3 Germ-Infested Work Hotspots You Didn’t Know About

Germs thrive and lurk everywhere – most famously in the toilets, the garbage cans, and your kitchen sink. Although invisible to the naked eye, we know these disease carriers exist. What most people don’t know is that germs also reside in more formal settings like the office. 60% of illnesses leading to work absences are caused by bacteria found in office equipment. Knowing about the most germ-infested spots in the workplace will help you combat germs, especially now with the COVID-19 virus.

Door Handles
It’s not just the toilet door handles. Even before entering the building, there is already a large concentration of germs on that first door handle as people flock in after commute. Even doors leading to the stairs or the elevator buttons themselves are dirtied with germs. Most, if not all employees go through the same doors in and out. What is especially concerning is that 1 out of 4 office workers do not actually wash their hands after using the toilet. Norovirus and other viruses are found in feces – without handwashing, this is transferrable to door knobs and office surfaces like desks.

Desks
In a study by professor of environmental microbiology, Chuck Gerba PhD, it is revealed that the average desk has 400 times more bacteria than your average toilet and that is simply because desktops are not cleaned on a regular basis. On top of that, chewed on pens and dirty cellular phones further contaminate the desk leading to 25,000 organisms per surface. Gerba reports that they also found high levels of the parainfluenza virus on roughly one-third of office desks. This virus alone lasts on desktops for two to three days, causing colds and the flu.

Fridge
It does not seem like it but the refrigerator is a breeding ground for bacteria and mould. The office fridge is typically communal so this can lead to cross-contamination of meals and utensils. Raw vegetables and meat alone can be contaminated with E.coli and Campylobacter. When placed next to ready-to-eat food like salads and sandwiches, it could heighten the risk of transmission. There are officemates who often forget to take out expired food which is dangerous as well.

The printer, photocopier, water refilling station, and even mugs are prone to germs. This is alarming considering millions of employees share the same workplace for eight hours in five days a week. This is why everyone is called to wash their hands, use alcohol and sanitizers, and wear face masks. However, this is simply not enough. This is where professional germproofing services come in.

Hygia Pro Cleaners is a Cebu-based professional cleaning and sanitation company offering germproofing services along with vertical and horizontal cleaning. Having serviced various institutional clients for the past 6 years, Hygia Pro Cleaners guarantees long-term cleaning techniques and customer satisfaction for anyone in need.

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