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Disinfect Your Workspace

Posted by on Sep 27, 2010 | One Comment

There should be an image here!Here’s a rather sickening tidbit for you — the average office workspace (including desk, chair, telephone, printer, etc.) contain more bacteria per square inch than an office toilet seat. What does this mean? We should all be disinfecting our workspaces on a regular basis, paying close attention those surfaces that are commonly touched, including:

  • Doorknobs, drawer/cabinet handles
  • Table tops
  • Keyboards
  • Telephones
  • Other electronics such as printers and copiers
  • Chairs

Cleaning your workspace doesn’t need to be an exhaustive task either. You can easily purchase disinfectant wipes and do a quick 5 minute clean each week.

[Photo above by Joshua Rappeneker / CC BY-ND 2.0]

  • MmeMoxie

    I agree with you. However, no one ever seems to consider the filters that are used for the air exchange. I worked in the surgery suite area of the acute hospitals, for over 25+ years, where disinfection and sterilization is done after every surgical procedure.

    Most pathogens are air-borne and that is why so many people, in a closed environment tend to get sick. Disinfecting your own workspace does help, but overall it has only a ‘bandaid’ effect. The air filters can often be the real culprit.

    The air exchange in the surgical suite area have some of the highest efficient units that can be used, to help reduce air-borne pathogens. Office spaces should be using the same kind of air exchange units, like hospitals use and the filters should be changed regularly, monthly if necessary.

    Bottom line, what you have suggested is definitely a start in the right direction. If, everyone did take care of their own cubicle space, on a daily basis, the amount of illness would decrease.

    One other effective way to reduce illnesses is to simply wash your hands after using the restroom. Do you need to use Anti-bacterial soap, no, just soap and water is the best defense against germs, in general. This is what we are taught before we go to work in any hospital or medical office.