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Ergo & Wellbeing can give advice on understanding what is Hand-Arm Vibration and on the HSE's related ‘Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005’.
We can also assist with creating a Hand Arm Vibration (HAV's) control strategy and policy.
What is hand-arm vibration or HAV’s?
Hand-arm Vibration occurs when working with vibrating powered hand-held tools or equipment. It was originally know as ‘white finger’. Hand arm vibration can be a significant health risk whenever exposure to vibrating tools is over a safe daily limit.
What are the symptoms?
Hand-arm vibration syndrome causes damage to the blood vessels and nerves in the arms and hands. This can result in individual fingers going white when the hand is exposed to cold and 'pins and needles' can occur.
Can damage be permanent?
Yes. Damage caused by HAV is permanent.
What are the vibration exposure limits?
Exposure action value (EAV) is the daily amount of vibration exposure. If vibration exposure is above 2.5 m/s² A(8), employers are required to take action to control exposure. The exposure limit value (ELV) is the maximum amount of vibration employees can be exposed to daily. The ELV for hand-arm vibration is a daily exposure of 5 m/s² A(8).
According to the Health and Safety Executive
…
"HAVS is preventable, but once the damage is done it is permanent.
HAVS is serious and disabling, and nearly 2 million people are at risk.
Damage from HAVS can include the inability to do fine work and cold can trigger painful finger blanching attacks.
The costs to employees and to employers of inaction could be high.
There are simple and cost-effective ways to eliminate the risk of HAVS.
The Control of Vibration at Work Regulations focus on the elimination or control of vibration exposure.
The long-term aim is to prevent new cases of HAVS occurring and enable workers to remain at work without disability.
The most efficient and effective way of controlling exposure to hand-arm vibration is to look for new or alternative work methods which eliminate or reduce exposure to vibration”.
Health surveillance is also vital to detect and respond to early signs of damage.
Here are some useful links from the Health & Safety Executive
Retail environments demand a unique balance of workplace design and comprehensive staff training. While employees can be trained in safety protocols, customers cannot—making thoughtful store design, intuitive layouts, welcoming ambience, clear signage and secure processes absolutely essential!
Forward-thinking retail store owners and managers should thoroughly assess their workers' needs to maximise safety while simultaneously enhancing efficiency and productivity in this customer-facing environment.
A significant challenge facing retail management is the scarcity of industry-specific ergonomic information. This knowledge gap includes limited resources about retail-appropriate equipment selection, bespoke training and ergonomic principles tailored specifically to dynamic retail settings.
Download our comprehensive guidance leaflet today to transform your retail workplace ergonomics and create a safer environment for both staff and customers!
Retail ergonomics covers both workers and customers
Retail ergonomics covers both workers and customers
Ergo & Wellbeing can provide indoor environment design consultancy incorporating ergonomics and human factors. Office design, for example, should focus on improving wellbeing and productivity of employees and this can be supported by using a user-centred approach to design. Considerations should be given to the furniture and equipment provided, air quality, lighting, thermal and noise comfort and aesthetics.
By gaining an understanding of how your employees actually carry out their work, how they solve problems, their needs for concentrated focus time and for collaboration as well as your your organisational culture, with this knowledge our consultant can help you optimise the design of your office space and ensure your work environment supports comfort, wellbeing and increased productivity.
The WELL Building standard is a leading, comprehensive framework which aims to improve health and human experience through design in the built environment. WELL measures attributes of buildings that impact occupant health by looking at seven concepts which incorporate 100 features designed to address issues that impact the comfort, health and knowledge of a buildings users
The 10 concepts are
• Air
• Water
• Nourishment
• Light
• Movement
• Thermal Comfort
• Sound • Materials • Mind • Community
Fitwel, along with WELL, evaluates and rate the health and wellbeing aspects of the built environment with the aim of improving overall occupant experience. Fitwel and WELL are particularly focused on wellbeing and comfort, while at the same time benefiting employee performance, productivity, moral, a sense of community, retention and recruitment.
