Anyone who owns a home will know how quickly it can become dirty and untidy. Things don’t always get put away, and layers of dust seem to magically form on shelves and worktops. The same thing applies to workplaces, but often on a grander scale.
Whilst work cleanliness has always been an important issue, it is never more crucial than now, due to the Coronavirus. Employers have a responsibility to steward the health of their staff, and to protect them from bacteria and germs. If an employee becomes sick they may end up being off work for several days, potentially infecting their colleagues too. If you want to know how to keep your workplace clean, this article will provide you with some valuable suggestions.
Request An External Assessment
In order to fulfill your legal responsibility for health and safety at work, it may be worth bringing in a third party so they can perform an audit. Every workplace is different and a specialist company could highlight the particular areas for concern. You could consider having microbial testing to check the water and work environment for things like E. Coli, Hemophilus Influenza, Streptococcus Pyogenes and more. Dangerous bacteria can build up on things like photocopiers and computers, as well as keyboards and drinks fountains. If you are going to educate your staff it’s essential that you understand the issues first. You need to find out whether a regular cleaning company could cover all the bases for you, or whether industrial specialists would also need to make regular visits.
Purchase Cleaning Equipment
Even if you have after-work cleaners who supply their own materials, it’s important to stock up on things yourself. This can help with the day-to-day spills and incidents that may occur. Rather than using hand dryers that blast germs in all directions, provide your staff with paper towels in the restrooms. If you invest in tissues, it can stop people who sneeze from spreading germs around the office. When it comes to destroying bacteria and other microorganisms, sterilizers are a good purchase. If you are considering steam sterilization, autoclaves are perfect for the task. It’s possible to see from the cleaning site https://www.leadsonics.com that there are many brands including Alconox, Tuttnauer, Elma and Branson. Specialist sites are often good at explaining how autoclaves work and how they can be used within different industries.
Provide Disinfectant Wipes
Computer keyboards have been described as being 400 times dirtier than a toilet seat. Whilst the latter may be regularly cleaned, most people neglect keyboards. If staff is provided with sufficient wipes they can ensure their workstations are cleaned regularly. This includes the mouse (another item that is touched constantly) and the table. If you studied the number of germs that can congregate on a work desk, you’d probably be reluctant to eat lunch from there anymore.
Educate Your Staff
All health and safety matters should be communicated to your employees. Be sure to provide updates and refresher courses, as well as incorporating the issue into your new joiners’ induction process. Add signs like ‘Now Wash Your Hands’ to the restrooms and explain the importance of personal and workplace hygiene. Whilst some new cleaning procedures may feel clunky for staff initially, they will inevitably end up as an unconscious lifestyle for all.
Keep People Away!
This sounds like an odd suggestion, but more and more people have been working from home during the pandemic. Rather than reducing work productivity, it has often increased it. In turn, you might be able to use smaller work premises or free up more space for stock and storage. Some people come to work when they are ill out of a sense of guilt or pressure. It’s important to have a clear sickness/absence policy for all in order to protect your staff from infection. It’s more economical to lose one person for a week than to have five off sick the next. Added to that, people recover quicker if they can rest rather than ‘pushing through’ at work.
Pay Special Attention To The Kitchens And Bathrooms
If neglected, these places can become ‘germ central.’ Any hand towels should be washed regularly to prevent bacteria buildups. Be mindful of everything connected to food, including microwaves and fridges.
Once you have a full cleaning policy in place, you will be in a good position to maintain work hygiene. Thanks to the right materials and equipment, cleaning staff and employee education you will be able to focus on your business rather than worrying about germs and sickness.
