Recent events have made people around the world more hygiene aware. Specifically, many people are appreciating how important it is to maintain exemplary hygiene in order to protect ourselves from specific infections.
When it comes to hygiene, one of the most important areas is the workplace. Normally, our workplaces is where we spend a large proportion of our time. It can also be a place where lots of people come into contact with each other, therefore representing substantial risks of spreading infections.
This means that there are very risky situations can develop in the workplace if proper hygiene processes are not observed. Here are 6 workplace hygiene nightmares that should definitely be avoided.
1. Unclean Bathrooms
Public bathrooms, including those in workplaces, can be a breeding ground for viruses and bacteria. Public restrooms commonly harbour E.coli, shigella, hepatitis A, streoptococcus and the common cold. If the bathroom is not kept meticulously clean, it can spread illness to employees, as well as anyone else who visits the site such as clients or visitors.
Unclean bathrooms in the workplace are not only the source of germs, but they can further accelerate the spread of infection in other ways. When employees feel the bathroom is not clean or there is adequate soap, they do not wash their hands, and therefore spread even more germs throughout the workplace.
2. Using the Desk as a Dining Table
Office desks are some of the worst places in terms of germs: a typical desk contain around
10 million germs, about 400 million times more than the average toilet seat. One of the main culprits for this is eating at the desk. In our modern, high-pressure workplaces, it has become normal for people to eat their lunch at their desk while working towards a pressing deadline (or perhaps browsing social media!).
However, this encourages bacteria and fungi to grow on the desk , computer keyboards, phone handsets, and so on, from where it can be easily distributed around the workplace. Managers can address this issue by mandating that employees eat in designated areas only, such as break rooms.
3. The Staff Kitchen
Because of the hazards created by eating at the desk, it is imperative that staff have a kitchen and break room to eat in – not to mention for making coffees and teas to see them through long days! However, the staff kitchen can present its own hygiene risks if not managed properly.
One of the biggest issues to watch out for is the fridge: employees touch the fridge after dealing with food and spread germs, and then others touch the fridge and pick up these germs. Food that is kept past in the fridge past its used-by date is a particular danger, and so the fridge must be cleared out regular. Office mugs can be another danger, harbouring bacteria and mould if not cleaned properly. Installing a dishwasher in the kitchen to clean all mugs properly can greatly reduce this risk.
4. Inadequate Air Ventilation
One often overlooked, but still very important aspect of workplace hygiene is air quality. Poor air quality can cause a range of problems for workers, include long-term and potentially severe respiratory issues.
Air quality issues can stem from pollutants pulled in from the outside, as well as construction materials, paint fumes or chemicals found inside the building, made worse by poor ventilation issues. Workplaces must ensure to regularly test the air quality of their site and immediately address any problems.
5. Inadequate Waste Management
Waste management in the workplace is another critical part of proper workplace hygiene. Inadequate waste management can foster the growth or bacteria and viruses, posing a threat to the health of workers and visitors. Improperly stored waste can also lead to workplace accidents.
A proper waste disposal strategy will go a long way to avoid these problems. This should include the waste being removed as quickly as possible, to stop waste hanging around the workplace and harbouring germs. Additionally, waste bins should be kept clean and be regularly services, as well as providing designated bins for recyclable items.
6. Keep the Photocopier Clean
Many workplaces are vigilant on keeping bathrooms and the kitchen clean, but may overlook the hygiene of other vital parts of the office. Those parts which are most frequently used are at most risk, because the more people that touch them the more likely they are to attract germs.
One of the most commonly used pieces of equipment in any office is undoubtedly the photocopier. It is important that this is cleaned and disinfected regularly. Furthermore, certain protocols should be put in place to promote better photocopier hygiene. For example, don’t let employees eat around the photocopier, and promote regularly hand washing throughout all office activities.