The 5 Dirtiest Areas in the Office
10 July 2020
...and how to take care of them!
Many are aware of the countless germs hiding in bathroom areas - particularly across handles and taps. However, busy shared environments such as office workspaces are also known to harbour germs across various surfaces.
The areas highlighted below are known to be some of the dirtiest areas found in the workplace. By educating staff and building the awareness of these germ hotspots, employees can work together to help create a safer environment.
Keyboards
With employees spending most of their time at their desks, it is unsurprising that a survey by Viking found the bacteria Staphyloccos (which causes Staph Infection) on 60% of desks in one workplace.
Keyboards are at the centre of people talking over them, coughing, and sneezing. The risk of microbiological activity can also become a lot higher if computers are shared amongst various employees.
One way to prevent the growth of germs is to continuously use an alcohol-based sanitiser throughout the day and wiping down a keyboard with an antibacterial wipe at the end of a working day.
If employees often take their lunch break at their desk, encourage them to move keyboards away from them while they eat and immediately take care of any crumbs or spillages.
Lift buttons
Various studies have been conducted on the types of germs found on lift buttons, and often the results show areas of microbiological growth.
Although this growth can be prevented relatively easily by ensuring that strict handwashing procedures are in place, you cannot rely on every lift-user to have good hand hygiene.
Consider getting into the habit of using your (clothes) elbows to press a button, or by using a pen.
Otherwise, make sure to properly wash your hands after pressing a button to prevent the further spread of germs around the office.
Light switches
Similar to lift buttons, light switches are often used by various employees throughout the day, leading to a risk of germ spreading around the workplace.
They can also build up a layer of grease if used often.
Consider wiping down light switches daily, or encouraging employees to use a disinfectant wipe when turning the lights off at the end of the day.
Kitchen sink (and sponge!)
With various staff members sharing a sink to wash cutlery and cups, it is critical to ensure that the area is always kept clean, dry, and tidy.
Sponges are also a germ hotspot and should be replaced weekly to prevent bacteria growth.
Ensure all cups are properly cleaned (not just rinsed!), dried, and stored away, particularly if an employee falls ill.
Door handles
Door handles are prone to harbouring and spreading bacteria due to their constant, shared use throughout the day.
A study by Rentokil Intial found that 1 out of 4 office workers do not wash their hands after using the toilet.
These germs can then be spread onto a germ hotspot such as a handle, and then around the office.
Ensure that door handles are wiped down often with an antibacterial wipe, or left open to avoid use wherever possible.
If you’re worried about the maintenance of your office to prevent the transmission of germs, contact us to book your disinfectant fogging service here. The disinfectant product we use has recently passed EN14476 Standard for Coronavirus which enables for claims for efficacy to be made against all enveloped viruses, including all coronaviruses and SARS-Cov-2.
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