This winter the cold and flu season in North Carolina has been especially harsh, causing long illnesses and many missed activities. While you cannot stop the flu from happening in your workplace, you can prevent it from spreading while keeping your employees healthy and your business running smoothly.
How The Flu Spreads in the Workplace.
The flu, and other viruses, often spread through the air from an infected individual coughing, sneezing or blowing their nose. However, the flu can also be transferred through shared surfaces or objects. In an office environment that means doors, doorknobs, phones, counter tops, reception desks, bathroom stalls, keyboards, a computer mouse, light switches, copiers, conference tables, and elevator buttons. An average copy machine or office phone could be used potentially hundreds of times per day.
According to a study by the National Institute of Health, flu viruses can last 24-48 hours on hard, non-porous surfaces. Illnesses spread through the office not only affect your employees and their families but they also reduce your businesses productivity when they are out sick.
What You Can Do To Prevent the Spread.
No one wants to be sick and while hand washing is at the top of the list for preventing the spread of viruses, as a business you can do your part to keep your workplace healthy, too. Weekly cleaning is important, however at this time of the year daily cleaning is often a necessity. This means:
- Disposing of trash daily (that could contain used tissues, bacteria and other germs)
- Using an effective disinfectant to wipe all routinely touched surfaces including phones, countertops, doorknobs, keyboards, and more
- Ensuring hand soap is refilled often, as well as paper towels, and hand sanitizing areas are well stocked.
- Clean carpets and flooring throughout the season can help with clean air flow.
- Continuously cleaning breakrooms, refrigerators and other areas that often breed germs and bacteria.
- Changing air filters often helps keep virus borne illnesses from spreading.
How Edwards Commercial Cleaning Can Help.
Edwards Commercial Cleaning is here for all of your routine cleaning, floor cleaning, deep cleaning and more. However, during the winter months it is often a good idea to increase how often your workplace is being fully disinfected. Our crew uses eco-friendly cleaners and covers all touch points in your office or building. We are happy to walk with you through your office to identify any special requests or additional areas to focus on each day. We will keep your sanitizing products stocked, common touch points cleaned and pay special attention to high traffic areas. In addition, we offer free estimates on cleaning services! Being locally owned and operated means there’s no questions left unanswered when we leave and you are fully satisfied.
Keep your business and employees happy, healthy and productive this flu season and all year long with a sanitized and clean office. Call Edwards Commercial Cleaning today!
