How to Keep Your Office Sanitation on Point During Cold & Flu Season
1. Increase the Frequency of Cleaning
During cold and flu season, it’s important to ramp up your cleaning efforts. Regularly cleaning high-touch surfaces—such as doorknobs, light switches, elevator buttons, desks, keyboards, phones, and kitchen appliances—can significantly reduce the spread of germs. These surfaces are the most commonly touched and are often the first to harbor harmful bacteria and viruses.
- Pro Tip: Hire a professional Sanitizing Service in Portland Metropolitan Area that can thoroughly disinfect your office, or set up a schedule for your in-house cleaning team to focus more on high-touch areas. Cleaning more frequently (daily or even multiple times a day) can help minimize the spread of illness.
2. Encourage Proper Hand Hygiene
One of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of germs is through proper hand hygiene. Encourage your employees to wash their hands frequently, especially after using the restroom, eating, or touching shared surfaces. Make sure that there are plenty of hand sanitizing stations around the office, particularly near common areas like the kitchen, bathrooms, and conference rooms.
- Pro Tip: Place visible signage around the office reminding employees to wash their hands properly and to use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available. This simple practice can help prevent germs from spreading throughout the office.
3. Promote a "Stay Home If You're Sick" Policy
One of the most effective ways to prevent illness from spreading in the office is to encourage sick employees to stay home. Many employees may feel pressured to come to work despite having symptoms of illness, but this only increases the risk of spreading germs. Implementing a Workplace Sanitizing Service in Vancouver WA and a clear sick leave policy will help mitigate this issue.
- Pro Tip: Encourage employees to work from home if possible, or to take a sick day if they’re feeling unwell. This will not only prevent the spread of illness but also allow the sick employee to recover faster.
4. Sanitize High-Touch Surfaces Regularly
As mentioned earlier, high-touch surfaces are a major source of germ transmission in the office. During cold and flu season, it’s important to ensure these areas are sanitized frequently. Make sure to wipe down shared equipment like copy machines, printers, and communal kitchen areas after each use. Desks and workstations should be disinfected regularly, especially if employees are using shared materials.
- Pro Tip: Invest in Office Sanitization Service in Vancouver WA or cleaning products with disinfectant properties to regularly wipe down these surfaces, especially during peak flu season. This will help eliminate any lingering bacteria and viruses that could be transferred by touch.
5. Improve Office Air Quality
Poor air quality can contribute to the spread of illness in the workplace. Germs and viruses can linger in the air for hours, especially in areas with poor ventilation. To reduce the chances of airborne illness, ensure your office is properly ventilated. Open windows when possible and invest in air purifiers with HEPA filters to help clean the air of airborne particles and allergens.
- Pro Tip: Encourage employees to avoid circulating germs by reducing the use of air conditioning, as it can dry out nasal passages and make individuals more susceptible to viruses. Properly maintain HVAC systems to ensure optimal airflow and cleanliness.
6. Use Disposable Products Where Possible
While reusable products are eco-friendly, during cold and flu season, it may be more practical to switch to disposable items in common areas. This includes paper towels in bathrooms, disposable cups for water coolers, and single-use plates and utensils in the kitchen. This minimizes the risk of germs being transferred via shared items.
- Pro Tip: For high-touch items like coffee makers or microwave buttons, consider placing disinfectant wipes nearby so employees can wipe down surfaces before and after use.
7. Encourage a Clean Desk Policy
Personal workstations are often filled with germs, especially when employees are sick or eating at their desks. Encourage employees to keep their desks clean and tidy, as this helps limit the number of germs that can accumulate on their personal items. Wipe down desks, keyboards, and phones with disinfecting wipes, and make sure that shared items (like pens and paper) are cleaned regularly.
- Pro Tip: Set up a clean desk policy where employees are encouraged to store food in sealed containers, avoid clutter, and disinfect their desks at the end of the day.
8. Implement Office Sanitization Stations
To further help maintain cleanliness, place disinfecting wipes, hand sanitizers, and disposable tissues at various stations throughout the office, especially in high-traffic areas like entrances, restrooms, and break rooms. This gives employees easy access to hygiene products and helps ensure that they’re consistently cleaning their hands and work areas.
- Pro Tip: Make sanitizing stations easily accessible and encourage employees to clean their hands and disinfect their workspace throughout the day.
Wrapping Up
Maintaining proper office sanitation during cold and flu season is essential for protecting your employees’ health, reducing absenteeism, and ensuring a productive work environment. By following these strategies—such as increasing cleaning frequency, encouraging hand hygiene, improving air quality, and promoting a clean desk policy—you can help reduce the spread of germs and keep your office a safe and healthy place to work. Consider partnering with an experienced Sanitizing Service in Portland Metropolitan Area for extra peace of mind, knowing that your office is thoroughly disinfected and ready for business.