You may be exposed to a number of germs at work. When flu season rolls around even more so. Sick coworkers probably touch a variety of shared surfaces, including the kitchen, bathrooms and conference rooms. Germs linger on tables, office equipment, door handles and other surfaces for a long time. This puts you and other staff members at risk of getting sick.
There are some things you can do to help prevent getting sick with the flu or spreading germs, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC). Find out three cold and flu prevention tips from the professionals at Cinlee Cleaning Services.
WASH YOUR HANDS
Washing your hands regularly is one of the best ways to prevent getting sick year-round. In the winter months when viruses can remain active longer due to colder temperatures, proper hand washing becomes more important. Use these tips to wash your hands correctly:
- Wash your hands regularly throughout the day with warm water and soap.
- Always wash your hands after using the bathroom.
- Wash your hands after coming into contact with any bodily fluid, including your own.
- Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer when soap and water are not available.
COUGH ETIQUETTE
Using proper techniques when you cough can help alleviate the spread of germs. Teach your staff members these tips to help remind them to cover their cough at work:
- Cover your mouth with a tissue when you’re coughing, if possible.
- Dispose of tissues immediately in a nearby wastebasket.
- Cover your mouth with your hands or cough into the crook of your arm when you don’t have access to a tissue.
- Wash your hands with soap and water immediately after coughing.
KEEP YOUR SURROUNDINGS CLEAN
A clean workspace can help keep germs to a minimum and potentially even increase worker productivity. Frequently touched items and surfaces like keyboards, doorknobs and phones should be disinfected regularly. Help reduce the number of germs in your office throughout the day by enforcing these cleaning steps:
- Wipe down high-touch surfaces with disinfectant wipes or low-level disinfectant products to help kill germs in shared spaces as well as your own work area.
- Make sure your office has an adequate amount of tissues, paper towels, soap, hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes to keep the office clean every day.
- If an employee starts feeling sick at work, let them go home before they have an opportunity to infect the staff around them.
If your employees show cold or flu symptoms throughout the year, ask them if they feel better when they spend time away from the office. If so, your employees may actually be suffering from sick building syndrome.
Along with having your staff take an active role with cleaning throughout the day, a janitorial crew can help reduce the number of germs and infections lurking in your office. If you need help keeping cold and flu symptoms to a minimum while you’re at work, call on the experts at Cinlee Cleaning Services. Our commercial janitorial services can help keep your office clean and healthy. We’ll even work with you to create a detailed, comprehensive cleaning regimen that meets your facility’s unique needs and schedule. Contact us today to find out how we can help your business.
