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Health &Wellbeing
Healthy body,
healthy business
With 80% of viruses and most bacteria
transmissible through touch
1
, and
the flu virus living on hard surfaces
for up to 72 hours
2
, it’s not surprising
offices are such a hot-bed of bacteria
and viruses. Furthermore, with one in
four office workers admitting to not
washing their hands after visiting the
washroom
3
, offices are vulnerable to
the harbouring and spread of infection.
It is therefore vital that businesses
and staff are aware of how common
illnesses are transmitted in an office
environment and the steps they can take
to reduce the spread of germs. Simple
changes to personal hygiene habits and
office layout can improve employees’
chances of staying healthy and bug-
free, which is particularly important in
colder months when viruses spread more
easily because we spend more time
indoors. In this article I advise businesses
and employees how they can ensure a
healthy working environment is adopted
for all staff.
Advice for businesses
1
Promote good hand hygiene
standards
Staff should wash their hands regularly
with good quality soap, and hand
sanitiser stations should always be
available. The golden rule is: wash, dry,
sanitise. The most effective kind of
sanitisers are non-alcohol based like
Initial’s UltraProtect, which forms a
gentle but long-lasting barrier on hands,
protecting against germs for a few hours
after use.
2
Improve reception/entrance area
Door handles and common touch-points
are a risk hotspot in reception and
entrance areas, harbouring bacteria and
viruses which can be transferred from
surface to hand and from hand to hand.
Bacteria and viruses can cause food
poisoning, respiratory diseases and skin
infections, so introduce hand and surface
sanitisers to kill germs and help prevent
the spread of infection.
3
Regular cleaning regimes
Ensure regular, thorough cleaning takes
place in communal areas like shared
kitchens and washroom facilities,
including the corridors and door handles.
For example, food preparation surfaces
in kitchens can be home to pathogenic
strains of E.Coli and the Norovirus.
These can be transmitted from surface
to hand, hand to mouth or by infected
food and can cause gastroenteritis and
urinary tract infections. Good hand
washing and drying products can help to
minimise the risk of infection.
Companies that have open plan
working environments, with only basic
cleaning practices in place, should
undertake a professional deep clean at
least twice a year to prevent the build-
up of embedded dirt and contamination.
4
Clean desks
Encourage staff to clean their desk areas
regularly by providing anti-bacterial
wipes and make sure that desk items
such as keyboards and phones are
routinely cleaned. A previous study by
Initial Washroom Hygiene found that
the average computer mouse was home
to more than three times as much
bacteria-related contamination as the
average toilet seat, and twice as much
as a toilet flush handle.
4
5
Introduce scenting products
High footfall makes corridors and
common areas germ hotspots. Scenting
products will help control and minimise
aromas that might come from
malodorous bacteria. Air disinfection
units will also help reduce airborne
micro-organisms.
6
Reduce virus spread
Ensure staff who contract a virus
stay away from the office for at least
48 hours after the symptoms have
disappeared to avoid wider workforce
contamination.
Implementing these six top tips
will help to create a healthier working
Dr Peter Barratt, Technical Manager, Initial Washroom Hygiene,
explains how to reduce the risk of germs in the workplace
environment. However, it’s important
that employees themselves are educated
on the best hygiene practices. They play
an important role on the front line,
helping to stop the spread of infection.
Advice for staff
1
Practice good hygiene
Thorough hand washing after using
the washroom and before preparing
food is extremely important. It is
recommended that you wash your hands
for the same amount of time it takes
to sing the happy birthday song twice
(approximately 30 seconds). Make sure
that you dry your hands properly after
visiting the washroom, as damp hands
spread 1,000 times more bacteria than
dry hands. Take responsibility to make
sure that your desk area and associated
equipment is regularly cleaned. This will
reduce the level of germs in the office.
2
Stop sharing
Try not to share items such as tea towels
when using communal areas. These items
can be home to high levels of bacteria
and are often not cleaned regularly. Good
alternatives include tissue paper or hand
towels from wall-mounted dispensers.
3
Stay home when ill
If you suspect you have Norovirus or
a similar stomach bug, notify your
employer and do not return until 48
hours after the last symptoms have
disappeared. Remember that it is partly
because we spend more time indoors
in the winter, with the heating on and
windows closed, that viral illnesses
spread more easily.
Final thoughts
It is essential to encourage both staff
and workplace visitors to take personal
responsibility by following correct
hygiene practices. In addition, offices
need to make sure that they make use
of specialist cleaners and the latest
cleaning technologies. By following
these basic precautions, facilities and
office managers can ensure a hygienic
environment and look forward to
happier, more productive employees.
1.
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immunization.html
2
3 Initial Washroom Hygiene and CEBR research, 2013
4
Dr Peter Barratt,
Technical Manager,
Initial Washroom
Hygiene
