Human Factors is one of the eleven competency areas as identified by the International Facility Management Association’s global job task analyses.
What are Human factors?
The human factors competency is the application of psychology principles to provide training, design better products and create better work environments to increase productivity and decrease safety problems.
Why are Human Factors important?
- Helps building occupants and visitors be part of a safe, aesthetically pleasing and functionally supportive environment.
- Affects the health, safety, performance, comfort, satisfaction and morale of individual employees and the organization as a whole.
How the Human Factors competency helps the facility manager
Positively affects employee:
- Health.
- Safety.
- Performance.
- Training.
- Comfort.
- Morale.
- Business convenience.
Examples
- Install workstations with adjustable features to help employees reduce their risk of upper limb injuries. Vendors can help employees test the workstations.
- Ensure sufficient lighting for all building occupants. Use corporate lighting standards for different workplaces with on/off auto control.
- Provide hearing protection to those exposed to sustained noises at high decibel levels. Post signs to make sure anyone who enters the restricted area uses a hearing protection device.
- Provide workers with sufficient space to perform their tasks comfortably.
- Provide security that meets the facility’s needs:
- Physical.
- Information.
- Site security.
- Access control.
- Security cameras (not inside of offices).
- Implement a fall protection program for your maintenance staff.
The Competency Areas
All the 11 competency areas are:
Kazeem Olugbade, ProFM, is a facility management professional who has extensive knowledge and skills in the subject areas.
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