A healthy workspace

Fortunately we know alot about what makes a healthy workplace. We actually perform the measurements that will test this by comparing levels of air pollutants within workplaces with internationally agreed targets. 

The things that you should look at when examining air quality include CO2, CO, O3, PM2.5, PM10, Temp, RH, TVOC and Formaldehyde. It is also a good idea to look at noise pollution and lighting levels at the work place, which is what we do for our private/public sector clients.

Paul

(UK Manager & Senior Consultant for CETEC - http://www.cetec.com.au/services )

A healthy workspace will only come if employers value their staff  and staff value being employed; both groups need to work together to create a healthy enviroment and that team will be more productive and resiliant, make a profit and be sustainable.

A 'healthy workplace' isn't all about sustenance regarding food or drink. It's also about a state of mind or a perception of the whole workplace environment and workaday ambiance that can, in organisation and design facilitate comfort, peace of mind, cooperation, tolerance, inclusiveness, and encouragement to work to the optimum. For example hospitals shouldn’t be conglomerate, enclosing machines with operatives working in the hospital environment scrabbling about within ‘sharp cornered encumbrances’. Hospitals should be airy and open, and with interior spaces able to be, as well, modularly manipulated to enable personable space for specific need to be ‘moved’ without overdue exertion much like altering a stage set. Wards should have picture (French) windows opening on to garden views out on which patients might wander and sit during recuperation. One could say more re schools, factories, offices where ‘healthy workplace’ could ‘remodel’ the places we are expected to operate in comfortably, effectively, etc.

We have a small office where all bring in their own lunch due to varying dietary requirements. There are shopos close by with lunchtime snacks available.  More and more of these place are providing healthier and healther options.   All happy with this.  

No complaints here! Work for an amazing company that provides us with fresh fruit, low sugar/high fibre breakfast cereals, almond milk, fridge for our packed lunches (90% of the staff brings home cooked meals), secure bike parking and cycle to work scheme and subsidised gym membership. Really happy as all this really helps staff to adopt an healthier life style.

Health and wellness in the workplace are strongly influenced by both physical and social factors.The important role of factors such as air quality, lighting, and noise has been documented in academic reports such as the 2018 publication by BCO;   'Wellness matters, Health and wellbeing in offices and what to do about it' and is addressed by building certification schemes such as the WELL standard and NABERS. Of course bad air quality outdoors comes indoors and these pollutants combined with internal sources of pollution is an important aspect of exposure to harmful air pollutants that adversely impact peoples health and their productivity.

Wellbeing is connected with nutrition. 

If you can't afford healthy and nutrient rich food , soon rather than after,  will affect your mood and performance!

Health is wealth. 

You are what you eat!

There's is no healthy food catering options on Construction sites. 

I am rather surprised that none of the comments so far has referred to the potential effects of the workplace environment on mental as opposed to physical health. Yet workplace bullying has a major impact on mental health (https://www.bullying.co.uk/bullying-at-work/). Several years ago, when I was working for a London Borough, the Director of Education turned to me at the start of a meeting and said "You can ****ing shut up to start with." We can have as many bowls of free fruit as we want, but we will never have healthy workplaces if those at the top feel it is OK to speak to and treat others in this sort of way.

Work in civil service- my dept  relies on catering contractors. Chocolate and cakes by till in cafe. The canteen is supposed to display calories but doesn’t. Very expensive and no fresh options.  Portions massive and fixed price (around £8) - no option for less. 2 for 3 deals on chocolate. Long hours so no one takes breaks which is the nature of the beast but means no competition (everyone eats from caterers at desk). Gained 2 stone in first year! No (nice) freshly cut fruit etc which would happily pay for. Sandwich fillings from a tin. Junk. 

There should be better availability of healthy meal deal options at local supermarkets. Currently, none of the salads are available on meal deal which is disappointing. We often have less time to bring lunches from home, so supermarkets should have healthier options available that don't cost a fortune. 

Noise pollution - this damages health. How many London workers have to spend the day with horrendous levels of noise pollution, often from outside the workplace.  Buskers, pedicabs with sound systems, heavy traffic, etc.  This is largely ignored, but it is serious problem.

Ban sweets and cakes in office provide freezer in kitchen , better recycling , better cooking facilittyes , standing desks , Better secure cycle parking - why doesn't city hall have bike racks outside it ? More open spaces with light area not dark and cramped