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Are Your Employees Comfortable?Posted 9/7/1999By Monica Buchholz
The Gatorade is fresh and there's a cool breeze blowing throughout the shop. It's also mid-afternoon, which means it's time for the twice-weekly ice cream break for employees. These comfort features are part of the work environment at Payne's Automotive Enterprise Inc., Houston, Texas, where temperatures can be "grossly hot" according to Gwen Payne, who with her husband, Mickey, owns and operates the 28-year-old mechanical and collision repair business. The Paynes, like many other business owners, have recognized the link between environmental comfort and productivity, and have taken steps to ensure their employees have the best working conditions possible. In the past, business owners and managers focused mainly on the human resources factors to motivate employees and increase productivity. Now, scientific studies show that when employees are satisfied with their environmental conditions, they will be more productive. Comfort is often expressed in measuring temperature, humidity, air circulation, lighting, acoustics and physical space. Concentrating on improving these areas of the workplace environment can potentially be the most cost-effective expenditures of all for increasing productivity.
Temperatures "Our coolers of Gatorade and water are replenished daily," said Gwen Payne, whose employees face not only extreme heat, but high humidity too. In Southern California where summertime temperatures can reach 105 degrees, employees at Bright's Automotive Service have their own mobile water coolers attached to them to pull along while working. The Paynes have drive-through bays and large overhead doors that prohibit the effective and efficient use of air conditioning. To help prevent the fatigue often caused by hot, humid temperatures and stuffy environments, they rely on large fans throughout the 24-bay business to keep adequate air movement. In Little Rock, Ark., where summertime temperatures are generally cooler than Houston, employees at Parkway Automotive Services are treated to Spring Mountain water. "Technicians are under the most strenuous conditions and are encouraged to drink water often," said owner Mike Davidson. Cold temperatures can also present medical conditions, such as frostbite and hypothermia. Frostbite occurs when body parts, usually toes, fingers and the nose, freeze and ice crystals form in the fluid of cells and tissues. Hypothermia is when the body temperature falls below normal. The extremities (hands and feet) are particularly susceptible to cooling; however, wearing gloves or mittens to protect hands often interferes with work tasks. From around November to February, "the cooler months in the Little Rock area," Davidson keeps the thermostat up so employees can work comfortably in the shop without jackets. From October to April, Burch Craig, Craig Autometrics Inc., Rochester, N.Y., keeps the shop heated to 60 degrees, a temperature that allows for comfort during the winter months. This year, Craig faced higher summer temperatures than usual and used fans and water to keep technicians comfortable. Lighting Lighting is often overlooked even though it is one of the most important elements in the workplace. It is not only necessary for everyday work, but is an important factor in employee health and productivity. Lighting experts say that adequate lighting involves having enough overhead illumination for the whole room or shop area, task lighting at the counter, desk or table, and a form of sunlight. If the lighting scheme is inadequate, not only will an employee's ability to see and do work be affected, but also there will be other risks to their health. An incorrectly lit office can cause eyestrain due to glare from lights reflecting off of a computer screen or from papers. Flickering fluorescent lights can cause headaches, and depression and mood swings can occur if an employee is in a poorly lit room for many hours at a time. All of these health risks can lead to an overall decrease in productivity and an increase in absenteeism from employees. Payne's Automotive has six skylights that provide natural light throughout the shop, while at Parkway Automotive, Davidson is installing new, brighter fluorescent lights in the shop and office areas. He also admits having some "pretty nice chairs and office furniture" for his employees, another comfort feature that helps increase employee productivity. A good quality, adjustable chair is a must for any office worker, even if they are not confined to a chair all day. The chair's seat, arms and height should be adjustable. Another important factor causing dissatisfaction in the workplace is noise. In the shop area of most mechanical and collision repair businesses, noise is unavoidable. However, in the office areas of these businesses, noise can be disruptive for both employees and customers. A study done by the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) found noise reduction to be a major concern of office workers, of which 70 percent said they would be more productive if their offices were quieter. The condition of the physical space that employees work within can also affect productivity and safety. "Keeping a clean environment is very important for employees," said Rich Nopper, owner of Nopper's Collision, Rensselaer, N.Y. Nopper said he has an employee who comes in every day just to clean and empty the trash. His business also has an eye for other employee comfort features including free coffee and soda, an air-conditioned breakroom and office area, and proper lighting throughout the shop. He recently purchased small lifts for doing repairs on the lower parts of a vehicle to prevent additional strain to his employees.
Workplace ergonomics In addition to providing a comfortable work environment for employees, many businesses are taking it a step further to fit the workplace and the work to the employee. This is called ergonomics. A good fit results in increased productivity and improved morale. A poor fit can lead to workplace injuries, decreased productivity and absenteeism. According to the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA), when there is a mismatch between the physical requirements of the job and the physical capacity of the employee, work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) can result. Employees who perform repetitive motion throughout the day, who must do their work in an awkward position, who lift heavy objects or who must use a great deal of force to perform their jobs are most likely to develop WMSDs, which according to OSHA, now account for 34 percent of all lost workday injuries and illnesses.
OSHA documents report there are often simple adjustments that can be made in the workplace to decrease the occurrences of WMSDs. These adjustments include changing the height of surfaces, varying tasks for employees to reduce repeated motions, encouraging short rest breaks for muscles to recover, and providing equipment for heavy or repetitive lifting. There is also a range of specially designed safety equipment, products and office furniture that can help prevent WMSDs in the workplace.
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