Whilst your business may not wish to engage in full certification there are very useful concepts and takeaways ideal for improving the working environment.
Whether helping to designing a project, starting the wellness conversation or transforming organisational policy, WELL and Fitwel are useful tools.
How Are Human Factors Related to the Built Environment, Healthy Buildings and Smart Buildings?
In a nutshell, human factors considers anything that impacts, affects, shapes, or influences people physically, psychologically or socially, individually or collectively. It takes into consideration our needs, wants, behaviors, capabilities and limitations. It's human-centric and always holistic.
If you are interested in understanding more, this link provides one of the most comprehensive explanations. Human factors also covers the 'related topics' mentioned when you scroll to the very bottom: biophilic design, circadian lighting, daylighting, air quality management, glare control, views, flexible workplace design, occupant thermal, acoustic and olfactory comfort, occupant control, engagement and satisfaction, productivity, and more.
And Ergonomics? It's a subset of Human Factors, under the same umbrella.
Healthy Buildings refers to considering the physical, physiological, psychological, wellbeing and social sustainability of occupants in buildings and the built environment. With people spending up to 90% of their time indoors, buildings can be key promoters of health and wellbeing.
To create healthy workplace environments and promote wellbeing, human-centric, holistic design principles and concepts can be adapted and applied to all workplace settings - schools, healthcare, industrial, institutions, commercial, hospitality, and retail.
Healthy buildings and workplace design is always collaborative and draws on the expertise of:
✔️ Architects ✔️ Designers ✔️ Engineers ✔️ Facilities management ✔️ Building services engineers (MEP, HVAC, acoustics, lighting) ✔️ Technologists ✔️ Interior designers ✔️ Biophilic designers ✔️ Ergonomists ✔️ Human factors specialists
According to the report 'The Future Workplace TOP 10 PREDICTIONS' by CBRE Ireland, "People-centric measures will become more common in the future to reflect holistic intentions of workplace design."
It's extremely encouraging to see this kind of report. Hats off to CBRE. For the good of us all and future generations, we need to refocus and turn these types of predictions into reality. For those of us connected and passionate about reshaping and reinvigorating the workplace, indoor environments and the built environment in general, there is a big challenge ahead. On the back of the pandemic, however, Ergo & Wellbeing believes the momentum and willingness to collaborate and set the bar higher is most certainly growing.
"Healthy building design and operation will take center stage."
We're up for the challenge! Are you?
#builtenvironment
#healthybuildings
#Humanfactors
#wellbeing
#workplaceenvironment
#raisethebar
Universal design is design for all. It’s about designing a product or building or civic environment so that it can be accessed and used by as many people as possible, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity and disability.
Inclusive design encourages safe, easy, comfortable and dignified use of products, services or environments in an aesthetically pleasing way. It goes beyond designing for 95% of the population. Inclusive design can be optimized for a specific user with specific design or for specific groups of the population.
Ergo & Wellbeing Ltd can offer consultancy advice to architects, engineers and product designers.
What is Biophilic Design?
The integration of nature into the built environment to enhance human wellbeing. Biophilic design leverages our innate connection to nature to reduce stress, boost creativity, and improve health.
Key elements include natural materials, abundant light, living plants, water features, and natural patterns.
Research shows biophilic workspaces improve employee wellbeing, satisfaction, and performance.
We combine biophilic principles with ergonomic best practices to create workspaces that support both physical comfort and psychological wellbeing.
Our tailored solutions range from simple plant placement to comprehensive redesigns with living walls and optimised natural lighting. We create environments that nurture the human-nature connection and foster a deeper sense of engagement.
Check out this webinar presented by Julie Rainey, Director of Ergo & Wellbeing Ltd to members and guests of the Chartered Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors (CIEHF)
The WELL Building Standard by the International World Building Institute is the leading tool for advancing health and wellbeing in buildings and communities. It is a holistic tool, promoting social sustainability, putting people at the heart of building design.
