How Office Sanitizing & Disinfecting Can Reduce Germs & Virus? Besides the house, the office is another area where chances of spreading infectious diseases are very high. And this is for a very obvious reason, the office is full of people and the chances of spreading illness through air and objects is easy.
This does not mean that the office is not safe for you, there are some ways which can reduce the chances of spreading germs and virus in the office workplace.
In this article, we will briefly discuss how sanitizing and disinfecting can reduce the spreading of infectious diseases in the office, we will look at a list of some germiest surfaces in the office which can cause indirect illness.
The motive of this article is to help you to stay free from germs and viral diseases and if you are an office worker you definitely need to know – according to a study it has been reported that viruses and germs spread among co-workers in just hours.
But, before you learn how you can protect yourself from germs and viruses in the office environment, you need to understand the difference between sanitizing and disinfecting.
Table of Contents
How Office Sanitizing & Disinfecting Can Reduce Germs & Virus? – Difference between sanitizing and disinfecting
Sanitizing –
Sanitizing is defined as the process to lower the number of germs on objects or surfaces to a safe level. In this process, the diseasing causing germs and viruses are reduced significantly so that the surface or object could be used by people.
Sanitizing must not be confused with Cleaning, because cleaning is just physical removal of particles from surfaces and objects with the help of water, soap or detergent.
NOTE: Sanitizing must be done after cleaning. This is because sanitizing is not effective unless the object or surface is cleaned.
Disinfecting –
Disinfecting is the process that involves the use of chemicals to kill germs and viruses on the surface or objects. It must be noted that disinfecting does not kill all the germs or diseases causing elements. But if the process is conducted after Cleaning’, it can greatly reduce the further chance of spreading bacteria, germs or infection.
How Office Sanitizing & Disinfecting Can Reduce Germs & Virus –
How to effectively clean and sanitize a surface or object?
There are 4 steps that you need to follow in order to effectively clean and sanitize a surface or object –
Step 1 – Remove all the debris and dirt from the surface. (Use brush to sweep, water to rinse or air to blow off the unwanted elements)
Step 2 – Apply soap or detergent and scrub the surface. (Select appropriate cleaning agent).
Step 3 – Rinse the scrubbed surface with clean water and make sure all the cleaning dirt and solution are removed.
Step 4 – Use a good sanitizer. Rinse as necessary and let it air dry.
Sanitizer – it is a substance that is more effective than soap and water and greatly help to reduce the number of germs and bacteria to accepted level.
NOTE: Not all the surfaces and materials can be sanitized. Check the label before using it.
Now that you know the difference between sanitizing and disinfecting and how to properly & effectively clean a surface, it is time for you to take a look at some surfaces in your workplace that are germy and requires effect cleaning.
Most germy/contaminated surfaces in office
Doorknobs –
It may surprise you if you know how many times and who has touched the doorknobs in your office building. So, what can you do? It will be wise if you carry a hand sanitizer and use it frequently.
Keyboards –
Keyboards may be a dwelling place for many germs, and if you have a habit of using keyboard and right after that touching your mouth, eyes or nose you are inviting those germs to enter into your body. Break this habit as soon as you can.
Faucet handles –
This is another surface where germs dwell. You may be lucky if your office has faucet handles that work on sensors. However, if you don’t have one, you must try to avoid direct contact with the handle, you can either use a paper towel or can try to close it with your elbow.
Air –
Most of the infectious diseases spread via air. And as you know office areas are choked with people and there are very high chances of spreading illness as one single infected worker is enough to contaminate the whole workplace.
- You can do a few things here in order to stay protected
- Maintain some distance with the sick workers.
- Avoid indirect contacts like – touching their car keys, pen, mobile, etc.
- Encourage them to take leave and stay home.
This does not apply to other workers, if you are ill you must stay at home, wear surgical masks, use a handkerchief to cough and sneeze.
Here below are some ways that you can follow to keep your office environment safe from germs and virus:
How to stay protected from germs and virus in the office
- The office must have a – stay at home when sick’ scheme.
- Promote flu vaccine in the office.
- Reminding workers about using handkerchief and tissue paper wisely.
- Cleaning and sanitizing those surfaces which are touched often like faucet handle, doorknobs, and refrigerator handle, etc.
- There must a routine cleaning and disinfecting.
- Safely making use of cleaning products.
- Handling office waste properly.
Conclusion
There you go, this is how you can keep your office safe from germs and virus with the help of cleaning and sanitizing methods. Hope you find this article helpful. Stay Healthy!
