| A recent Which report tested the cleanliness of | | | | the keyboards at night and leave waste in return. |
| mobile phones. Of thirty tested, seven had high levels | | | | So what can we do to keep computers and office |
| of dangerous bacteria. The report concluded that | | | | equipment clean? The first line of attack is basic |
| mobile phones were capable of harbouring eighteen | | | | hygiene. Strengthen the message about the |
| times more germs than a toilet handle. | | | | importance of washing and cleansing hands and |
| At least our mobiles are fairly personal to us and | | | | reinforce this with cleansing gels in key points in the |
| don't get handed around and shared too much. With | | | | office. One of the side effects of the swine flu scare |
| a bit of attention to personal hygiene and a regular | | | | was that many offices and public places introduced |
| cleaning wipe we should be able to control the germs | | | | strict procedures for cleaning hands and this may |
| that appear on our mobiles. But if our phones are | | | | have contributed to a reduction in normal seasonal |
| that bad, what state is office equipment in? | | | | flu, cold and stomach virus transmission at work. |
| Let's just think about all the equipment we share | | | | Next, consider whether you should encourage staff |
| every day in the office. The trend towards hot | | | | to eat away from their desks. Even the smallest |
| desking means that our phones and keyboards tend | | | | office can usually find a corner and a small table |
| to be used by a variety of people. Add to that the | | | | where staff can eat and be safely away from all |
| use by the whole office of fax machines and | | | | equipment. This also has the benefit of forcing staff |
| photocopiers and the germs are in paradise. All it | | | | to have a break and encourages food hygiene. Even |
| takes is for one person not to wash their hands | | | | a short time away from the keyboard refreshes |
| after using the toilet and they contaminate the | | | | tired brains and makes staff more productive in the |
| photocopier which then contaminates everyone else | | | | long run. |
| who uses it and within a short space of time the | | | | Once you've got the basics sorted, arrange for your |
| office merry-go-round has spread germs to every | | | | office equipment to be cleaned on a regular basis. |
| employee. | | | | Most specialist computer cleaning companies will use a |
| The trend towards eating lunch at work desks has | | | | non-toxic, environmentally friendly product. Applied |
| exacerbated the problem. Small crumbs get trapped | | | | regularly to keyboards, phones, fax and photocopier |
| inside keyboards and can fester and produce germs. | | | | your workplace will soon be a safer one and that can |
| Offices have even been known to be invaded by | | | | only help you and your staff in the long term. |
| mice and insects who feed off the food trapped in | | | | |