Disinfecting hard surfaces for workplace health
Keeping a workplace clean and free of germs can be a major challenge. Everyone has experienced the office emptying out during flu season or coming in paranoid because everyone has the sniffles. In general, offices, schools and work sites can be incubators for germs because not only is everyone in a contained space, but also common areas are used regularly. Imagine how many people are touching the handle on the kitchen coffee pot or door to the bathroom on a daily basis. For this reason, disinfecting hard surfaces
in the workplace is critical to general health. Here are some tips for keeping your workplace a healthy environment for everyone:
Wash your hands and disinfect areas you regularly touch
"Cleaning, sanitizing and disinfecting are three distinctly different processes."
Believe it or not, germs can travel several feet when you sneeze or cough. Even if you cover your nose and mouth, spray can be sent into the air that then lands on surfaces nearby. To mitigate this problem, many people sneeze or cough into their hands. While this is a common social courtesy, germs that stick to your hands can easily spread throughout the office. Make sure to wash your hands after blowing your nose or coughing into your hands, and also disinfect surfaces that you touch often throughout the day. Consider that even if you wash your hands regularly, if you don't disinfect surfaces such as your desk, keyboard, mouse and other work areas, odds are those germs will end up right back on your hands.
Understand cleaning versus disinfecting
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cleaning, sanitizing and disinfecting
a surface are three distinctly different processes; however, many people tend to use the terms interchangeably. Whereas cleaning is the act of physically removing germs and impurities such as dirt and grime from a surface, disinfecting kills germs that are on the surface. Together, these two methods are used to sanitize an area. Therefore, a sanitized surface should have a safe level of germs and help prevent the spread of illnesses.
The Cleaning Institute notes that scrubbing a surface is not necessarily enough to kill illness-causing germs and that sponges and other cleaning apparatuses can actually spread germs from place to place. For the best cleanliness, thoroughly disinfect every hard surface, rinse with water and follow any other specific instructions on the product's label. The CDC recommends making sure disinfectants and general cleaners are approved by the Environmental Protection Agency. Furthermore, the organization advises to check the label to see if a product has been approved for killing influenza when trying to prevent the flu from spreading.
Remain aware of chemical products that are abrasive or could harm your health. When using certain cleaners and disinfectants, it's important to wear gloves, respirators, goggles or other personal protective equipment. Always wash your hands after you finish sanitizing an area.