by Haris Quintana
The more hygienic a working environment is, the less chance that employees will call in sick and no matter what type of industry you’re in, hygiene is important. So if you’re after some tips for your own working environment, here’s how to make it more hygienic.
Install Hands-Free Sanitiser Stations
These are mostly found in hospitals and places where food is served but it’s not to say that you shouldn’t have it in your workspace. These hands-free sanitisers should be positioned all over the building, especially in places like the kitchen where food will be prepped by many of your staff. It might also be worth having them in reception spaces and meeting rooms. Again these are communal areas that are going to have a lot of people coming and going from the building, so it’s good to make sure all areas are covered.
In addition to hand washing, many institutions that require contact with others now mandate PPE (personal protective gear) like gloves from Unigloves.
Pay Attention To Communal Spaces
Communal spaces are where there’s likely to be the most hygiene issues within the workspace. Kitchen areas should be organised and there should be the right amount of bins to dispose of waste, food waste and recycling. Bathrooms should also have regular checks to replace toilet paper and soap. Having hands-free automatic sensor taps are fast becoming the norm in most places, and it’s also worth having antimicrobial urinal mats. These are great for reducing odour, which is good when you have so many people using the bathroom each day. They are also disposable, which is handy!
Encourage Staff To Do Their Part
Setting an example is all well and good, but you should encourage staff to do their part in promoting good hygiene. Make sure they’re cleaning up after themselves and taking ownership of keeping areas clean that your cleans may not be cleaning. These are personal workspaces because even the desk areas can be home to lots of bacteria. Reward staff who make a good effort and you’ll find everyone else following suit. Hopefully, with this change, less staff will be falling ill if the environment is healthy to work in. The more you do for them, the more they’ll want to do in return, so give them the opportunity to make their surroundings more pleasant.
Have Good Cleaners
Investing in good cleaners can be essential not only for keeping everything clean but for making sure there’s no lasting damage to equipment and areas that aren’t well maintained. Depending on the size of the office though, you may need to consider cleaners both throughout the day who can do bathroom and kitchen checks but also in the night so that they can clear up everything that’s been used and to give it a deep clean ready for the next day.
Paying attention to the working environment is certainly important for keeping your staff happy. Encourage your staff to keep the communal and personal spaces clear of mess, invest in good cleaners and bring in the necessary furnishings and equipment that will help keep the place clean and tidy.