Cold and flu viruses spread easily from person to person in close proximity and are often passed along on shared surfaces, making your office a Petri dish. Contact with contaminated surfaces is one of the greatest contributing factors to getting sick. Here are some common office “hot spots”*:
· Other people’s hands
· Doorknobs and handles (including microwaves and refrigerators)
· Copier machine buttons and parts
· Another person’s keyboard and phone
· Coffee pot handle
· Elevator buttons
· Countertops
· Shared books, files, and other office materials
To keep your office healthy, remind your staff to regularly wash their hands for at least 15-20 seconds with soap. Have hand sanitizer readily available for employees and customers. Encourage your employees to be vaccinated against the flu and send sick employees home.