Research

Cohousing communities are communities that are designed to suit everyone. It is designed to meet the requirements of those who live or are going to move within the community. This is important within new communities or new estates being built as they are inviting new residents to the area, so this gives them a chance to get know other people.It is designed to prevent isolation within communities as in today the communities are very antisocial because of technology. If the cohousing community is designed well, it will force neighbours to interact with each other building stronger communities as they used to be before technology came along. The diagram above demonstrates a possible way of achieving this.Majority of new builds are within rural areas which is why it is easier for communities to be made as the architectural environmental design usually includes green areas. The homes will have a front garden; however, this is more for the visual aspects rather than social aspects. This is where cohousing comes into action within both older and newer communities to bring people closer together. However, being part of a cohousing community is hard work. There are set tasks that are split up amongst the community that may be needed to take place regularly to keep the community clean and healthy.Cohousing is not only in place to bring communities together, but to also build sustainable communities as ‘a sustainable community is a successful community.’ Residents would often take surveys within the cohousing community to fix problemsthat neighbours may overcome in their day-to-day life that are fixable within the community.How Co-Housing varies across the globe:Denmark – Most common is cohousing with centralised communal services in a single block which may be separate or may be built into the other buildings.Spain – Most common is cohousing for the elderly, with homes no bigger than 80m2 equipped with a room, kitchen and bathroom.United States – Community life normally takes place in a separate building, away from the others.Mexico – Cohousing is not as common but is beginning to take off as a living option for the elderly.United Kingdom – Most of the communities are mixed, varying in sizes between 10 and 40 homes, and the communal use areas are all together in a separate building.Sweden – Usually the most common areas are on one or more floors in different height blocks.Health and Safety:Factors that influence the health of people in the workplace are:1. Temperature and humidity- Adequate heating is important to provide thermal comfort in cold weather and protection against heat is needed from high temperatures2. Ventilation - Adequate air movement is important to maintain air quality3. Ergonomics and physical arrangement of work area and equipment - to help workers feel more comfortable and safer4. Space, lightening and cleanliness of the work area5. Maintenance - especially important for safety equipment which could create a risk if faulty6. Routes for safe movement of people7. Physical aspects - doors, gates and windows should be suitably constructed and fitted with safety devises if necessaryFacilities for the welfare of workers and visitors:1. Lavatories and washing facilities2. Provision of drinking water3. Facilities to rest and eat mealsRisk Assessment:The law does not expect elimination of risk, but it requires that people are protected as far as ‘reasonably practicable’. The principal elements of a risk assessment are:1. To identify the hazards.2. To decide who might be harmed and how.3. To evaluate the risks and decide on precautions.4. To record and implement findings.5. To review risk assessment and update if necessary.https://www.healthknowledge.org.uk/public-health-textbook/disease-causation-diagnostic/2f-environment/health-safety-workCovid-19:Covid has caused many problems within a workplace, due to it causing them to close, loosing business. Covid-19 has limited us to communicating to clients face to face as there was a social distance rule that limited us. Cleaning within the workplace needs to be improved to stop the spread of the virus.