Even before the current health crisis, keeping your place of business clean should have been your top priority. Lapses in office cleanliness can lead to serious consequences for your business. In the first month of 2018 alone, 4.2 million employees in the United States were reported absences because of an illness.
According to the World Health Organization, health problems related to workplace incidents can cumulatively result in a whopping 6 percent loss of an entire country’s gross domestic product.
Now more than ever, you need to focus on keeping your office free from contaminants. Here are a few helpful guidelines for ensuring your workplace is a sanitary space.
Organize Cleaning Efforts
Unless you have a dedicated cleaning crew or reliable waste management solutions, you need to take the initiative yourself to organize any and all cleaning efforts. The more streamlined your efforts, the easier and more effective your cleaning routine can be. Here are some tips for cleaning your workspace efficiently:
- Color-code washcloths and similar products according to which areas they’re supposed to clean. Red could indicate the cloth is only for dining tables, while green is for desks.
- Wipe only in one direction. This prevents you from spreading contaminants and missing areas of the surface.
- Pick a schedule for your cleaning and stick to it. Aim for light cleaning every day and more intensive cleaning once every three days. Avoid weekly schedules as these leaves to much time for contaminants to infiltrate.
Prioritize High Touch Areas
No matter the size of your workspace or office, you need to put high touch areas at the top of your list. The following are the most touched places and objects in an office setting in general.
- Doorknobs and handles
- Countertops and other surfaces
- Switches for lights
- Handles for cabinets and other storage spaces
- Elevator buttons
- Armrests
- Faucets and other fixtures
These areas must be sanitized and disinfected as often as possible, given how many people come into contact with them.
Don’t Forget Devices
Every office nowadays has at least one digital device, maybe more. Don’t forget to pay as much attention to these devices as much as any high touch area. For example, conference rooms tend to have a remote to control the projector. This device can be handled by many people, making it a cesspool is left uncleaned. Computer components are also some of the most handled electronics in an office, especially if your employees share terminals across shifts. Encourage each employee to wipe down their keyboards, monitors, and computer mouse before and after their shift begins. Consider putting wipeable coverings on the keyboard and monitor to make sanitizing them easier.
Consider Technological Solutions
Finally, make technology an ally in keeping your workers safe. Aside from encouraging work-from-home arrangements, there are some simpler methods you can employ to reduce contamination and infections among your employees.
- Install motion-activated light controls to avoid people touching light switches
- Automatic doors provide the same function for door handles
- Similarly, installing motion-activated faucets and liquid soap dispensers in the bathroom can prevent the spread of contaminants.
Staying healthy is everyone’s concern now, and it should be the top priority of every employer. As a business owner you owe it to your subordinates to look after their well-being in these trying times.
