in the workplace.
Encourage Regular Breaks
Sitting and staring at a computer screen for long periods of time is not good for anyone. You should encourage your staff to regularly get up and have a bit of a walk or stretch to keep them feeling energised. This will also give their eyes a break and reduce some of the strain, as well as helping them to feel less fatigued, meaning they are more productive.
So now that you know what you can do as an employer to ensure that your workplace is a much healthier one, you may soon start to notice a change in your staff and a rise in your productivity.
This post was written by Ekta Mair for Airflow Design Services who specialise in air conditioning and ventilation service for commercial properties.