The Facts About Office Hygiene

Research has confirmed that we are more likely to become sick from using home and workplace electrical equipment like telephones, computer keyboards, television remotes, EFTPOS facilities, and lift buttons than from public toilets.

Studies conducted in North America, Australia and the U.K. found that a typical worker's desk has hundreds of times more bacteria per square inch than the average toilet seat. Telephones, computer keyboards and mice and workplace systems are prime habitats for the viruses that cause cold and flu. Toilet seats have around 50 germs per square inch however desktops had almost 21,000 germs per square inch. Phones are worse, storing more than 25,000 germs per square inch.

Bacteria, single-celled organisms, can cause strep throat, pneumonia and other conditions, they can be treated with antibiotics. However, viruses, which are smaller than bacteria, cause colds and flu and cannot be treated with antibiotics.

Desks, phones, computer keyboards and mice are key germ transfer points because people touch them so often, coughing and sneezing can leave behind "a minefield of viruses" that can live on a surface for up to three days. But health experts say that simple office hygiene together with scheduled cleaning by professionals can reduce infection risks dramatically.

Dust, lint and fluff can harbour these diseases for a longer period, and are left behind by the general cleaner. This needs to be eliminated and removed to achieve adequate cleanliness. This is only achieved by the trained, and well equipped professional.

Substances such as dirt, grease, body fat and sweat, coffee and tea are most commonly extracted from office chairs. This is a common cause of foul odours.

Computer / Laptop screen cleaning is also an essential part of a cleaning program as foreign matter accumulates causing the eye to miss-focus causing eye-strain and head-aches.