Now that Autumn has arrived, cold and flu season is right around the corner. People often focus on keeping their homes germ free, but what about the place where you spend most of your waking hours? In the average workplace, one person will get sick and the germs will travel from co-worker to co-worker until almost everyone has gotten sick. And then the cycle starts all over again. So how do you break the cycle? Here are two easy ways to help you keep the germs away during your workday.
Identify the germ “hotspots” and keep them clean. Anything you or your co-workers touch regularly is a germ “hotspot.” Prime examples in your workspace are phones, computers keyboards/mice, desk, drawer handles, staplers, even pens. Even if you are the only person that uses these items, they can still contain germs and you can re-infect yourself. So what can you do? Keep a container of disinfectant wipes in your desk and regularly wipe down your phone, keyboard, etc.
The most popular germ breeding grounds are shared areas like copy machines, faxes, file cabinets, microwaves, coffee pots, bathrooms, doorknobs, etc. These areas are a lot more difficult to keep germ free. Keep a can of disinfectant wipes next to the copy or fax machines (or both). Encourage all users to regularly wipe down the buttons. Same goes for the kitchen areas. For bathroom areas it may be faster to leave a can of disinfectant spray easily accessible, and encourage regular spraying of handles, surfaces, etc.
Wash your hands frequently. Most people know how important hand washing is in preventing the spread of germs, but very few people wash their hands as frequently as they should. Since you can’t change the hand-washing habits of your co-workers, focus on your own habits. The CDC recommends washing your hands with soap and water for at least 15 seconds. Avoid antibacterial soap. Antibacterial soap contains antibiotics, and as with prescription antibiotics, overusing them causes bacteria to become resistant to antibiotics. In most cases, antibiotic soap has no added benefit and may even increase your chances of getting sick. Note: Disinfectants on surfaces and antiseptics on people mechanically destroy germs. They are different than antibiotics, and they are useful in preventing infections.
If you’re too busy to get to a sink, keep a bottle of instant hand sanitizer on your desk. Sanitizers contain antiseptics which will kill 99.99% of germs without any water or towels. Now sanitizers even offer moisturizers and vitamin E, which counteract the drying tendency of the alcohol they contain.
These are two inexpensive, common sense ways to prevent the spread of germs in the office. Other costlier preventatives may include having the office cleaned more frequently/thoroughly, or investing in HEPA air filters.
