CLEANLINESS: Workplace

All workplace environment need to be hygienic and safe for both visitors and employees, including those who are not involved with cleaning and handling of employees personal items.


Germs are easily spread throughout the office, it is no wonder how quickly colds and flu can spread through an office. Health hazard are often high in workplace. You have a colleague who is not conscious about germs, goes to the rest room and uses the facility, doesn’t wash hands properly, comes to your work space and touches your work apparatus. Germs is been transferred.

Just like we have those who have problems with their personal hygiene, we have those who do not lay much importance on cleanliness in the workplace. Most times those with personal hygiene issues carry it to the workplace.

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Clean your desk and keep it cleaned. Office desk has been shown to have 400 times more bacteria than a toilet seat. More interesting is that a study showed that women’s desks were four times more contaminated than men’s even though they appear to be neater. The reason is women tend to apply makeup at their desks, eat, and use lotions and creams that allow germs to spread more easily.

Clean your desk periodically with antibacterial sprays. Use antibacterial wipes daily on your desk surface, computer keyboard and handset of the phone. Do not store food in your desk and avoid eating at your desk.

·        You shake hands with colleagues, but you do not know where those hands have been. Your colleagues handle your cell phone, wallet and many other items throughout your work day. Even if they do not handle these things, these can all cause germs to quickly spread throughout the close quarters of your office.

It is advisable that you wash your hands with warm water and soup at least every time you use public system, restrooms during your office hours. 

·        Wash your office coffee mug and bowls immediately after usage, and instead of just rinsing and reusing. Store your food in a refrigerator if your office has one and microwave where possible.

·        Ensure that the kitchen and break room is clean at all times. The cleaning should be done with antibacterial liquid or all-purpose spray.

Make sure break room is clean

·        Use dish washing liquid to wash dishes, coffee mugs, tea cups.

·        Have a supply of paper towels in your kitchen for use in drying off after washing. You can easily attract dirt with wet hands.

·        Getting everyone involved in cleaning will spread awareness, so you can make a cleaning schedule designating a day when each employee is responsible for sweeping and wiping down the hard surfaces like counter tops, tables, microwave and the refrigerator with antibacterial spray.

·        Keep hand sanitizer and facial tissues near your work desk. If you do not work at a desk, put travel sizes of these items in your pocket. Sanitizer and tissues will come in handy when you're ill and can also prevent the spread of germs resulting from touching dirty items, such as money and computer keyboards.

It is the duty of management to ensure the implementation of a workplace hygiene policy that all parties involved can follow. Such policy would ensure all involved follow same standard. Special attention should be placed on restroom facilities.