Cleanlink News March 6 2009
Cleaning Workstations Is Little Priority
Research into the cleanliness of offices shows that each square inch of a keyboard can contain up to 3,295 different kinds of germs, and that bugs such as listeria or salmonella can linger for up to 24 hours on the keys, the computer mouse and phone. Statistically, that makes your workstation dirtier than the average toilet. When the IT equipment you use is shared with colleagues such as in call centres or 'hot desk' environments the problem intensifies.
Surprisingly, despite this warning, management rarely see workstation cleanliness as a top priority. However, a clean workplace environment has many distinct advantages. Whilst limiting the spread of infection which is a chief cause of sickness and absenteeism, regularly cleaning also extends equipment lifetime, helps to project a professional image and raises staff moral by proving that their wellbeing is a priority to their employers
