HOW TO ADAPT A WORKSPACE TO THE NEW “NORMAL”
In our return to “normality”, COVID-19 has presented us with a new way of life marked by security measures to prevent the spread of the virus. Measures that have a major impact on the working environment in order to protect employees in offices, companies or shops.
Therefore, as experts in the design and development of new workspaces, at Dynamobel we have just launched our new catalogue ‘NEW LIFE, NEW SPACES’ to help companies adapt to these changes.
To do this, our expert team has drawn on the WELL certification that evaluates spaces from the perspective of people’s health and well-being. In light of the situation we find ourselves in today, the guidelines established by the WELL certification have helped us to design and manufacture products that are primarily aimed at protecting and maintaining the safety of professionals in their work.
Today we talked to Nieves Ozcáriz, Product Manager at Dynamobel, to find out what workspaces will be like in this COVID-19 era with the “drastic changes” we are currently experiencing.
How should workspaces be adapted as a result of the virus?
All the recommendations revolve around distancing, flexible spaces, and measures such as cleaning and disinfection protocols. This has forced us to propose a new working environment in which, for a certain time, we will move from open spaces to more individual spaces where we feel more protected.
Those spaces that are shared, such as training or meeting rooms, will have independent seats which incorporate individual tables.
One of our ‘NEW LIFE, NEW SPACES’ products is the Corona screen which is available in a wide range of materials (including methacrylate, glass and polycarbonate) and enables companies to easily adjust to the new requirements. It allows the configuration of a meeting room to be changed instantly and adapted to the number of people at any given time; to isolate workstations from passing areas; to protect workers in public places or students in schools and universities, among many other options.
What were home working spaces like before and what should they be like now?
Prior to COVID, home spaces may have been more like a studio than a workplace. That’s why, when the virus arrived, we weren’t really prepared to take on remote working since the spaces in homes aren’t usually very large and are often shared.
Connectivity has become one of the key factors in the space in which we work from home. Therefore, tables should be prepared to support such connectivity by avoiding, for example, cables on the floor.
In addition, we work with large screens and with laptops. We need to get accessories or shelves integrated into the table so that we can work from different heights. By doing so, we will avoid bad posture and the resulting neck pain. Similarly, it is important that our body is supported by a comfortable chair. To avoid back injuries, our backs must be in constant contact with the back of the chair in a position of about 90 degrees to our legs.
In conclusion, we need to provide a healthy, well-lit and comfortable space that will help us to continue working remotely while also taking care of our health, well-being and comfort.