Top 3 Germ Hot spots in the Office
Naturally there are places in and around an office that you would expect to see germs. No prizes for guessing in the washrooms! ‘Germs’ is a term covering a wealth of sins – or little sinners should we say – viruses, bacteria and microorganisms, 99% of which are not harmful but it’s that 1% that can cause anything from the common cold to serious illnesses such as MRSA.
So, where else are these troublesome critters hiding?
1. Buttons and handles:
Just getting into your office can be a potential health hazard! Anywhere that has high people traffic will accrue a generous helping of viruses and bacteria. The biggest culprits are door handles and elevator buttons. And once in the office you should be wary of using the printer and photocopier buttons, so many fingers = so many germs.
Bearing in mind that 1 in 4 of us doesn’t wash hands after using the washroom, you can imagine how quickly germs are transferred from a surface to a colleague.
2. Telephones:
Due to the sheer proximity to your face telephones, mobiles and smart phones are a major hotspot for germs, which thrive in the millions of tiny droplets that come out of our noses and mouths.
According to a study by the University of Arizona, the telephone is the most contaminated surface in the workplace with 25, 127 germs per square inch, which is over 500 times more than the average toilet seat – and don’t get us started on the communal conference phone…
3. Kitchen:
Think beyond the grimy bins, we’re talking about the tea towels, kettle handle, chopping board, microwave and kitchen sponge. If you think about the food that’s been prepared, heated and then washed up in the same small area each day, it’s easy to see how the sponge alone is going to harbour a wealth of potentially harmful germs, up to 10 million bacteria per square inch in fact, and a favourite hideout for campylobacter – the bacteria associated with food poisoning.
Perhaps that mystery colleague who dumps his coffee mug on the side has got the right idea?
So, what can you do to prevent the spread of germs in the office?
- Wash your hands thoroughly and regularly – and always after using the facilities…
- Take responsibility of your personal office space – keep your computer, telephone and desk clean and sanitised.
- If you’re ill – stay at home and don’t ‘share’ the germs with your colleagues.
- Notify your office manager if an area in the office needs more attention from your cleaner – don’t just leave it for the next person to fix.
Remember these key points when sanitising your own computer:
- Ensure the computer is switched off before attempting to clean any part of it – keyboard, monitor, printer, mouse…
- Never spray cleaner directly onto your computer – always spray onto a soft cloth first and gently wipe.
For more information on our office cleaning services in London please contact us on 0203 174 1723 for a free, no-obligation quote. We’d be delighted to hear from you to explore with you how we might be able to help you and your business.