The WELL Building Standard is a leading, comprehensive framework which aims to improve health and human experience through design in the built environment. WELL measures attributes of buildings that impact occupant health by looking at seven concepts which incorporate 100 features designed to address issues that impact the comfort, health and knowledge of a buildings users.
The 7 original concepts in WELL v.1 are •Air •Water •Nourishment •Light •Fitness •Comfort •Mind
WELL v.2 launched in 2020 builds on V.1 and now has 10 concepts
•Air •Water •Nourishment •Light •Movement •Thermal Comfort •Sound •Mind •Materials •Community
https://www.wellcertified.com/certification/v2/
Whilst your business may not wish to engage in full certification there are very useful concepts and takeaways ideal for improving the working environment.
Whether helping to designing a project, starting the wellness conversation or transforming organisational policy WELL is useful tool.
Ergo & Wellbeing Ltd are able to provide consultancy advice. Julie is a WELL AP, an accredited professional. WELL Accredited Professionals are experts in healthy building design and have made a commitment to advance human health and wellness in buildings and communities.
As part of your Project Team, Julie can help you manage your WELL Certification efforts, and advise on how to implement health & wellness strategies across the project & provide education about the project.
What can our consultant bring to the table?
As a certified Ergonomist she can assist with the WELL v.2 Movement concept, particulary the V02 Ergonomic Workstation Design, or the V11 implementation of an Ergonomics program. This feature requires that 'the project engages with a certified ergonomist (consultant, contractor or other third-party) who supports the project in achieving this...'
As a qualified Human Factors specialist, her extensive knowledge outside of WELL, allows her to have a comprehensive understanding & holistic approach to the WELL Certification process. There are HF synergies with the 10 concepts in WELL v2 which all contribute to creating a healthy building & promoting wellbeing: Air, Water, Nourishment, Light, Movement, Thermal Comfort, Sound, Materials, Mind & Community
Contact Ergo & Wellbeing if you would like to collaborate.
For more information, check out the links below.
Fitwel is a premier benchmarking and certification system for optimising building design and operations to support health and wellbeing not only in buildings, but extending into communities.
As a Fitwel Ambassador our consultant is well-versed in the connection between design, health & wellness and occupants’ experience and have a clear understanding of how to integrate the strategies into projects.
Fitwel certification is
* 55+ operational, policy and design strategies
* based on 3000+ evidence based research studies
* suitable for existing buildings and new
* cost effective
* dynamic weighted points system
* no prerequisites
* applicable across portfolios
Social sustainability can incorporate many aspects; one concept is about creating successful and profitable workplaces that promote physical and mental wellbeing by understanding what people need from the places they live and work. Healthy buildings and a healthy work culture are part of this.
Until recently, social sustainability has attacted much less attention to that of its silbings; environmental and economic, but is it appropriate to undervalue the importance of not only protecting your workforce but more also creating an environment and culture for people to thrive and excel?
Companies that understand social sustainability recognise there’s a human cost of doing business. Triple Bottom Line is an economic framework that has been adopted by businesses to evaluate performance through social, environment and financial aspects . If a firm looks only at profits, ignoring people and the planet along the way, it cannot account for the full cost of doing business. A successful business should be striving to balance the triple bottom line of people, planet and profit to achieve long term success, creditabilty and viability. This all means that companies need to protect the safety, health and wellbeing of their most vital resource: its workers. This is where ergonomics and human factors play a key role in promoting and facilitating people sustainability in the workplace.
Employees are a business's most valuable assets! It's important to protect and nurture your workforce.
Fact - happy, healthy, valued workers work better.
If you would like to understand more about how ergonomics and human factors contributes to social sustainability and how corporate social responsibility can benefit your business bottom-line and set you apart from your competitors, contact Ergo & Wellbeing for more information.
Sustainability is made up of three pillars: economy, society, and the environment. These principles are also informally used as profit, people and planet. Diagram shows how sustainability incorporates making profit as well as looking after your workforce.
