HEALTHY MATERIALS IN THE OFFICE

It is becoming increasingly common for workplaces to have healthy materials in the office. Without a doubt, having a healthy working environment is the first step towards increasing worker productivity.

Roughly estimated, people spend an average of 1980 hours a year in the workplace. This is undoubtedly a lot of time, and a healthy office environment is necessary for comfortable and healthy working conditions.

Studies confirm that an office with good facilities and appropriate furnishings enhances the performance of employees. Therefore, it is necessary to have adequate lighting and adaptable and comfortable furniture. On the other hand, everything adds up in a healthy office, which is why rest areas should be set up. The toilets should also be hygienic and hygienic.

All of this should be combined with a distribution of spaces that is adapted to the needs of the work. In addition, it is essential to have the opinion of the employees. This is because they know very well what their most common movements are and how much space they need. By having healthy materials in the office, the staff will increase the productivity and performance of the company. The end result will be an excellent and flawless product that meets the customer’s needs.

DESMON has a lot of experience in office furniture. We have equipped countless offices and we work to offer the healthiest materials on the market. With this post we want to give the keys to turn the office into a place that promotes the good health of employees and increases their performance.

BENEFITS OF HEALTHY MATERIALS IN THE OFFICE

Before offering advice on how to equip the office in a healthy way, it is useful to know the benefits. That way, it will be clear that it is the right investment that will help your business results. Let’s take a look at all the benefits.

• Improved productivity of work teams.
• Significant reduction in absenteeism.
• Ease of concentration on the task.
• Decrease in staff fatigue.
• Increased professional satisfaction.

ADAPTING THE SPACE TO THE WORK OF THE EMPLOYEE

When planning an office space, it is important to know what the employees will be doing. Knowing what they are going to do and how they are going to do it is fundamental for fitting out the space.

If the work is going to be teamwork, it is best to have open spaces that encourage communication between workers. It is vital to have spacious, well-ventilated places with adequate computer equipment.

Similarly, there should always be areas with partitioned areas where personal interviews can be conducted. These areas can also be used for telephone calls or video conferences without disturbing other colleagues.

ERGONOMIC AND FUNCTIONAL FURNITURE

Healthy office furniture is vital. The employee will spend an average of 8 hours sitting and working at the desk. It is of course important that this does not take its toll on the back. For this reason, one of the healthy office materials that are essential are ergonomic chairs.

These are chairs in which the height and depth of the backrest, seat and armrests can be adjusted. In addition, they usually have a lumbar reinforcement that facilitates the protection of the lower back. In DESMON we have a section dedicated exclusively to desk and office chairs where we give you several possibilities.

And we can’t forget the desks. They should be comfortable, have extra wings and be the right size for computers, phones, tablets and notepads. Drawers can also be included to increase storage space. The height should be adequate so that combined use with the chair does not adversely affect the worker’s neck and back muscles.

HEALTHY MATERIALS IN THE OFFICE INCLUDE GOOD VENTILATION

If the covid-19 pandemic has taught us anything, it is that ventilation of enclosed spaces is vital for our health. Opening a window and letting the office ventilate and cool should be standard practice. If the premises do not have windows, it is almost mandatory to have a proper ventilation system.

And it is not just a matter of installing the machine and activating it, good maintenance is also crucial. Periodically the filters must be changed, the outlet grilles must be cleaned, the external unit must be sanitised and the condition of the circuit must be checked. Ideally, this should be done every 6 months or so to ensure healthy, germ-free ventilation.

SUFFICIENT LIGHTING FOR THE TYPE OF WORK

It is clear that natural light is the best for any office. If you can enjoy it, it is important to have blinds or shades that can filter it during the central hours of the day. It is best if the light reaches the workstation from the side. If this is not possible and we have the window behind or in front of us, the best thing to do is to filter it in some way so that it does not dazzle us and does not cause reflections on the screen.

If artificial light is available, it is important that it is just the right amount for the work being done. Too little light will force the employee to strain their eyes and they are likely to suffer from a headache. If the light is too bright, it can produce annoying reflections and glare.

And one last tip about artificial light: if we use LED technology we will be contributing to the sustainability of the planet and the lighting will be much more efficient. We will enhance the well-being of the worker and eliminate the possible fatigue caused by poor light.

NOISE INSULATION

The noise level in the office can considerably impair the concentration of workers. Using partitions, as mentioned above, is a good solution because it isolates the source of the noise. However, it is also interesting to have healthy materials in the office that enhance noise reduction. For this, a perfect option is to focus on the walls and floor of the office.

By using a good material on the walls, sound waves do not bounce back and noise has difficulties to propagate. A good tip is to use wall cladding. Lining the walls with wood improves the acoustic insulation of the office and also gives it an interesting touch of elegance.

Regarding office flooring, DESMON recommends Flooring. It is composed of vinyl layers and can imitate wood, carpet or ceramic. Dampens noise and walking on it is very comfortable. It is also a very hygienic material.

REST AREAS

Breakout areas in the office are vital to promote a healthy environment. These are areas where workers can take a few minutes to have a coffee or refreshment and “switch off” from daily tasks.

It is important that they have comfortable seating such as sofas and armchairs. If an office kitchen is available, phenolic material can be used to build the tables. It is very hygienic and easy to clean. And finally, you can include some green space where you can place plants or vertical gardens. Contact with nature, even in a reduced format, is always healthy.

HYGIENIC AND CLEAN WASHROOMS

Finally, we cannot forget the washroom area of the office. If there is one place where hygiene is crucial, it is the washroom and toilet area. Employees are sure to visit the space several times a day and it is essential that they find a clean and tidy place.

For this, the best option is the installation of phenolic sanitary cabins. This material is completely smooth and has no pores. This makes it impossible for any bacteria, germs or micro-organisms to grow on the surface. The conclusion is that you have a completely hygienic, easy to clean and completely healthy facility.

HEALTHY MATERIALS IN THE OFFICE WITH THE HELP OF DESMON

As you have been able to see, it is possible to equip an office with healthy materials. It is an investment that will bring benefits from day one. If you want to do it right, the best option is to put yourself in the hands of professionals. At DESMON we are experts in office furniture and we can help you to achieve optimal facilities.

Our team is multidisciplinary and can design, manufacture and install the office furniture, flooring, ceilings and accessories needed for the work area. We specialise in customised solutions and use high quality materials.

If you need more information, please contact DESMON and together we will create the project that best suits your office.