What really lives on a touchscreen?

We swabbed 30 tablets, 30 phones and 30 office keyboards and sent the specimens off for analysis. The results showed that shockingly, many keyboards and  tablets were dirtier than an office toilet seat. And in some cases we had to immediately inform the owners that their computer needed serious cleaning. Enterobacteria, which can include strains of infection. such as e.coli and other bugs that cause illness, was present in high-risk levels in 8 of the 30 tablets we tested. High-risk represents more than 1,000 units of enterobacteria per swab, which compares to 10 units per swab on the toilet seat we tested. Staphylococcus aureus, which can cause severe food poisoning, was found at high levels in three of the tablet and smartphones we tested. In one case we found a tablet with  a count of 600 units of staphylococcus aureus per swab. By comparison, the toilet seat we tested had a count of less than 20.

 

Allergy Awareness

 

Why it's time to detox your desk

Millions of us spend our days slaving over a keyboard. But lurking between the keys, hidden on the mouse and nestled in your phone lies more than 10 million bacteria - 400 times more than on the average toilet seat. Unhygienic working conditions are a 'key contributor' to the 131 million working days lost each year in the UK and millions more around the world, to illnesses including colds and flu. Bacteria and viruses can multiply on hard surfaces, remaining infectious for up to 24 hours, hygiene expert and visiting professor at the University of Salford, Dr Lisa Ackerley told MailOnline. She said the average desk is a prime breeding ground for infections, before urging people to disinfect their desks, telephones, keyboards and computer mice. She added that better cleaning and hygiene measures could result in 'significantly fewer sick days'. Now, a new infographic lays bare the stark reality of how important it is to detox your desk. It shows one in five workers fail to clean their workspace before eating, while two in three eat lunch at their desk. Twenty per cent of people never clean their computer mouse, while around 80 per cent of common infections are transmitted by touch. Click Here for the full article

 

Deep Clean Your Workstation

Office bosses are among the latest converts to deep cleaning. In an era of hot desking, workstations have a hard life. They’re used every day, often by different people. Keyboards, mice and other equipment become breeding grounds for bacteria.

With the increasing spread of highly drug-resistant bugs, like MRSA, proper computer and telephone cleaning is becoming increasingly important. But ultrasonic cleaning is just part of solution, regular cleaning and maintenance is also needed.

“We talk about standards of cleaning but I don’t think a lot of people have them anymore, they just do what they think is enough – no more than that,” says Mr Yendley.

 

Tidy Desk

Although cleaning your workspace often doesn’t make your daily to-do list, other than a quick tidying up at the end of the day, it does have many benefits. Your workflow, your creativity and your health could all suffer from a dirty and less-than-hygienic desk. Here are some things to keep in mind which could prompt you to summon your inner neat freak and keep things clean. Your office may have a cleaning service that comes through once a week, but many are not allowed to move items on desks. That could leave many surfaces untouched for weeks. Did you recently have a cold? Do you sometimes eat lunch at your desk? Did you spill a drink? Your desk could be harboring germs or mold from viruses or crumbs. Make a point of cleaning your desk and having your computer and telephone professionally cleaned on a regular basis for the sake of your health.

 

Poor office hygiene costing British economy £13.7 billion

British businesses are throwing £700 down the drain. It’s a general rule that the better you care or something, the better it will perform. The British workforce is no exception. For the majority of businesses, staff represent a significant investment. In failing to create a healthy workplace environment, employers are failing their employees and businesses.

In total, poor office hygiene is expected to have reduced UK GDP by 0.8% or £13.7 billion in 2013, due to workers taking time off sick and by affecting their time whilst at work. Sick leave as a result of poor hygiene costs the UK economy £4.2 billion last year. Shockingly £9.5 billion was lost due to the time wasted as a result of poor hygiene.