Creating a Healthy, Comfortable Office Environment

Most people spend about forty hours a week at work, which is why it is crucial that the office environment be one that is safe and relaxing. Being the person that heads up the company, you have to make sure that you meet (and hopefully exceed) safety and health guidelines so that your staff has a nice place to work where they don’t have to worry about getting hurt or sick.

As you think about your interior space, you must consider the way you want it to look and feel. However, also tying in health and safety with that is crucial. Here are a couple of points advised by HL Decorating for commercial buildings to think through as you try and create a stylish, safe, and healthy work environment.

Legislation: What Employers Need To Know

In 1974, The Health And Safety At Work Act indicated that employers are responsible for making sure that employees are safe and healthy at work and that their welfare is looked out for. There are several ways to do this; for example, training is key, as well as making sure that any articles and substances are put away correctly. In addition, the workplace itself has to be taken care of to ensure that employees can use the space without any issues.

A risk assessment must be carried out to determine if there are any risk or fire hazards present. It is best to first walk through the workplace and note any hazards that you see; in addition, it is also important to mark them as either low risk or high risk so you can figure out where you need to start when making adjustments.

Lighting

Lighting is something that you need to think about as you create your workspace. If there is not enough light, it can be dangerous because employees may not be able to identify potential areas of risk. It is also a health issue. Make sure that you embrace as much natural light as possible, as it tends to put people in a good mood. Also, don’t let it get too dark at any point during the day.

Fire Safety

It is very important to cut back on the risk of fire hazards at work. It is equally as important to have a fire safety plan, so that in the event that there needs to be an evacuation, employees are able to do so quickly and easily.

There should be a number of different fire doors that do not have anything placed in front of them. In addition, there should be fire extinguishers in the building as well. In particular, if there is a kitchen or an area with flammable materials, a fire extinguisher needs to be close by. Fire alarms are also necessary.

Layout

As you design the office, it is particularly crucial to think about the way you want the layout to be. The layout has an effect on how much work gets done in the space and it also has an impact on the way the office looks. If you want to follow health and safety guidelines, there should be no obstructions and it should be easy to get to a fire door or emergency exit.

Washrooms

If you want to keep the germs at bay, there must be plenty of washrooms so that the employees can use the facilities when they need to. These spaces need to be cleaned on a regular basis to get rid of bacteria, and there should be a sink with soap so that people can wash their hands.

Health

Keep the thermostat set to a comfortable temperature. Make sure there are appliances that allow for food storage. Finally, a ventilation system to ensure clean air is also important.