The humble office may not seem like a particularly dangerous place – but lurking beneath the benign looking surface can be a host of health hazards. Here are a few of the workplace hazards that you may not have considered…
Eating lunch at your desk – Many people opt to eat lunch at their desk – for convenience or simply so they can continue to work as they eat. This can create a breeding ground for bacteria, particularly in crevices such as the keyboard which can become home to an alarming number of bacteria as crumbs and general debris fall from food and fingers onto the desk surface and keyboard. This is why keeping the desk clean is very important. Leicester commercial cleaning company https://www.acecleaningcompany.co.uk/ can clean work areas thoroughly, it is also a good idea to give the desk a clean after you have eaten anything there and at the end of the day to prevent any bacteria getting a chance to live there!
The Telephone – An office essential, you will struggle to find an office without a telephone – but how many of them will be germ free? A telephone that is used regularly becomes an ideal place for germs such as the flu virus to thrive, as it provides constant warmth are touched regularly increasing the ability for the virus to spread. The mouthpiece of the phone will be the most contaminated as germs travel well in saliva which will be able to spread easily to the mouthpiece, and it will also keep the environment warm. If you share a phone with other colleagues, it is sensible to clean the phone after you have finished with it and before another person uses it with an antibacterial cleaner.
The Shared Fridge – A convenient place to store foods made at home ready for lunch, the office fridge is a workplace staple that many people would struggle to do without. But it is important to make sure that it is not a source of illness at work. A common problem is that fridges are not often set to the correct temperature. This must be under 5 degrees Celsius, so do check that it is below this temperature as food can quickly go off if it is too warm. Avoid cross contamination by ensuring that all foods are covered with a sealed lid, and store ready made foods at the top of the fridge and raw foods at the bottom. Be particularly careful with meat, as illnesses such as salmonella can easily be spread this way.
