When we think of health hazards the first thing that comes to mind is not usually our offices, but offices do have their health challenges. Coughing  co-workers, dirty desks and keyboards and bacteria infested break rooms are challenges to the health and productivity of any professional business. Research tells us that 3 out of 4 employees say they go to work when they are sick and while we know that it is nearly impossible to determine where people might have caught a bug, more then half believe they have gotten sick because of exposure to an ailing co-worker.

• Lets first look at our common area, our break room which is the place where most people begin their day with that first cup of coffee. Keeping the coffee cups clean and put away can help alleviate problems. Coffee pots need to be cleaned thoroughly and frequently. Faucet handles, sinks, microwave handles and refrigerator doors need to be wiped down with disinfectant often and sometime break rooms are only cleaned a few times a year.

• Water fountains and vending machine buttons are another area that many times are forgotten. These are threats to employees health that can be easily disinfected.

• As you can imagine, a workers desk area is the greatest threat to health and welfare as we spend hours at our desks, on our computers and on phones. Phone handles, keyboards and your mouse are literally covered with germs and have 400 times more  bacteria then can be found on a toilet seat. While this is shocking, research has proven it to be true and we are left wondering why more people aren’t missing even more work because health issues in the workplace.

It is estimated that businesses lose over 200 billion dollars in lost revenue every year because of absenteeism. This is a statistic that can really improve if we pay attention to what we know about germs in the workplace. A quality professional cleaning service like Gator Cleaning  becomes a valuable tool for any business. In the very challenging business world in which we work, only a quality cleaning service can guarantee that every area of your office will be professionally cleaned and disinfected regularly.  Armed with a check list, highly qualified professionals can allow every business to rest assured that they are creating the most healthy environment for employees and customers.