Name: Cortezano, Zyra Mae M.

Date: November 25, 2021

Course & Section: BSBAHRM 1-1

WEEK 3-4
THE WORKPLACE AND IT’S ENVIRONMENT
OFFICE LAYOUT, DESIGN AND SAFETY
Discover the factors to be considered in planning and designing an office layout.

Although office layout appears to be a fundamental premise, it will become more sophisticated if
you examine almost anything that goes into another area as well as the events that take place on
a daily basis. Knowing how well the layout influences workers will enable a better understanding
of it, whether you've been establishing up a home workplace, organizing your workstation at office,
or settling on a plan for the entire workplace. Ergonomic dangers in the workplace are more likely
in the absence of a properly functional workstation. They're the most difficult to recognize since
you don't usually realize the pressure on your body or the danger these risks offer. Short-term
exposure can cause "sore muscles" the next day or in the days afterward, while long-term
exposure can cause serious long-term sickness. Ergonomic risks can have a negative impact on
both the worker and the company, resulting in poorer production, lower employee morale, and
increased disability and insurance claims. When it comes to creating workstations, safety and
comfort should be given the same weight as aesthetics.
This guide will teach you how to ensure a stable and efficient office space. Maintaining a safe
workplace necessitates careful selection of interior materials, lighting, and layout. It also involves
ensuring that workstation where you spend the most of your day is built to maintain your posture
in a balanced intuitive place to avoid prolonged pain and distress. In contrast to these physical
factors, employees should ensure that the workplace is clean and implement emergency
processes to keep everyone safe.
One of the best ways to ensure that you have a good office layout, design and safety is the health
and safety prescription. You have a responsibility as an employer to ensure the health and safety
at work of all the employees. A risk assessment must be conducted in every workplace to identify
and eliminate any fire or danger threats that are discovered. Taking a tour of the workplace and
recording any risks you see is a good place to start; categorizing them as high or low risk will help
you choose which areas should be addressed first to make the workplace safer.
Second thing is, you need to ensure that your office area have a stable lighting. Light is an
important criterion while creating your office. Inadequately lighted areas, and also flashing or
broken lamps, can lead to severe problems and increase the chance of injuries. Arranging your
workplace so sun daylight from window panes is the primary source of electricity will boost
employee satisfaction and maintain the room well during day.
The concepts of workplace accommodation frequently conjure up images of functionality, but
employees' perceptions of aesthetics can also be influenced. Coming to work each morning is
more fascinating in a well-lit, visually pleasant environment. Employees may be inspired to think
more creatively if there is more creativity and positive energy in the company. Employee morale
is always improved by a physical setting that helps them feel better.
The appearance of your office is particularly crucial if you have clients visiting. Anyone visiting the
office from outside the organization will be impressed by a clean, attractive space with an
engaging layout. In some ways, the office layout and overall appearance have an impact on the
company's branding because it's the first thing customers notice when they walk in.
Lastly is the office layout safety and comfort. Injuries and accidents can be avoided by placing
offices away from any hazards, such as industrial work locations or stored chemicals. Even in
office-only environments, it's a good idea to place workstations with plenty of space around them
so that employees can move around without stumbling over one other. Cords and other tripping
hazards might potentially cause problems. Ergonomic office equipment and layouts let employees
feel more at ease and can help them work more efficiently. Employees can work more productively
with less eyestrain if the workspace is designed to utilize natural light as well as supplemental
light. Including lounge areas or break places can also help to improve comfort.

OFFICE ENVIRONMENT
Identify the elements of office environment.

The external structure wherein staff work has a considerable effect on employee performance
and job happiness. Poor management and worker unhappiness can have a negative impact on
the company's financial health. The workplace atmosphere is made up of many different aspects,
such as lighting, color scheme, acoustics, and air quality. They employ computerized to control
on in current office systems. This is considered to as a corporate office because it incorporates
environmental concerns.
The first aspect or element of office environment is lighting. The office environment is greatly
influenced by lighting. Inside an optimal workplace, light must be used, and windows must have
some type of movable screening so sun doesn't really overwhelm or beam straight on computer
monitors. We require light to see and participate in activities. Several studies have shown that
bright lighting improves our fitness, well-being, attentiveness, and even sleep quality. It is
beneficial to have lighting that may be adjusted in intensity to reduce weariness. This allows
brightness to follow the regular natural pattern of pleasant light in the morning, chilly daylight
throughout the day, and warmer brightness in the evenings.
The second is color scheme. Color tend to create moods that will help the employee to work well.
Color is another aspect of the workplace that has a huge impact on people's productivity,
weariness, mood, emotions, and stress. Consider that a can of paints isn't the only way to spruce
up an environment. Artwork, furnishings, art pieces, and greenery can all be used to bring a burst
of color to your workplace.
The third is acoustics. Another environmental aspect to consider is the noise level in the office.
Noise pollution causes weariness and productivity loss, as well as nervous disorders, tension,
and irritability. Furthermore, loud noise can raise one's blood pressure and metabolic rate, both
of which can lead to major health problems over time. Sealing can be used to reduce noise, but
it only goes so far. When it comes to deciding what and how noises flow, the architecture is crucial.
A noise mitigation platform's objective is to provide voice privacy.
And lastly, the air quality. Employees' physical and mental health are affected by the air they
breathe at work. Air quality is a big concern for employees, who spend 90% of their working hours
indoors. Temperature, insufficient mechanical ventilation, and air purity are all factors that affect
air quality. The environment of your workplace includes not only the temperature, but also the
cultural milieu and overall atmosphere of the individuals who work there. Temperatures, on the
other hand, has a significant influence on employee mood. Room temperature, in addition to
acoustics, has an impact on work performance. Setting a large disparity between interior and
outdoor temperatures when using air conditioning is a bad habit that leads to colds and other
health concerns. In the summer, air-conditioned rooms should not be cooler than the outside
temperature by more than 5 degrees. A hot office in the winter, on the other hand, might cause
weariness and lethargy. People in offices should, in any case, be able to modify the air
conditioning or heating settings.
Having all of the above design components in place will almost certainly result in a pleasant
company climate. Consider how you may combine these design features into your workspace at
home before you choose your next office.
OFFICE EQUIPMENT AND FURNITURE
List the factors to be considered in selecting and manifesting office equipment and
furniture’s.

