As companies become more aware of the health and wellbeing of employees, the first office building in Tampa to meet the criteria for certification from the International WELL Building Institute has recently been completed. To improve employee health, the office tower meets certain standards such as filtered air and water, and the inclusion of plenty of natural light. Better working conditions like these can lead to higher levels of productivity from workers, with less time taken off for stress and fatigue. As well as creating a comfortable and healthy environment, employers also have a duty to provide a safe workplace where the risk of accidents is minimized. Although this can be harder in an outdoor setting, all workers should be protected from illness and injury where possible, and fully supported if a workplace accident does occur.
Supporting Office Workers After Injury
While new buildings provide a healthy indoor environment in which to work, employees can still be at risk of accidents in the office. Slips and falls are the second most common cause of serious occupational injury in Florida and one of the leading reasons for workers’ compensation claims. Most Florida companies need to have workers’ compensation insurance to cover some of their employees’ costs if they are injured at work. However, workers will not be compensated for other damages such as pain and suffering, and may be put off making an additional personal injury claim due to the costs involved. By hiring a no win no fee lawyer, workers can be reassured that they won’t be faced with legal billing unless their claim is successful.
Protecting Outdoor Workers from Heat-Related Stress
While it can be easy to create a healthy environment in a modern office building, outdoor working conditions are harder to control. In the US, over 65,000 people seek emergency treatment for heat-related stress every year, with the majority of cases occurring in Florida. With average August temperatures of 90° in Tampa Bay, workers on farms and construction sites are at high risk of occupational illnesses such as heat stroke and exhaustion. To address this issue, lawmakers are currently looking at new bills that will legislate measures such as limits to working hours in high temperatures, access to water and regular breaks away from the heat.
A poor working environment can lead to illness and accidents in the workplace. In addition to having access to safe and healthy indoor office spaces, workers in Florida also need to be protected while working outdoors.