It’s time for the annual spring clean! While it’s crucial to maintain a clean and hygienic workplace environment daily, there are many areas that are often forgotten or neglected. We spoke to Mathew Doab, Health, Hygiene & Safety Specialist to discuss key areas to cover and provide a checklist to make it easier for your business to clean up this spring.
Wipe down your workspace
With the average desk harbouring around 400 times more bacteria than the average toilet seat,1 your workspace is a great place to start.
“I’d recommend first thing in the morning when you start work and at the end of the day, to wipe down everything in your workstation, including your desk and chair. Make it a habit to regularly wipe down your equipment.
“I keep a packet of antibacterial wipes and a bottle of hand sanitiser on my desk so I can easily wipe things down and sanitise when I come back from lunch or bathroom breaks. You never know if someone has walked past and touched something on your desk or sneezed around that area,” says Mathew.
“Keep in mind there are different products made for different surfaces, from wood, to glass, to electronics. Always read product labels to make sure what you’re using is effective for the surface you’re cleaning and won’t damage it,” advises Mathew.
“It’s important to be mindful of your personal hygiene as well. Have a bin handy so you can throw away any used tissues – never keep those on your desk to prevent bacteria and germs from spreading,” says Mathew.
Cull the clutter
“Take a look around and declutter what you no longer need. We tend to store a lot of printed documents and clutter we no longer have use for in lockers and drawers. Throw them away and recycle where you can. Instead, keep digital copies so if you ever need something you can access it on your computer. Throw away old food wrappers and any other rubbish lying around on your desk to make things neat and tidy,” says Mathew.
One study about clutter found 14.9% of respondents say clutter decreases their sense of self-control and 28.9% say they feel less stressed after decluttering.2
Clear the kitchen
“Kitchen utensils, the sink and shared appliances like coffee machines are popular breeding grounds for germs. When cleaning, people tend to forget about the draining boards on the side of the sink. These areas are not always properly disinfected,” says Mathew.
“Coffee mugs are often abandoned and pile up on desks, increasing the likelihood of mould and bacteria growth. Make sure these are washed thoroughly after use,” advises Mathew.
Wipe down high-traffic surfaces
“Next, take care of any high-touch communal areas. It should be the business’ responsibility to provide easy access to cleaning and hygiene products in these areas, so I’d recommend creating cleaning stations, each equipped with a packet of wipes and hand sanitiser,” says Mathew.
“Microfibre cloths are a great product to use in the cleaning and disinfecting process. There are colour coded options for different areas to ensure there’s no cross-contamination. They can also be used with water, disinfectant sprays and a range of other cleaning products. They’re very multi-use. There are also disposable options which are a great alternative in the current environment,” says Mathew.
Our Health, Hygiene & Safety Specialists are here to help
“Our team of HH&S specialists provide free site surveys for businesses – from small offices to warehouses the size of a football field. We offer free audits from the front door to the back and provide the recommendations on the services and products you can use to improve these areas. We can give you options for good, better and best – what’s good for now and what the business can use to improve further in the future.
“Being a one-stop shop in the health, hygiene and safety space, we can provide all this information to make your workplace a better and safer place to work,” says Mathew.
To support your business during the annual spring clean and day to day, view our Spring Cleaning deals online.
Disclaimer: *Health, Hygiene and Safety Surveys are currently only available to existing Winc customers located within metropolitan areas. Applications for a survey will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
References:
1Totaljobs, 2020, ‘Workplace hygiene: 6 office germ hotspots’, <https://www.totaljobs.com/advice/workplace-hygiene-6-office-germ-hotspots>
2Choosi, 2017, ‘Clutter Report’, <https://www.choosi.com.au/choosi/media/documents/clutter-australia-full-report.pdf>
