EOC Management and Operations - Principles of Emergency Management - page 33

Management studies have shown that design does indeed have a significant
impact on workplace effectiveness. Repeatedly, environmental comfort for both the
physical as well as psychological needs of the occupants has been shown to play a
significant role in mitigating the detrimental affects of high stress, which accom-
pany crisis situations. Of the many factors that form the basis of an integrated
design, the following are a few key components:
Ergonomics
− Console design
− Visual display design
− Seating comfort
− Technology integration
− Adaptability to a diversity of user body types
Environmental comfort
− Variable glare-free lighting control
− Acoustical control
− Thermal comfort and control
Space allocation
− Operator positions
− Supporting services
− Breakout areas
− Policy room
− Strategic response planning
− Quiet rooms
− Resource management
− Extended stay accommodation
− Self-sufficiency
Circulation and access control
− Hierarchical circulation system
− Electronics used to augment physical security design
− Layout supports work flow
Relationship to support spaces
− Ease of accessibility
− Ability to be serviced while in operation
Sustainable utility systems
− Redundant services
− Diverse routing
− Resupply capability
− Flexible cable management system
By properly considering these as well as other requirements, the designers of the
workplace environment will have a significant impact on the operational effectiveness,
thus shaping the quality of an entity's response. When implemented in the appropriate