You and your colleagues spend quite a bit of your lives at work. It is inevitable that you and your coworkers may come to work sick, either because you didn’t know or because you had no choice. When you are sick and are actively using the desks and the workspace around you, your germs can harbor in common desktop items that may be shared among coworkers. Here are a few common desktop items that gather germs that may need to be cleaned by you and your coworkers in order to keep everyone healthy.
Phones
Our mouths come into close contact with the receiver on the phone and with the dialing pad. You must talk and breath into the mouth piece when making a call, and you may accidentally sneeze or cough on it. If coworkers share a space and desk phone, this could be an issue if one of them is sick. Phones should be cleaned regularly to avoid unwanted germs.
Computer and Peripherals
Many office jobs involve computer work, so we are no doubt harboring germs on the keyboard and mouse. Food particles, hair, and germs can be stuck in and on your keyboard each time you type. In addition, the germs from your mouth and hands can get transferred to your mouse. If coworkers share a computer or space, they are actively sharing germs with every use.
Desks and Cubicles
If your coworkers share a close quarter, whether it be an open plan or a cubicle office, they are still in close proximity to their other colleagues. Sneezes, coughs, and other germs can travel throughout the shared spaces. In addition, the items on your desk might be shared between coworkers. If you have a hole-punch, stapler, or tape dispenser that a coworker borrows, you could potentially be sharing germs between each other. It is a good idea to clean these shared items regularly and to keep hand sanitizer nearby. Encourage employees to wash their hands often and to not come into work if they are sick.
Kitchen Items
Even if your office doesn’t have a full kitchen, you most likely have a few essential items like microwaves and mini fridges. These areas can be hotbeds for germs since many coworkers use them. Coworkers bring food and bowls from home, and may not wash their hands before heating up their lunch. Employees may use shared kitchen items like coffee pots and bowls that are not properly cleaned often. The shared kitchen space should be regularly cleaned to decrease the chances of coworkers becoming sick from germs.
Sanitation
A healthy workforce is one of the keys to the success of a business, even though we know employees may call in sick from time to time. However, it is important for the work place to not be an unnecessary contamination zone, causing even more employees to call in sick. There are many work place hygiene issues that regular business sanitation can help prevent to make sure that your workplace is always safe and productive.
Office Hygiene in San Marcos, Tx
If you’re interested in more information about workplace sanitation, contact Business Hygiene of Central Texas, located in San Marcos, Texas.
