SAFETY & SECURITY T
he polling revealed that overall, more people felt working from home was better for
their health
and wellbeing (45%), compared to around one third (29%) who thought working from
home
was worse for their health and wellbeing. However, people who switched to working from home as a result of Covid-19 had experienced health and wellbeing impacts, with the most common being feeling less connected to colleagues (67%), taking less exercise (46%), developing musculoskeletal problems (39%) and disturbed sleep (37%).
Musculoskeletal problems Over one in four are working from home from either a sofa or a bedroom. Nearly half of people who work from a sofa or bedroom said they had developed musculoskeletal problems and nearly two thirds said they felt more isolated from their colleagues. Women were more likely than men to feel isolated and develop musculoskeletal problems as a result of working from home. Home working is
impact on people’s mental health, with 67% saying they felt
having an less
connected to their colleagues and 56% saying they found it harder to switch off. However only a third of respondents had been offered support with their mental health (34%) from their employer. People who live with multiple housemates were more likely to think that working from home was worse for their health and wellbeing, compared to people who live on their own or with just their partner.
Health and wellbeing issues The findings of the survey also showed that the vast majority of people didn’t want to go back to working in an office full time, with nearly three quarters of people saying that they wanted to split their time between home working and working in an office. However, the health and wellbeing issues which are affecting home workers and the fact that some groups of people are impacted more severely than others needs to be addressed by employers. To tackle the health and wellbeing
issues that people are experiencing as a result of working from home, RSPH is calling for: • Employers to ensure that all employees have access to mental health support to help them to cope
22 DIY WEEK FEBRUARY 2021
PLUG AND PLAY CO2 MONITOR KEEPS WORKPLACE SAFE
SURVEY REVEALS THE MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH IMPACTS OF HOME WORKING DURING COVID-19
With working from home set to continue for millions of UK workers, research by Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) shows that there are key health and wellbeing disparities between different groups of people who made the move to home working as a result of Covid-19.
with increased isolation and anxiety. • All employees to have access to equipment and a remote assessment to support them with their physical health. • Organisations to develop a culture that encourages employees to separate their work and home life when working from home, including encouraging employees to block their work communications outside of work hours. Christina Marriott, chief executive of RSPH said: “Our findings reveal that although working from home can be beneficial for people’s health and wellbeing, there are stark differences in how different groups have been affected. For people who have multiple housemates or are working from their bedroom or a sofa, the impact on their mental and physical health is extremely concerning and something we believe that employers need to
address.” Lisa Artis, Deputy CEO of The Sleep Charity, said: “It comes as no surprise to hear that home working has affected some people’s sleep. It can often be a struggle to keep boundaries in place and stick to a regular routine which has a knock on effect on sleep. “It’s important that when people
are working from home that, where possible, they do try to avoid working from the sofa or bedroom. This is because these two areas are often used for relaxing and it’s being mindful that you don’t associate these areas with feeling of being stressed. Plus, while they may seem appealing, they are usually not good for your posture or productivity.”
For more details and to see the full survey, visit
www.rsph.org.uk
When offices and other workplaces begin to open up again and safety comes to the fore, companies are being encouraged to install CO2 monitors. Ventilation, in the current pandemic, is one of the most important factors in helping reduce the relative risk of the airborne transmission of Covid-19. A report produced by Sage’s
Environmental and Modelling Group (EMG), and endorsed by the Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE), suggests that fresh air plays a significant role in keeping the virus at bay indoors, and that poor air quality could be highlighted with the use of a CO2 monitor. In response, a UK manufactured, USB-powered ‘plug and play’ CO2 monitor has been launched in 2021 to provide a cost-effective solution. The Vision CO2 Monitor helps determine if further ventilation is required by providing a clear digital readout and focuses on a bold traffic light display to indicate that further ventilation is required when it matters.
“This CO2 monitor is particularly
appropriate for offices, site cabins, and schools where there are installation constraints, facilitating a fast but reliable method of monitoring the risk of Covid-19 transmission,” comments Andy Green, who developed the unit. Elevated CO2 levels not only
provide an indication that airborne contaminants may be present, but they also reduce cognitive function, productivity and can have long term adverse effects on health and general wellbeing. “Most buildings are naturally ventilated and rely on opening windows for fresh air, or use air recirculation systems that have been switched off, so without a CO2 monitor there is no way of knowing if spaces such as offices and classrooms are adequately ventilated,” says Green. For more information visit www.
vision-co2monitor.co.uk or email
vision@flamefast.co.uk
www.diyweek.net
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