On 19 July, Prime Minister Boris Johnson lifted many of the restrictions imposed on the public to limit the transmission of COVID-19. He recommended a “gradual return to work” for millions of employees who have been working from home since the pandemic began.
The new “Working Safely” guidance emphasises employers’ legal duty to assess and manage the health risks they may expose their staff to in the workplace. Now more than ever, office hygiene is essential for businesses in every sector. Check out our top office germ facts — do you have effective germ-busting systems in place to keep your employees safe and well?
1. The Average Office Desk Contains 400 Times More Germs Than a Toilet Seat
The average desk hosts around 20,961 germs per square inch, and that doesn’t include any equipment that sits on its surface. Your telephone, keyboard and mouse could be riddled with bacteria that will make you poorly. Anyone who regularly hot desks with colleagues will be sharing their germs unless rigorous cleaning systems are in place. Workplaces that encourage desk sharing have a 62% higher sickness absence rate than employees who are assigned individual desks.
Clean your desk and any equipment you keep on it with antimicrobial wipes regularly and always before eating (for those of you who typically have a “working lunch”). Ensure that a professional commercial cleaner regularly cleans the entire office, including all desks.
2. Door Handles Are One of the Dirtiest Places in an Office
Think of all the people who pass through an office in a day — delivery people, employees, clients, cleaning staff. And they probably all enter through the same door. The potential for spreading germs is huge.
Automatic doors reduce the risk of transmitting coronavirus or any other illness because it is not necessary to make contact with the door to open or close it. Alternatively, providing hand sanitiser or wipes on both sides of the door and putting up posters to remind people to use them is an excellent way to fight the spread of germs.
3. We Touch Our Face around 23 Times per Hour
Okay, this is not an office-specific statistic, but it’s worth bearing in mind when assessing the risk of transmitting germs in the workplace. We touch our faces a lot, and we also tend to focus on the “mucosal area” (eyes, nose, mouth) which increases the risk of viruses entering our body. Almost half of all touches are in this area, according to a recent Australian study.
Although no longer mandatory in many settings, face masks can reduce the risk of transmission in this way. Consider providing disposable masks and circulating information about the dangers of spreading germs through touching our faces.
4. Air Pollution Indoors Is Often Two to Five Times Greater Than Outdoors
Most people are very aware of outdoor pollution and its risks, both to the environment and our health. Yet, there is much less awareness of indoor air pollution. According to The Lancet, 800,000 people die every year due to poor air quality at work. In an enclosed space with inadequate ventilation, one sick person could spread the virus to their colleagues in as little as five minutes.
A simple solution is to make sure that you open windows and that the Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system is set to replace internal air with fresh air from outside every 10 to 15 minutes. Effective ventilation is a crucial element of keeping workplaces COVID-safe.
5. One in Five Office Mugs Contain Faecal Bacteria
According to “germ guru”, Dr Charles Gerba, 90% of the mugs in a work office kitchen are riddled with germs, and 20% of those contain faecal matter. How can this be true? Around a quarter of office workers don’t wash their hands after using the toilet!
Keep your mug germ-free by using the dishwasher if your office kitchen has one. If not, wash your mug using hot water before each use. Avoid using communal mugs.
6. The Office Photocopier Is Covered in Germs
Despite a move towards paperless offices, many businesses still rely on equipment such as photocopiers and printers. These pieces of equipment are typically shared by an entire department or even the whole company, making them a breeding ground for bacteria.
It’s unlikely that employees will take the time to clean communal equipment regularly. Find a reliable commercial cleaning company to keep your office equipment as hygienic as possible and put up reminders to encourage staff to do their part — washing their hands regularly, using anti-bacterial wipes etc.
Unnecessary illness could cost your business thousands of pounds in lost productivity and sick pay. Look after your employees by keeping your workplace as germ-free as possible.
Frequently Asked Questions About Office Germs and Workplace Hygiene
Why are offices such hotspots for germs?
Offices contain many shared surfaces, such as desks, keyboards, door handles, and equipment, which allow germs to spread quickly between employees.
What are the dirtiest items in an office?
Common culprits include desks, keyboards, phones, door handles, photocopiers, and shared kitchen items like mugs and taps.
Does office cleaning really reduce employee sickness?
Yes. Regular, professional office cleaning helps reduce bacteria and viruses on surfaces, which can lower the risk of illness, decrease absenteeism, and improve overall productivity.
How often should offices be professionally cleaned?
Most offices benefit from regular, scheduled cleaning, with high-touch areas cleaned daily and deeper cleaning carried out on a weekly or monthly basis.
Can poor ventilation increase the spread of germs at work?
Yes. Inadequate ventilation allows airborne particles to accumulate indoors, increasing the risk of illness transmission among staff.
Are hand sanitisers and wipes enough to control office germs?
They help, but they are not a replacement for professional cleaning. Effective hygiene combines personal responsibility with structured cleaning routines.
What role do employees play in reducing office germs?
Simple housekeeping habits, including washing hands, cleaning desks, avoiding shared mugs, and staying home when unwell, make a significant difference.
Is commercial cleaning different from regular tidying?
Yes. Commercial cleaning uses specialist equipment, trained staff, and scheduled routines to disinfect offices thoroughly and consistently.
MCS Cleaning offers bespoke commercial cleaning services in Leicester and the East Midlands. Our trained and experienced staff will provide a reliable, high quality and value-for-money service. Contact us today to request a quote.
