Did you know your keyboard, computer mouse and desktop are bacteria magnets?
The typical desk has 100 times more germs than the average toilet seat per Dr. Charles Gerba of the University of Arizona.
According to Dr. Gerba’s study, office telephones contained the most bacteria at an average of 25,127 bacteria per surface, desktops had 20,961 bacteria per surface, 3,295 per square inch on keyboards and1,676 microbes per square inch on mice.
Gerba has also found on average, women’s offices had the germiest telephones, computer keyboards, computer mice and pens, while men’s offices had the most bacteria-ridden desks. But men still win the prize for the germiest item of all. Men’s wallets were the single germiest item in any office–four times worse than women’s purses.
A few things you can do to keep germs away from your office:
- At least once a week keep a container of disinfecting wipes at your station. Wipe down your desk, computer keyboard, mouse, phone receiver and/or headset, as well as dialing pad and any surrounding desk space
- Keep anti-bacterial hand sanitizer at your desk or station is also very helpful. Use it regularly throughout the day.
- Do not eat at your desk. It can create both germ and mold issues. Save the eating for the lunchroom, restaurant, park bench or any other place away from your desk.
- Make sure all coffee mugs and drinking glasses are washed thoroughly. This may seem like common sense, but always using hot water and soap. Also, try to avoid touching your mouth, nose or eyes. Bacteria are often spread after touching something contaminated and then making contact with the “germ-sensitive” areas of the body.
- Consider purchasing an air purifier to help control bacteria and viruses
- If you’re sick, don’t go to work.
Photo Courtesy of Healthkicker
Tags: anti-bacterial, cleaning, ergonomic workstations, ergonomics and mold, flu, Germs, keyboard and bacteria, workplace safety
I would have to agree with MS BARR-GREY on all of her points in this, her latest blog on
how to increase white collar worker production at the computer and desk. We hadn’t heard from
MICHELLE in a long while, and i can see why, after reading her new page here. I can tell by it’s content that she was fully absorbed in her research and assessment of these issues.
I would like to commend MS GREY on her clear and methodical organization of the facts.
The author does as good a job as any in her re-introduction to us of some very simple but taken for granted and thus forgotten or overlooked hyegenic suggestions I have nothing to add to her
well thought work here. All i can say once again is BRAVO! MS. BARR for your relentless
pursuit of desk SHANGRI-LA and NIRVANA!
Appreciate the positive feedback. You are truly a Wiseman and I am sure in your pursuit of excellence you will follow these simple tips.
I have to say that the cartoon of the bugs is a little creapy to me. I’m not a germaphobe but I don’t like those kind of visuals. Never mind:) I wasn’t sure I wanted to find out that what I work on all day is full of germs but I felt compelled to read the whole blog. I’m glad this site always keeps the info short, sweet, consise.
I sort of thought of a couple of those things. I work from home with one or two assistants/employees. I think I need to have a new requirement that they and myself too, use the above mentioned on the phones, computers and mice. Is it called mice when referring to the computer breed?
I have hand sanitizer that I keep in my purse and i spray my keyboard and mouse once in a while. I also eat over the laptop at times and get it sticky. Other than those times, I realize I don’t wipe the electronics as frequently as I should.
Gotta go now. Off to the store to pick up wipes and more hand sanitizers. I would like to ask Ms. Gray to ask the doc why women are germier. We all know men are pigs!LOL. Another great blog and hmm moment! Oh, now I know why they call the men’s bathroom the John Johnny!!
To: SHAWN LICHTMAN; don’t forget LATEX GLOVES and DUST MASKS, as most germs are transmitted through the air and on our hands that TOUCH everyone and everything,i
including our own bodies!