Infection Control in the Workplace

Infection Control is back on the agenda! Mitigate the spread of respiratory infections by maintaining a clean workplace. That’s the guidance from the UK government right now. This is in response to the increase in pressure on the NHS.

COVID-19 is no longer a serious threat to public health. It will, however, remain a public health issue. Guidance for workplaces has been replaced with public health advice. As we learn to live with COVID-19, just like we do with other repository infections, its important to focus on the fundamentals of basic office hygiene.

Keep your workplace clean

It might sound obvious to you but you’d be surprised at the number of managers who neglect basic workplace hygiene. All surfaces should be cleaned once weekly, at the very least. Door handles, kitchen and toilet areas should be cleaned daily. Disinfectant cleaning solutions such as sprays should be used every time you clean.

Telephones, computer equipment and other widely used things in the workplace should also get a daily clean. Okay, we understand everyone is busy and not everyone wants, or has the time, to be the workplace cleaner. Let me put it like this. Would you prefer to get sick, have to take time off work or even worse have a spell in hospital or put the rubber gloves on once a week?

Make a rota!

Every workplace has a ‘job-dodger’. You know the one, always far too busy or simply forget when it was their turn to do the cleaning. The easiest solution is to simply setup a rota. Agree on a penalty for missing a turn, such as putting £10 in a kitty then pin in to the wall for all to see.

Hire a cleaner

You’ve tried everything and nothing works. The rota is completely ignored and the workplace is a mess. By no means the last resort and often the first — hire a cleaner to do the work. Professional companies like us are more than happy to clean up your mess. We obviously charge a fee for this but its surely worth every penny if it means you stay healthy and well. The gains in productivity far out-way the cleaning costs.