Within the past couple of years our collective awareness of germs in our day-to-day lives has grown. With winter bugs such as norovirus affecting between 600,000 and one million people last winter, the likelihood you have come into contact with somebody who is infected or a carrier is quite high. There are twenty five different strains of norovirus, and they can survive on surfaces for several days which is why it’s so important to take control of these viruses when they strike. Norovirus is thought of as the ‘winter vomiting bug’, however it can easily rear its ugly head at any time of year. Perhaps it is the rise of the common cold in colder months that sees immune systems depressed and germs spreading more quickly with sneezing and coughing in public places. Steps can be taken to ensure we are not as likely to develop the illness:
- Wash hands before and after every meal.
- Try to use the non-contact sensor activated taps in public toilets
- Use hand dryers, not used wet hand towels
- Do not share flannels or face cloths with anybody
- Use a portable bottle of sterilizing alcohol hand gel
If you do contract the virus it is important to stay hydrated and disinfect any surfaces that have been touched, including towels, bedding, and clothing. Illness in the workplace travels very quickly, with even more reports emerging of dangerous bacteria traveling with us on public transport, even those who do not commute this way, will come into contact with colleagues who do.
Encouraging employees to use hand sanitizer throughout the day will cut down on passing bacteria around the office. The highest amount of bacteria can be found on a persons phone, and there are up to 21,000 germs per square inch on a desk, in comparison only 50 are found on a toilet seat. A person on average touches their face two times in a minute – this is over six hundred times a day which is worrying when you imagine the surfaces we touch on a day to day basis.
At ABClean we offer a comprehensive cleaning service for your office or business, you can trust our dedicated team to ensure your employees have a clean and safe setting to work in. You will get the most out of your workforce when they are healthy and at their most productive in a clean working environment. Whether you need a regular contract cleaning service or a one-off clean, we understand the importance of getting the job done well, so that your workforce can concentrate on important business tasks without theinconvenience of a cleaner working around them.