A new world of working
29 November 2017
GBCA: As
Green Star elevates the
ergonomist’s role on
interior fitout projects, a whole new world of
working is beginning to emerge, says Adjunct Professor at the Centre for
Ergonomics & Human Factors at La Trobe University, David Caple.
“Historically, ergonomics was only considered once the design of the
working environment was in place, and only after workplace injuries had
occurred,” David says.
“But Green Star is encouraging ergonomics to be considered at the design
stage and as part of a more holistic approach to work environment design
and team structures,” he says.
One point is rewarded in the Green Star – Interiors when project teams
engage a qualified ergonomist.
This is enabling the built environment to capture the “true benefit of
ergonomics”, Caple says, “which is about human
wellbeing and system
efficiency”.
Ergonomics – or the study of people's efficiency in their working
environment – is a complex field that brings together the principles of
engineering, psychology and medicine to explore and influence
workplace
wellbeing.
Caple, who has run his own consultancy since the 1980s, has been
involved with around 15 projects over the last five years where Green
Star has been a “major driver” for ergonomics, wellness and agile
working.
Among these are Westpac’s 6 Star Green Star tenancy at
Barangaroo’s
International Towers Two, which pushed the boundaries of ‘wellness’ in
the workplace.
The office features two cafés, a wellness centre for massages and spa
treatments, five-star end-of-trip facilities, a kitchen where regular
cooking lessons take place, as well as a barbecue area and outdoor
terrace. There’s also a library, a medical centre, a prayer room, a
200-seat auditorium and a concierge service.
Caple says Westpac wanted to introduce “a whole new way of working” to
its people. And ergonomics played an important role in revolutionising
the office.
Westpac’s “agile” working environment means there are no fixed desks.
Instead, people work in “neighbourhoods” where
technology plays a
central role, but doesn’t determine how they work.
“It’s about encouraging people to use the activity, rather than the
technology, as the determinant of where they sit, work or congregate,”
Caple explains.
“Organisations, particularly large ones, are realising they need to be
more agile and quick to market. This is changing the office
environment.”
The new wave of workplace isn’t restricted to corporate offices either.
“In bigger cities, people are now questioning whether they should sit in
peak hour traffic twice a day, and whether that is good for their
health. Is work something they can do at home or in a local café? It’s
becoming about delivering outputs. Where and how you do your work is
more flexible than ever before.”
We’re on the beginning of a long journey, Caple says. And we need more
data to help us chart a course to workplace wellness.
“We haven’t got enough good data yet,” he says.
--ENDS--
Source: Green Building Council of Australia - www.gbca.org.au
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