7 Tips To Reduce Office Germs & Viruses. At the office, colds and other viruses can spread like wildfire! Obviously, you don’t want to get sick, so you want to take steps to reduce the number of germs in your office. With just a few tips, you can limit your chances of getting sick. You’ll also decrease the number of germs your coworkers pass and forth.
Tip #1: Wash Your Hands.
You’ve probably head this tip before, but it’s worth repeating. Washing your hands thoroughly and often will help stop the spread of germs around your office. Make sure you’re using warm water and soap and that you’re scrubbing for at least 20 seconds before rinsing.
Washing your hands with soap and water is always best. However, if you don’t have access to soap and water right away, use antibacterial hand sanitizer that’s at least 60% alcohol. Also, make sure to wash your hands or use hand sanitizer after you cough or sneeze on your hands. That way, you don’t pass your germs on!
Tip #2: Cover Your Nose and Mouth.
If you’re coughing and sneezing due to a virus, then you’re spreading germs to others. Always sneeze or cough into a tissue to keep the germs from becoming airborne. If you don’t have a tissue readily available, sneeze or cough into the crook of your arm or into your sleeve. That way, you don’t get the germs on your hands and then spread them around the office.
Tip #3: Toss Out Used Tissues.
It doesn’t do any good to sneeze into a tissue if you leave it around to spread germs. As soon as you use a tissue, put in the trash. Try not to touch any other surfaces with it.. Don’t let a pile of tissues build up on your desk, becoming a cesspool of germs! Encourage others in your office to do the same to keep the spread of germs down.
Tip #4: Don’t Touch Common Surfaces after Sneezing.
If you do sneeze or cough on your hands, make sure you clean them before touching common areas. Run hand sanitzer over your hands or use a paper towel to open the bathroom door to wash your hands. That way, you won’t leave germs behind for others to pick up.
Tip #5: Clean and Sanitize Common Areas.
Use a disinfecting spray or disinfecting wipes on areas that people often touch in your office. That includes surfaces like phones, handles, bathroom faucets, and kitchen areas. Even if you’re not on the cleaning staff, help out by wiping or spraying these areas regularly to keep viruses from passing from one person to another.
Aim to clean these areas at least two to three times a day. If you notice someone sick touching these surfaces, ask them to be careful and wash their hands first. Disinfect after them if you think they aren’t washing properly. Sanitizing office and home regularly is important.
Tip #6: Stay Three Feet Away from Others.
This tip may seem a little extreme, and in fact, it may not even be plausible in some cases. However, people spread some viruses, like the flu virus, through the air, and germs can travel as far as three feet. That’s why it’s best to stay home if you’re sick whenever possible. If you’re around others who are sick, try to keep your distance to protect yourself from their germs.
Tip #7: Avoid Touching Your Nose, Eyes, or Mouth.
When you come in contact with germs, you contaminate yourself by touching your nose, eyes, or mouth. They provide an entry point to your respiratory system, where they can turn into a full-fledged disease like the flu or a cold. Remind yourself not to touch these areas–put a sticky note up where you can see it if you need to. Also, remember to wash your hands before eating as that’s a prime way to introduce bacteria and viruses to your system.
7 Tips To Reduce Office Germs & Viruses – With these tips, you’re sure to keep yourself healthier during cold and flu season. Stay on top of washing your hands and cleaning common areas, and you’ll limit how many germs are passed back and forth around your office!
