OFFICE SPACE ORGANIZATION TIPS
Below are a few pointers to identify immediate steps that will make your office a more productive environment. Please feel free to contact me if you have questions, need more information or would like help.
* Comfort is an essential ingredient of efficiency. Workers who are comfortable are more productive than those who are not. Comfort results from many factors: lighting, ventilation, temperature, furnishings, and noise levels.
* Clutter undermines efficiency. Stacks of papers and books, overflowing trays and drawers, littered surfaces and floors, distract from real work, make finding things difficult, means that some tasks will go undone, and creates an image that reduces customer and colleague confidence. Work surfaces need to be kept clear so that they are available for work. The most efficient work spaces have a designated place for every object. The more visible objects there are clamoring for attention, the higher your stress level will be. Find ways to put away anything not presently in use.
* Plan offices to be as easy to maintain as possible. Consider how different configurations, furnishings and equipment will affect maintenance.
* Carpets, heavy drapes, wall hangings, acoustical tile ceilings and weatherstripping can reduce noise levels and stress, and creating a more productive work environment.
* Telephone headsets reduce the ability to hear noise in an office and may prevent ergonomic injuries for workers who use the phone often.
* Get the best chair affordable, with good back support, padded arms and a stable five-point base. The more adjustments possible, the better the chances for a match with the needs of the user. Pneumatic chairs make adjusting to different bodies easy. Good chairs should encourage good posture.
* Make sure that desks and chairs are at the right heights relative to each other and for the person who will use them.
* Have a consultant check all work stations for injury-prevention and train staff to work safely. Worker's Compensation carriers may provide this service for free. There are numerous resources for ergonomic safety on the Internet.
* Keep aisles and exits clear, and store objects which could fall into these areas securely so that they cannot become hazards in the event of an emergency
* Tall objects in front of short ones make them invisible - plan storage spaces so that nothing is obscured.
* Create an easy-to-read floor plan of the office showing the locations of safety equipment, preparedness supplies and utility shutoffs and post it in multiple spots around the office. Drill staff on the locations and operations of the equipment and shutoffs. Identify the most probable natural disasters for your area and evaluate the office to prevent injuries and business interruptions.
If you would like more information than the short guides presented here, contact me to learn how we can work together to improve your business operations.