Office based firms must make significant safety changes

Office based organisations will need to make significant adaptations to their workspaces in order to prepare for their employees safely returning to work following the Coronavirus lockdown, according to a report published by Northern Ireland based RMI Architects.
Could this be how our offices will look?Could this be how our offices will look?
Could this be how our offices will look?

The report entitled ‘Covid-19 and planning for social distancing in the workplace’ outlines a series of measures which employers will need to consider to ensure that employees can return to their offices in a way that meets government guidelines.

Most employers will need to re-evaluate their existing office layouts and many will need to develop new layouts to provide a safe working environment for staff and visitors, the report explains.

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Typical occupant densities for offices tend to range between 5-10m2 per person but can often be much higher, particularly in call centre type environments. With social distancing of 2m applied in offices this would require densities of 10m2 or more per person. For many businesses this will have a major impact on how and where workforces are deployed.

While it may still be possible for workplaces to operate at greater densities than 10m2, compensatory measures will need to be introduced. These measures might include dividers between workstations, back-to-back desk arrangements, provision of face masks to employees or a combination of all three.

Rob Jennings, managing partner at RMI Architects, said: “As countries across the globe begin the process of moving from strict lockdowns to allowing businesses to reopen, the prevailing advice is that social distancing is going to be with us for some time. Automated doors and sign-ins will become more commonplace to avoid the need for staff and visitors to touch door pulls and handles. And inside the office employers may need to consider a return to subdivision and cellular office arrangements.

“Creating social distancing in circulation routes can pose greater difficulties and consideration will need to be given to developing ‘one-way’ systems within offices and ensuring these are clearly communicated with directional and social distancing signage. Alternate stairwells may need to be used for staff travelling up and down floors.

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“Perhaps one of the most difficult challenges is what role staff kitchens, shared dining areas and break-out spaces will have going forward. Where up until now these areas have enabled staff to socialise, this now throws up obvious risks in terms of both airborne and surface transmission of COVID-19.

“Clearly a combination of frequent cleaning, provision of hand gel in high contact locations, restrictions on numbers in kitchens at any one time, staggering of staff break and lunchtimes and encouraging staff to bring in home-made lunches will all need weighing up by employers.”

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