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Built environment facilities are designed to improve the productivity of occupants and to create safe and effective protection for equipment and items of value, such as printed materials. Since occupant costs can constitute 80% of the total costs of an operational office building and occupants now spend up to 90% of their time indoors, increasing attention is paid to improving their productivity.

Increased computerisation, automation and rationalisation of staff have led to increased levels of office occupant stress. This leads to decreased productivity, increased sensitivity to the working environment and in more severe cases, to lead to illness and increased absenteeism.

Over the last 20 years CETEC staff have been involved in resolving complaints from occupants regarding their indoor environment. Initially, the approach was to check the physical air environment for contaminants. In many cases, contaminants were within regulatory authority or government guidance levels, but problems often persisted. Further investigations by questionnaires and detailed building examinations often revealed a complex interaction between the built environment (the facility) and the occupational climate, social network and health status of its occupants (the ecology).

To achieve improvements in productivity and to reduce complaints by the workforce, it is necessary to incorporate most of the following steps in what CETEC calls a facility ecology investigation:

1. Adopt a holistic investigatory approach.
2. Understand the perception of the indoor environment from the site engineer, general and divisional management and operational staff.
3. Develop agreed productivity indices.
4. Carefully inspect the physical environment, including design, lighting, ergonomics, cleanliness, noise, aggregation, mechanical plant and the surrounding environment.
5. Conduct quantitative, statistically designed questionnaires with occupants.
6. Interpret the symptoms and complaint patterns to design an appropriate and effective monitoring program for the physical environment.
7. Communicate the program to all parties and induct them as stakeholders.
8. Effectively monitor the typical physical environment and interpret the results.
9. Communicate the results and interpretation to the building operators and occupants and seek feed back
10. Finalise the report and communicate to all stakeholders for comment.
11. Develop a risk management plan.
12. Review and monitor the risk management plan and productivity indices.

CETEC has used this approach successfully in schools, offices and communities from Far North Queensland to Victoria, achieving long-lasting positive effects in both the operation of the facility and improved productivity and harmony of its occupants. This is the ultimate aim of facility ecology.

Dr Vyt Garnys and CETEC staff would be pleased to discuss how our approach of facility ecology can enhance the productivity of your workplace, reduce your operational risks and improve the structural and mechanical condition of your facility. Contact us here.