Introducing the WELL Health & Safety Rating
Our review of the new WELL Health & Safety Rating
Who is the WELL health & safety rating aimed at?
Having spent some time digging into the available literature online, WELL’s new healthy building rating system appears better adapted to the remit of an in-house facilities management team looking after the interests of their workforce than, say, an owner intent on enhancing a property’s health and safety features either prior to occupancy or in collaboration with tenants and the Facilities team post-occupancy.
This may represent a source of frustration for some forward-thinking developers as there is scope to implement around 50% of the features independently pre-occupancy but the remaining 50% are only deliverable by an HR department on behalf of its workforce.
To receive the WELL Health & Safety rating applicants need to hit at least 15 of the 20 features and by our calculations at least, that is practically impossible to deliver as a conscientious landlord. There are simply too many features linked to the workforce and HR policies for a building owner such as a developer or real estate fund to implement this rating system alone.
On this basis, it would be interesting to imagine an alternate path to certification for landlords acting independently. That said, for businesses keen to protect their staff by implementing a range of scientifically backed operational measures, this new rating hits the spot.
What policies does the WELL health & safety rating require?
Cleaning & Sanitization Procedures
Support hand washing (appropriately hygienic soap dispensers, hand dryers and signage prompt
Reduce surface contact (touchless faucets and water fountains, hands-free operation of entry doors, lift doors, washroom doors, window blinds, light switches, waste / recycling bins)
Improve cleaning practices (a highly detailed and professional cleaning plan that documents all relevant processes and procedures)
Select preferred cleaning products (all products to be ISO14024 Eco Label compliant)
Reduce respiratory particle exposure (a range of more intrusive distancing measures, only applicable at times of higher incidence of respiratory disease)
Emergency Preparedness Programs, a.k.a ‘resilience plans’
Develop emergency preparedness policies (undertake a risk assessment and draft plan)
Create business continuity plan (BCP) for operating under disruptive circumstances, such as a pandemic
Plan for healthy re-entry (a set of strategies designed to protect occupant health when returning to the workplace after an emergency evacuation)
Provide emergency resources (information indicating emergency procedures, at least one first aid kit per floor, a building emergency notification system, occupant training in CPR, designated emergency responder, security / crisis response team in place)
Bolster emergency resilience (designated space for emergency responders in case of emergency, shelter-in-place plan for emergencies in which occupants can’t leave the building)
Health Service Resources
Provide sick leave (employers to offer short-term and long-term sick leave)
Provide health benefits to all eligible employees
Support mental health recovery to employees at no cost
Promote / provide flu vaccines to regular building occupants
Promote a smoke-free environment (ban indoor and outdoor smoking within project boundaries, restrict sales of tobacco products on-site)
Air & Water Quality Management
Assess ventilation (professional assessment of building ventilation supply rates, potential improvements, air recirculation rates)
Assess & maintain air treatment systems (complete system inventory, air treatment assessment by a qualified engineer, device maintenance with accompanying evidence of new filters or UV lamps)
Develop Legionella Management Plan (risk assessment of all water assets, documented maintenance program)
Monitor air & water quality (on-going data from air quality monitoring system, annual chemical / biological water quality assessment
Manage mold & moisture (moisture management plan for building operations, annual mold and leak inspection data)
Stakeholder engagement & Communication
Promote health & wellness (set a health mission for the building, communicate around health & wellness resources to regular building occupants)
Share food inspection information (applicable to on-site food establishments)
Healthy & Safe Building Innovation
Innovation within the rating standard, taking it forward in some way
A WELL Accredited Professional (WELL AP) on the project team
Implement one of the main WELL certification requirements
Reach Pre-certification phase for the main WELL certification
We discuss the main WELL Certification on our green & healthy building certification page here.