In any workplace, safety and comfort should always be a top priority, not only to protect employees but to ensure the best performance of a business. Implementing some key areas of focus is crucial for fostering an environment where employees feel protected, supported and comfortable. This blog explores four main areas that businesses should address to significantly improve the safety and wellbeing of their employees and their workplace as a whole.
Ergonomic setup
Ergonomics refers to the process of designing a workspace to reduce physical discomfort and prevent injuries. This is a crucial process for preventing long-term injuries such as musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) that affect muscles, nerves, ligaments and so on. Poor ergonomics can also lead to short-term injuries like back pain, headaches, eye strain and general aches and pains. These issues can be very distracting on a daily basis and lead to reduced productivity which can affect the quality of work produced.
To improve ergonomics, workplaces should design their office layout using ergonomic chairs and desks, footstools and laptop stands. Ergonomic chairs offer adjustable height, seat tilt, adjustable arm rests, lumbar support and headrests to support the spine and back when sitting for long periods of time. Similarly, ergonomic desks have adjustable properties that allow desks to be placed at a suitable height for each individual, this prevents slouching which can cause back problems over time.
Lighting
Workplace lighting can have huge effects on productivity and concentration levels, so it is important for workplaces to install the correct lighting in order to ensure the production of high-quality work. Cool and bright lighting helps to increase productivity, as well as reducing eye-strain and headaches as it mimics natural light. For the most effective lighting it is best to use LED lights as they adjust their colour temperature to mimic the changing light over the course of the day. It is best to place these lights overhead to provide an even distribution of light and help to reduce screen glare and shadows. In addition, workplaces should combine overhead lighting with desk lights as this provides a form of task lighting. This is helpful when performing detailed or intricate work at a desk that requires maximum visibility.
Safety and Security
Effective workplace security is of high importance for ensuring the ultimate safety of employees and visitors. A lack of security in an office can result in employees feeling unsafe, as well as placing the business at significant risk of intruders, burglaries and theft.
To ensure maximum security in the workplace, businesses should implement secure entry points, surveillance systems, ID badges or keycodes for entry and sufficient employee training. To ensure that entry points are secure and deter intruders it is important that doors are fitted with high-quality security features, in particular multi-point locking systems as they offer the ultimate protection against forced entry. In addition, installing high-quality surveillance will offer up to date alerts on suspicious activity and provide evidence in the event of a break-in. Finally, to ensure the safety of staff members businesses must offer the necessary training to deal with emergency situations, identify hazards and report suspicious activity.
Digital security
Nowadays, physical safety isn’t the only important element of an effective security system, cybersecurity is of equal importance when creating a safe working environment. Cybersecurity aims to safeguard software and data by preventing digital attacks that risk the confidentiality of sensitive information.
Effective cybersecurity is extremely important as it prevents cyber criminals from accessing sensitive information which can lead to major financial losses and potential reputational damage. In addition, it also protects the personal data of employees, so it is within a business’s best interests to invest in an advanced cybersecurity system.
Following the five C’s of cybersecurity is an integral step for businesses that are looking to strengthen their digital security. The five C’s framework stands for Change, Compliance, Cost, Continuity, and Coverage. By following these key areas businesses can ensure that they are consistently aware of change and how to protect their data from attacks, comply with regulations, manage the ongoing costs of cybersecurity and carry on in the event of an attack.
Paying significant attention to these key areas of focus can completely transform a workplace into a safe and comfortable environment that fosters productivity and motivation from staff. It is important that businesses take the time to understand and address these areas in order to ensure that their employees well-being remains a top priority and their workplace is safe from physical and digital damage.
