Your workplace may appear clean, but some of the surfaces you touch repeatedly throughout the day can harbour germs and deserve more frequent attention.
From keyboards and mobile phones to door handles and elevator buttons, many office surfaces are handled by several people. This creates opportunities for microorganisms to be transferred from one person to another.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends regular cleaning of frequently touched surfaces in workplaces and other shared environments as part of efforts to reduce the spread of germs.
Here are six common workplace items that should not be overlooked when it comes to hygiene.
- Computer keyboard
A computer keyboard can receive hundreds of touches during a typical workday, particularly when it is shared among employees.
The CDC includes keyboards among electronic items that may require cleaning, although users should follow the manufacturer’s instructions to prevent damage.
If you regularly eat at your desk, remember to wash your hands before handling food and clean the keyboard appropriately.
- Mobile phone
Your phone is one of the objects you probably handle most frequently and carry with you almost everywhere.
Touching it after using shared office equipment, eating or coughing can transfer microorganisms onto its surface. Cleaning your phone regularly, while following the manufacturer’s recommendations, can help maintain better hygiene.
- Door handles
Office door handles are touched repeatedly by employees, visitors and other people throughout the day.
As high-touch surfaces, they can accumulate microorganisms from people’s hands. Regular cleaning, together with proper handwashing, can help minimise the spread of germs.
- Desk
Your desk can collect more than just paperwork and office equipment.
Dust, food particles and microorganisms can accumulate on the surface, especially when you eat or frequently place personal items on it. Even if you work alone, regularly wiping down your desk can help maintain a cleaner workspace.
- Kitchen and refrigerator handles
Shared office kitchens contain several surfaces that are touched by many people, including refrigerator handles, cupboard handles, taps and microwave controls.
Because of the high number of users, these areas can benefit from regular cleaning. Employees should also wash their hands before preparing or eating food.
- Elevator buttons and light switches
Elevator buttons and light switches are often touched by many different people, making them common high-touch surfaces.
There is no need to avoid touching them. Instead, maintaining good hand hygiene is important, especially before eating or touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
Simple habits can improve workplace hygiene
Keeping an office hygienic does not mean disinfecting every surface constantly. Paying particular attention to high-touch areas and maintaining good hand hygiene can go a long way towards reducing the spread of germs.
The CDC recommends washing your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. When soap and water are unavailable, an alcohol-based hand sanitiser containing at least 60% alcohol is recommended.
A workplace may look spotless, but the surfaces touched most frequently can still collect germs. Regular cleaning and simple hygiene habits can therefore help create a healthier shared working environment.
By: Prince Martey-Sogar.