How to get your new office fitout over the line with management

The new office fitout can be a hard sell to management. Hey we need money to put towards the space we live and breathe in Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm. Yes it’s going to cost a bit and no commerical and office fitouts aren’t just for aesthetics. Here are some of the benefits of a good space: Office fitouts boost productivity No surprise these days that employee morale is important. A good office environment dictates work ethic, efficiency and morale (whether that’s commercial fitouts, office fitouts, dental clinics, medical clinics or your work from home station). Productivity increases by 20% in […]

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How are you prioritising air quality in your office design?

How are you prioritising air quality in your office design or office fitout? Air quality is crucial to our health, yet in recent years, comparative risk studies performed by the US EPA have consistently ranked indoor air pollution among the top five environmental risks to public health. In Australia, poor indoor air quality can result in significant adverse impacts on our health and environment and these impacts carry a significant cost burden to the economy. The CSIRO estimates that the cost of poor indoor air quality in Australia may be as high as $12 billion per year. Given how much […]

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Do Brisbane Office Fitouts Comply with the Access and Mobility Code?

Why ‘equitable access’ matters for today’s building designs Recent changes to Australia’s Access and Mobility Code (AS1428,2010) demand rigorous design and construction standards for all new public access buildings. In full compliance with Australia’s disability Discrimination Act (1992) and the Building Code of Australia, the Access and Mobility Code (A&M) endeavours to provide ‘safe, equitable and dignified access to buildings, services and facilities within a building’, and safeguard occupants from illness or injury during emergency evacuation’. The A&M guides architects and builders in delivering minimum design requirements for new building work, enabling unimpeded access for all occupants and visitors regardless […]

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Brisbane Fitout and a Healthier Workplace

The challenge of sedentary work in a Brisbane Office Environment Office or desk jobs have been traditionally considered “cushy”, and we know that if you dont take the proper precautions, this kind of sedentary work can be harmful. Back pain, obesity and health risks are increased if you spend most of your day sitting down. Sitting behind a computer all day reduces the time to exercise. Many office workers can also be prone to eat unhealthy snacks at their desk which increases their calorie intake for the day. This can lead to weight and significant health problems. To help break […]

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10 Ways to Reduce Workplace Injuries

10 Ways to Reduce Workplace Injuries Here are 10 straight forward ways to reduce Workplace Injuries in your Business from the team at Urban Group. Communicate your health and safety policy to all staff. Every business is required to have one, and if you employ more than 5 staff, it must be in writing and available for employees to read. This might be by including it in induction packs, staff handbooks or posting it on a notice board. Assess the risks. All businesses are obliged to carry out a health and safety risk assessment. Consider all the potential hazards in […]

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Dealing with RSI (Repetitive Strain Injury)

How to Avoid Repetitive Strain Injury ( RSI ) The work pattern of an office executive carries plenty of orthopedic issues – the main complaint is discomfort in the upper limbs, neck, shoulders, and back. Experts say that repetitive strain injury is an injury of the musculoskeletal and nervous systems that may be the result of repetitive tasks, forceful exertions, vibrations, pressing against hard surfaces (mechanical compression), or sustained or awkward positions. Conditions such as RSI tend to be linked to both physical and psychosocial stress. Repetitive Strain Injury ( RSI ) is usually caused by repetitive use of a […]

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Hazardous Chemicals – New Terminology under the Work Health and Safety Legislation

New Terminology under the Work Health and Safety Legislation: Hazardous Chemicals Chemicals are used for many purposes and are necessary in many Australian workplaces. They can also cause some very bad health effects for workers such as drowsiness, headache, nausea, loss of co-ordination, heart attack, coma and even death when risk controls are not established and implemented. Any persons conducting a businesses or undertaking has duties under work health and safety law to protect workers and others from risks associated with using, handling, generating or storing hazardous chemicals (WHS Regulation, 351). What are Hazardous Chemicals? Hazardous Chemicals is a term […]

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New Personnel Can Be A Safety Risk

New personel and contractors can be a safety risk if induction procedures are not followed, exposing the business to unnecessary risks. Contractors, Sub-Contractors and visitors to your office should all be informed of the company’s safety procedures and policies. Contractor Management Urban Group has very strict policies in place to ensure compliance with Health and Safety Regulations, and appoints a Project Manager for all projects. The project manager ensures implementation of Urban’s WHS requirements at each of the following stages of the contract: –       Project evaluation and specification –       Evaluation of tenders –       Pre-commencement of work –       Ongoing monitoring and […]

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