Top Tips for Creating a Safe and Productive Work Environment
For employers, one of the most effective ways to maximise productivity in the workplace and minimise the turnover of staff is to create a work environment your employees want to spend time in.
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For employers, one of the most effective ways to maximise productivity in the workplace and minimise the turnover of staff is to create a work environment your employees want to spend time in. This means paying attention to several factors, including the convenience, safety and novelty of your workplace.
Below we discuss these factors - and why they’re so important - in more detail:
● Convenience: If your workplace isn’t designed with practicality in mind, your employees won’t be able to work as efficiently as they should. Even simple solutions, such as giving your employees the option to hang up their coats, can make a world of difference to a work environment.
● Safety: This is the most important factor to consider when designing a workplace. The health and safety of your employees is your responsibility, so making sure you minimise the risk of accidents and injuries is essential.
● Novelty: If you want to attract the best new talent to your business, whether it’s a warehouse or an office, you need to find ways of appealing to your candidates. Offering free fruit, discounts on gyms or having a games room are all great ways to do so.
Wondering how to create a workplace that takes these factors into account? Here are some of our top tips for creating a safe and productive work environment that your employees will enjoy spending time in.
One of the simplest yet most effective ways to show your employees you care, and to create a space they’re comfortable in, is to invest in ergonomic furniture. By choosing chairs and desks which encourage better posture, your employees will benefit from improved health and increased comfort levels. You are much more likely to produce better work if you aren’t suffering from posture-related aches or pains, so make sure you think carefully when choosing your office furniture.
Don’t forget about style and branding
It can be easy to put safety and efficiency first and forget all about style. However, the interior design of a workplace really does make a difference! If your office, warehouse, factory or shop is looking a little worse for wear or simply hasn’t been modernised in a while, your employees may not feel as motivated by the environment as they could be.
To create a real sense of togetherness and teamwork, think about your business’ branding when choosing interior design features. Simple things such as investing in furniture in your brand’s chosen colour scheme can go a long way in making your work environment look more professional.
Allow natural light to stream in
If there’s one thing every workplace needs, it’s lots of natural light. High levels of natural light have been linked extensively to increased moods and productivity ratings, which is certainly worth considering as an employer. There are many ways to increase the natural light in your workplace, with the most obvious one being to install new large windows. However, if this isn’t an option for you, you’ll need to look at alternatives.
One great alternative to installing new windows is to fit glass partitions. In addition to blocking noise pollution and increasing privacy (don’t forget to install blinds!), glass partitions allow the light already in your building to travel further and stream through your office space.
Put efficient storage solutions in place
Investing in efficient storage solutions is key to creating a safe and productive workplace. After all, no matter what type of industry or sector you work in, a cluttered work floor can cause a lot of problems, from slips and trips to damaged machinery.
To prevent this from happening, make sure you have plenty of storage. If you work in a commercial environment, lockers, cupboards, cabinets and shelving might suffice; however, if you work in an industrial environment, consider the following options:
● Pallet racking: Pallet racking allows you to store lots of items on timber pallets, which are organised in horizontal rows across varying levels.
● Cantilever racking: This type of racking is ideal for storing long or awkwardly-shaped products. Sturdy beams stretch out horizontally from a back wall like arms, making it possible to store lengthy items such as planks of wood or metal beams.
● Tyre racking: As the name suggests, tyre racking is ideal for storing tyres. This type of storage would suit mechanical environments or anywhere that houses vehicle parts.
● Shelving: There are many different types of industrial shelving options, each designed to speed up product turnover and maximise storage space. Popular options include carton live shelving and mistral shelving.
To discuss your racking and shelving requirements , make sure you speak to a specialist installation company. They’ll be able to help you source storage solutions that allow your employees to work quickly, efficiently, and most importantly, safely.
This is a simple one that every business can look to do. By offering your employees lockers, you can minimise the clutter left lying around in your workplace and make the entire place look much tidier. As a result, it’ll also look much more professional! Your employees will be able to lock their bags and coats away at the beginning of the day, instead of shoving them under desks or hanging them on the backs of chairs, and your work environment will instantly look less cluttered.
By offering employees lockers, you also prove that you value the safety of their belongings. They can lock their possessions away during toilet breaks or meetings instead of leaving their phones and purses or wallets unattended on their desks.
To really make the most of your space, why not install a mezzanine floor? This will create a more spacious and practical work floor without you having to uproot your entire office and move somewhere bigger. There are many great ways to use a mezzanine floor, from turning it into a boardroom or making it a fun social area for employees to enjoy, which your team is sure to appreciate.
There’s a chance that within your company, a few people smoke. If this is the case, you may want to offer smoking shelters to make sure they don’t get cold or wet during their breaks. This is something your employees will truly appreciate.
Additionally, by offering smoking shelters, you can encourage people to congregate away from the entrance to your office building. Potential clients or customers may be put off by the smell of smoke near the front of your business, so consider putting a smoking shelter around the back of your building.
If some of your employees cycle to work, it’s important to offer them a bike shed. Without a safe and secure bike shed on-site, they may have to spend extra time in the morning looking for a place to lock up. Over time, this could lead to an increase in employee lateness - not to mention causing extra stress to your staff before they’ve even started the day!
Building a bike shed will also help you to minimise the risk of theft and damage occurring on-site. The last thing you want is for criminals to spot an opportunity for bike theft, so making sure your employees have access to a secure bike shed is key to creating a safe work environment.
If you’re hoping to transform your work environment and turn it into a space that’s comfortable, stylish, convenient and safe, look no further than Racking + Shelving. As storage solution experts based in Antrim, we specialise in the design and installation of pallet racking, cantilever racking, shelving and much more for commercial and industrial clients in Northern Ireland.
We’re also experts in interior fit-outs and office design, so whether you’re looking for new partitioning or bike sheds, look no further for a seamless installation service. For more information, get in touch with the Racking + Shelving team today.
