SHARING AND CARING
European head of cleaning and hygiene at Office Depot, Rob Abrahams,
discusses how to share your working space, but not your germs.
The nature of the workplace is changing, where days of individual desks piled high with stacks of paper are on their way out. Working practices are becoming more fluid in nature and this is causing many companies to re-think the way they use their office space, often favouring more flexible layouts and co-working spaces. From a hygiene perspective, this can cause serious problems for employers, with continual movement around the office dramatically increasing the risk of germs spreading.
With poor hand hygiene one of the biggest causes of ill- health in the UK workplace, it is essential that employers take an active stance and are careful not to be misled by ill-conceived assumptions that spartan co-working spaces are winners in the fight against office germs.
There is a general misconception within businesses that less clutter means fewer germs. The nature of co-working spaces means that employees no longer have the chance to build up piles of paper and personal belongings; the desk must be clear for the next person who uses it. Recent studies have found that levels of bacteria were significantly higher in shared working spaces than on single occupancy desks, so businesses must not think that flexible spaces offer a more hygienic solution.
With hand hygiene, company-wide education is the starting point and the significant benefits of thorough washroom habits should be communicated to all employees. This can be achieved through appropriate signage in washroom environments and regular reminders sent out across company channels, particularly at the beginning of the notorious winter flu season. The meticulous approach taken by hospitals and healthcare facilities, where good hygiene levels are critical, can also be applied in the office setting.
Signage and good practice measures are a good first step, however these must be supported by suitable hand washing facilities, particularly if workers are moving between workstations.
Offices and facilities managers have a wealth of products available and the choice can often be daunting. Pairing the right products with the right office environment is highly important and there is no ‘one size fits all’ solution. In industrial environments, where workers may need to clean greasy and dirty hands, stronger soaps and barrier creams may be the best option, but these are likely to be excessive for office-based employees.
Take-up of alcohol-based sanitisers is low, especially in office environments, despite their effectiveness in hampering the spread of germs. Providing alcohol gel dispensers in
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washrooms and around the office can encourage good hand hygiene habits, which is especially beneficial when employees are moving between shared working areas. Businesses should remember however that many alcohol- based products work by removing the natural layer of oil on the skin, often leaving users with dry hands after repeated use. Providing hand creams and soaps with moisturising properties will ensure that nobody is discouraged from using alcohol gels due to any discomfort caused.
Providing the right products is key to minimising the spread of germs but this must be combined with good hygiene practices. Shared IT peripherals in the workplace pose high risks of contamination. If a keyboard and mouse are used by one person, the number of bacteria is restricted to that individual. As soon as these items are shared in co- working spaces, the risk of cross-contamination increases exponentially. Again, forming good habits is key here and a quick wipe down of keyboards, phones and mice with antibacterial wipes at the start and end of every work session will go a long way in stopping the spread of germs.
Co-working may be the future, but at a time where productivity and absenteeism are at the forefront of every employer’s mind, reducing the spread of office germs is critical. As ever, the saying ‘Wash your hands!’ is central to the task of controlling the spread of bacteria.
online.officedepot.co.uk twitter.com/TomoCleaning
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