Office safety


Creating a better and safer return to the workplace


As people return to the Workplace, Roy Girt, executive director of ThirstLink, a specialist refreshment services consultancy looks at how technology can help to ensure buildings are safe, healthy, and more sustainable places to work, both for the immediate and long term.


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With the UK moving out of national


lockdown and many businesses welcoming employees back to the office there is still a great deal of uncertainty, especially as new variants of concern keep emerging. As people return to


their workplace, the top priority for many businesses and their employees will be health and wellbeing. At the forefront of everyone’s mind is the potential risk of infection, particularly as it relates to airborne infection and transmission in common areas. It is important to note that, while this has been brought into focus by the pandemic, it is not simply about combatting COVID-19. To manage the risk of transmittable diseases in a building, you


need clear and concise procedures, combined with effective monitoring and air cleaning technology. Whilst more work is still needed to understand how a virus travels


through a building, having proper ventilation systems in place is critical. Technology can help with managing the associated risks, such as using infrared CO2 sensors to measure the level of ventilation. There is also a significant and growing body of evidence that suggests that germicidal ultraviolet light, using light in the UV-C spectrum in a safe manner, is effective against COVID-19 and other diseases, although it is not a replacement for effective ventilation. Touch points in ‘We Spaces’ and refreshment areas; the implementation and installation of the latest touchless technology to support catering and vending services; the latest innovations in plumbed-in water services; and contactless purchases from intelligent fridge systems, are all things that will help ease concern. Vending machines with touchless menu systems and touchless drinking water dispensing units are all now available to support companies looking to provide the best possible support to their staff and visitors.


It should also be


recognised how a building impacts on our health goes beyond fighting disease. Lighting, humidity, and room temperature can be stressors on people’s wellbeing that can lead to poor health outcomes over time.


Automated systems that


regulate room temperatures are clearly of use here, as are lighting solutions that optimise the balance between artificial and natural light. A major challenge for


organisations and landlords is going to be the desire to reimagine


the workplace. This doesn’t just mean plush surroundings, a great location or cityscape views. To successfully usher in the era of hybrid work, spaces will have to be adapted to create vibrant workplaces and atmospheres regardless of occupancy levels. Early indications, both from the UK and countries such as


Australia, where restrictions have been relaxed for longer, suggest that businesses need to actively optimise the use of space in a hybrid working environment. As usage patterns fluctuate, organisations should adopt a hotdesking approach and optimise the use of space. This will create the social interaction needed to draw people back to the office. In optimising the use of the space, organisations can also realise significant efficiency savings. However, these savings will not come about automatically. Systems need to be put in place to measure the utilisation of the office space and ensure that heating, lighting, and refreshment services is only in use when rooms or sections of the office are being utilised. How often employees choose to return to offices is one of the


known unknowns of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is for this reason that organisations and landlords need systems that can help them respond flexibly to changes in usage patterns. To be most effective, these systems ought to be AI-based and automated as much as possible, helping drive efficiency savings and reducing carbon emissions.


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