Why today it is more necessary than ever for companies to have all the tools available to guarantee a safe reopening.
There is a strong correlation between human health and environmental health. From the air we breathe to the water we drink, life on Earth depends on natural resources and the environment around us.
And in the same way that it is necessary to promote healthy behaviors such as eating well and exercising, it is also essential to take care of the environment, since the condition of the resources we consume also affects our quality of life.
It follows from this that a successful and long-term productive company needs a healthy workforce, and that achieving sustainable health and well-being should be high on the agenda of any organization. Even small improvements in employees’ working conditions can have a significant impact on employers. This concern led, in recent years, the World Green Building Council, an organization dedicated to the certification of sustainability in buildings, to carry out a study on the design and construction characteristics that the space must have in order to promote positive effects on people’s health, well-being and productivity1.
However, as we spend more than 90% of our time indoors, the need arose to create a specific certification that focused on the effect that the built environment has on humans. Thus was born WELL, a standard that combines best design and construction practices along with the endorsement of evidence-based scientific and medical research, leveraging the built environment as a means to support the health and well-being of occupants.
The WELL Building Standard was created by Delos Living LLC2 and is directed and administered by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI). The Standard is third-party certified through review by the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI), the same body that administers LEED certification.
The pandemic enters the scene
The COVID-19 pandemic decreed in March 2020 by the WHO changed many things. Many countries responded by restricting their daily activities, which helped control the spread of the disease and create a sense of security. Now, months later, with many companies restarting operations, questions are being raised about safety and health in the workplace.
This crisis has been a major source of anxiety for many people, so returning to an uncertain work environment represents an additional stressor that can affect the mental health and productivity of workers, many of whom have been physically away from your workplace for several months.
The pandemic also created the need for greater flexibility and autonomy so that workers can continue with their tasks from home adopting different work habits, very different from those they had until then. In this new scenario, and with the virus still active, many changes will undoubtedly be necessary: while some of the workforce will continue to work remotely, some will have to return to the office. It is now more necessary than ever for companies to have all the tools available to ensure a safe reopening.
In response to this emergency, the IWBI has launched “WELL Health-Safety Rating”, a new certification system whose requirements are a subset of those of the WELL construction standard, and are specially designed to help organizations operate, maintain and design your workspaces in a post-COVID 19 environment.
Because the truth is that the pandemic will have a long-term impact both inside and outside of work. Changes in the physical environment and social interaction within companies will require that many common wellness practices need to be re-evaluated, with the focus on health and sustainability.
WELL Health and Safety Rating
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the critical role that buildings play in supporting people’s health, safety, and well-being. The urgent need to meet high health and safety standards led this certification to focus on those strategies that can be implemented immediately.
This update to WELL includes 25 requirements in the following 6 main areas, with a minimum of 15 that must be met3:
→ Cleaning and disinfection procedures. It is known that the COVID-19 virus, like many other infectious diseases, is transmitted mainly by close contact with an infected person through respiratory droplets, many of which can remain on surfaces for hours and even days. Maintaining good cleaning protocols can help reduce the risk of infection back at the office.
These protocols include: supporting frequent hand washing, reducing contact with surfaces, improving cleaning practices, and choosing those cleaning products that are less hazardous to health.
→ Emergency preparedness program. Emergency preparedness and resilience plans are essential to ensure that companies are equipped both to face an imminent crisis and to successfully recover from it, whether it is a health emergency, natural disasters or any other situation that affects their normal operation. .
In addition to developing an emergency plan, the requirements within this area are: creating a business continuity plan, planning for a safe and healthy re-entry, providing resources to cope with the emergency, and building resilience.
→ Health services resources. The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed how one person’s behaviors can put others at risk. The strategies in this section focus on ways to encourage individual actions that support health and safety for everyone in the workspace.
To do this, it is essential to provide the following services: sick leave, health benefits, mental health support, access to flu shots for free, and promotion of a smoke-free environment.
→ Management of air and water quality. Without proper maintenance, water, heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems can accumulate microorganisms and particles that are vectors of respiratory diseases, especially after periods of inactivity.
Monitoring air and water quality, along with operational strategies to improve ventilation and filtration, are critical to identifying and mitigating potential risks. To do this, different actions will have to be carried out: evaluating ventilation, reviewing and maintaining air treatment systems, developing a Legionella management plan, monitoring air and water quality, and controlling mold and humidity.
→ Commitment and communication. During emergencies, participation and communication are essential to inspire trust, improve coordination, and support actions that can help protect safety and health. These actions help raise awareness about what to do during a crisis and provide information to safeguard the well-being of the occupants.
Providing health promotion strategies, education, and resources can help people cultivate healthy habits and resilience in response to risk factors.
→ Innovation. Innovation facilitates the development of tools to create safer and healthier work environments. This section includes both novel concepts and strategies that are not yet included in this certification or that achieve results that exceed existing requirements.
References:
1 WORLD GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL (2014): “Health, Wellbeing and Productivity in Offices: The Next Chapter for Green Building”.
2 American company that develops solutions that combine medicine and science with design and construction to reinvent the role of the built environment focused on health.
3 INTERNATIONAL WELL BUILDING INSTITUTE (2020): “Well Health-Safety Rating For Facility Operations & Management”.