Office equipment is an essential component of today's workplace. It's primarily utilized for indoor
activities. If the office is furnished with pleasant and comfortable equipment, the job can be
completed fast. If the furniture is well-designed, the office appears to be appealing and cheerful.
Workers are more relaxed and encouraged to work through a well workplace. There are eight
factors to be consider when buying office equipment and furniture. Cost, Durability, Compact,
Move-ability, Safety, Multiple uses, Design and standardization, and comfort.
First is the Cost. The primary determinant of office equipment choices is cost. Office furniture
comes at a variety of price points. When choosing an office machine and furnishings, the amount
of money available should be considered. In most cases, the cost is the decisive factor. Before
purchasing any machine, it is critical to evaluate the cost of the machine. The machine should be
within an office's budget. After all, even while you know your staff will want a reasonably
comfortable working environment, you also realize you have a limited budget. As a result, ensure
that you achieve a balance between money you spend and your workers' satisfaction.
Second is the durability. Machines and furnishings have varying levels of durability depending on
the materials used in their construction. In comparison to wooden and plastic furniture, metal
furniture is more durable. Branded machines of higher quality last longer. They should be
considered when choosing office machines and equipment. Original, resilient, and long-lasting
office equipment is required. Office machines are quite expensive, and buying a new one every
year is not feasible. As a result, the machine to be acquired must not be prone to frequent
breakdowns. This also saves money on repairs.
Third is the compact. If one comes to equipment, one of the biggest mistake’s employees
experience also isn't understanding how so much space they have. The very last option you need
is to run out of room whenever your equipment has been installed. The amount of equipment that
will purchase must be controlled by the quantity of square footage in your spaces. Large-scale
furniture is preferable if you have a huge amount of space. If their spaces are small, though, they
will also have to compromise for small-scale equipment.
Fourth is the move-ability. When choosing office machines and furniture, portability should be a
major consideration. Heavy furniture is difficult to transport from one location to another. Furniture
that is light in weight should be preferred. Office machines should also be conveniently
transportable. The office machine should be simple to use and adaptable. Handling an office
equipment should not necessitate any additional training or specialization. In addition, the
machine should be adaptable to a variety of tasks.
Five is the safety. The machines and furniture in the office should not be dangerous. Furniture
with sharp corners and a glass top is dangerous. When choosing workplace machines and
furniture, keep safety in mind. Typically, company owners avoid glass or plate-topped furniture
because it is considered to be less safe than other options.
The six factors to be considered is the multiple-uses. Multiple applications are required of office
furniture. Their selection should be based on their ability to be used for multiple purposes.
Machines should be chosen for certain purposes. When purchasing office furniture, make sure
you have plenty of space for phones, computers, and file storage, among other things. As a result,
buying adaptable or multi-purpose furniture increases your chances of being able to reuse the
same furniture for many uses.
The seven factor is design and standardization. Equipment and furniture must be designed to
make workplace job easier. Shape, elevation, and functionalities all have a role in design. It must
have a beautiful look. Wholesale purchases can be made at a lower cost thanks to product
uniformity. With standardized machines, servicing is also simplified. When choosing office
equipment and furniture, design and standards must be carefully addressed.
Lastly is the comfort. People spent a significant amount of time at their offices. They should be
able to sit, work, and store documents comfortably on the furniture. When choosing workplace
furniture, comfort should be considered. Machines should be simple to operate. The furniture in
the office should be comfy. Employees will be more productive if they have comfortable
environment.
REFERENCES

https://safetylineloneworker.com/blog/designing-a-safe-and-functional-office
https://work.chron.com/importance-office-layout-15838.html
https://spectruminteriors.co.uk/news/designing-office-health-safety-mind/
https://vouchseam.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/chapter2-office-environment-and-layout-
design.pdf
https://blog.liquidspace.com/news-stream/5-essential-elements-of-office-space-design
https://www.techo.com/insights/comfortable-office-environment/
https://marketinglord.blogspot.com/2012/07/factors-to-be-considered-for-selecting.html
https://tyrocity.com/topic/factors-to-be-considered-while-selecting-office-machines-and-furniture/
https://pathshalanepal.com/question/the-factors-to-be-considered-while-selecting-the-office-
furniture/#gsc.tab=0
https://www.riofinc.com/11-factors-to-consider-when-selecting-office-furniture/
https://www.psci-com.org.uk/factors-consider-selecting-furniture/