Millions of people all over the world spend an inordinate amount of time in an office space, working in close proximity with others. This makes them a prime source of germs and illness. So how clean is your office.
Water cooler - Nearly one quarter of water cooler buttons are considered a serious risk for illness transmission.
Keyboards - Most office keyboards contains 70% more bacteria than a toilet seat.
Telephones - Office (mobile or desk) phones have around 25,000 germs per square inch.
Taps - 75% of office tap handles are considered a serious risk for illness transmission.
Surfaces - Cold and flu viruses can survive for up to 18 hours on hard surfaces. In addition, bacteria increase by up to 31% per day on surfaces that are not regularly disinfected.
Office desks - Office desks have been found to be more than 400 times dirtier than a toilet seat. The area where your hands rest has around 10,000 bacteria on average.
Working sick - 72% of workers feel that working sick spreads diseases in the office.
Washing hands - 78% wash their hands often to help prevent to spread of disease.
Cleaning - 30% of workers clean their phone keyboard and desk to kill germs.
Calling in sick - Despite it being the best way to prevent the spread of disease, 52% of workers feel bad calling in sick.
** Eating at your desk can cause food to fail into your keyboard, making it an ideal place for bacteria to survive and multiply.
Water cooler - Nearly one quarter of water cooler buttons are considered a serious risk for illness transmission.
Keyboards - Most office keyboards contains 70% more bacteria than a toilet seat.
Telephones - Office (mobile or desk) phones have around 25,000 germs per square inch.
Taps - 75% of office tap handles are considered a serious risk for illness transmission.
Surfaces - Cold and flu viruses can survive for up to 18 hours on hard surfaces. In addition, bacteria increase by up to 31% per day on surfaces that are not regularly disinfected.
Office desks - Office desks have been found to be more than 400 times dirtier than a toilet seat. The area where your hands rest has around 10,000 bacteria on average.
Working sick - 72% of workers feel that working sick spreads diseases in the office.
Washing hands - 78% wash their hands often to help prevent to spread of disease.
Cleaning - 30% of workers clean their phone keyboard and desk to kill germs.
Calling in sick - Despite it being the best way to prevent the spread of disease, 52% of workers feel bad calling in sick.
What to do
- Wash your hands regularly.
- Disinfect your desk, keyboard, mouse, monitor screen and phone.
- Along with air-freshener, carry antibacterial hand gel and use it often.
- Disinfect your hands after using the kitchen.
- Disinfect your hands after using the bathroom.
- Stay at home if you're unwell.
- Use trained, reputable cleaners.
What to avoid
- Avoid unnecessary handshakes*.
- Avoid coming in when you're ill.
- Avoid meetings where you know people are ill.
- Avoid placing food straight onto solid surfaces.
- Avoid eating at your desk**.
- Avoid using other people's phones.
- Avoid cheap or untrained cleaners.
** Eating at your desk can cause food to fail into your keyboard, making it an ideal place for bacteria to survive and multiply.
source: http://www.master-cleaners.co.uk/clean-office-infographic.html