Prevent the Spread of Germs in the Office
The cold and flu season is upon us once again. Although washing your hands and getting a flu shot may help prevent the flu from spreading, these are just the first steps one needs to take to avoid an infection. Your workplace/space needs to be clean and free of disease and flu causing microbes to be on the safe side. As a business owner, you should take the initiative to ensure every part of the office is clean, and particularly areas that are likely to be targeted by the same. Doing this will help prevent the spread of germs, keep your employees healthy, hence only a few of them might need to use sick time.
Here are 5 of the most germ-infested places in your office you need to be careful with:
The Kitchen
While not many office setups and businesses have a kitchen, those that do need to be careful to keep their kitchens clean to prevent germ infestation. It’s worth noting that the kitchen sink harbors more bacteria than anywhere else in the office – aside from the toilet bowl, of course. Almost all employees will use the kitchen to warm or even prepare a cup of tea or meal. With dozens of people using the kitchen and the sink, it is more than possible for germs to spread very quickly through utensil drawers, cabinet handles, countertops, sponges, coffee makers, as well as sinks. That said, extra attention and cleanliness are required to prevent germs from spreading.
The Bathroom
The bathroom is the one place germs are very fond of. Here, you will find anything from fecal bacteria, E Coli, salmonella, staphylococcus, and hepatitis A, among others. The shared toilet in the workplace is more likely to carry as many bacteria and germs as a public restroom. Although you might know this already, many of the suspect areas in the toilet are cleaner than you think. The toilet seat, for instance, could be cleaner than other faucets and areas you take for granted in the toilet. Handles in the bathroom, soap dispensers, faucet handles, the doorknob, and towel are among the things your cleaning team should be giving extra attention on a regular schedule.
Your Desk
Your workstation and especially desks are a magnet for germs. Although stations might seem clean, many of the germs you take from the bathroom, kitchen, as well as the elevator are transferred to anything you touch while working. This includes the mouse, keyboard, chair, phone, and desk among others. Keeping your desk clean and disinfected however comes in handy in keeping these germs at bay. Consider disinfecting the desk each morning, and even have a hand sanitizer to use each time you come back to the desk.
The Elevator
The elevator serves hundreds of people per day. All these people will touch the buttons, handles, and other surfaces in the elevator, making it one of the dirtiest places in the office. Studies show that the elevator can hold an average of 3,500 germs per square inch. This is more than your bathroom sink has. That said, it would be advisable to avoid touching anything in the elevator if possible. Consider using a pen, key, or even your elbow to push the desired button.
The Lobby
The lobby is one of the high-traffic areas in the workplace. This makes it susceptible to bacteria and germs, which we all need to be wary of. The only way to ensure the lobby doesn’t collect as many germs is by keeping everything clean and having a hand sanitizer at the front desk. Visitors will find themselves using the sanitizer before leaving the office, and especially if they touched magazines in the waiting area. Encouraging everyone in the office to use the sanitizer will also help prevent the spread of these germs.
Although it might be impossible to keep your office 100% germ-free, taking the measures outlined above can help encourage a cleaner office. This will result in a healthier work environment for you and your employees.
For all of your commercial cleaning needs in the GTA, contact us at today at Green Clean Office Maintenance and let us help you stay healthy and happy at the office!