Keeping your workplace clean is just one of the many responsibilities of a working person. Putting your health at risk (regardless of how low it may seem) is never worth it, especially since keeping up with all the hygienic rules and norms doesn’t take that much time.
That one second that you’ll save by not lowering the lid on the toilet before flushing, it is not going to make a difference in your schedule. Staying safe and keeping others safe by maintaining the workplace clean for them is going to make a much bigger impact on your day. So, here’s how you can make your workplace as hygienic as possible.
1. Wash your hands
Washing your hands properly is not as simple as it appears. In theory, it is something simple, something that everyone does several times per day, every single day. In practice, unfortunately, this is not always the case. People don’t wash their hands thoroughly. They don’t wash them for long enough. They don’t use the right pressure and, most importantly, they don’t use the napkin to turn the valve on/off and this is not hygienic. By improving in each of these fields, you would make the biggest difference possible.
2. Close the lid before flushing
When using a toilet, the key thing is that you close the lid before flushing. This way, you prevent the particles from the toilet from spreading across the room. It takes merely a second and the majority of people fail to do this for one of two reasons. First, they don’t know that they should do it, to begin with. Second, they don’t know just how important it is for them to close the lid.
3. Take some time to clean
Getting to work just five minutes earlier and using your last five minutes of the day to tidy things up is going to make a huge difference. Sure, there’s probably someone hired to clean the place after you leave the office but investing some extra effort to put everything away can make their job easier and enable them to clean your desk more thoroughly. For instance, they might not know which items they’re allowed to touch/move, which would have them only partially clean the area. Keeping the desk area and your workstation decluttered will help you avoid this problem for good.
4. Suggest some changes to the place
Even as an employee, you can make some suggestions that will change the way that the place is commonly used. For instance, you could suggest that the use of bidet gets introduced to the workplace. This method is more hygienic, eco-friendly and even more frugal in the long run. The problem is a high initial investment. However, if you were to suggest an alternative in the form of a bidet toilet seat, this would be something else entirely. On top of providing your bathroom with a bidet-like feature, you also get to do so on a budget. As a result, hygiene in the workplace benefits and you, as an employee, have made a valuable contribution.
5. Hand sanitiser makes a difference
Hand sanitiser is a mixture that helps you reduce the spread of hand bacteria around the place. The fact that is used in hospitals should, on its own, be good enough reason for you to understand that there is a ton of scientific evidence of its usefulness and effectiveness. The key thing is that the sanitiser gets resupplied regularly so that it wouldn’t run out.
6. Wearing a mask
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, wearing a mask is mandatory in a lot of workplaces. It is why you need to develop a habit of wearing a mask, as well. Keep in mind that in some cultures (in Japan, for instance), there was a trend of wearing a mask while you’re ill, even before the current pandemic. In a place as densely populated and crowded as Japan, a single sneeze would infect countless other people. In other words, instead of just looking for ways to avoid getting infected, try to think about how you can protect others. This way, you can also lead by an example and encourage others to do the same.
7. Food leftovers
Eating healthy is a crucial part of a balanced lifestyle. However, what you do with the leftovers is just as important. You see, leftover food attracts pests, even without it, it decomposes, develops mould and all sorts of fungi. In other words, food leftovers have no place in the office. So, make sure that the leftovers always end up in a designated spot. Keep in mind that food residue (food juices) is not harmless. It is why it’s so important that you wash the dishes that you’ve used, pack and bring them home or just put them in the dishwasher. In other words, you need to deal with these dishes in a matter of hours (ideally immediately).
8. Take sick days serious
Another thing worth taking into account is the fact that you should take sick days quite seriously. If you’re an employee, stay at home during sick days. If you are an employer, make sure that your staff knows that it’s preferable for them to stay home during sick days. The last thing you want is for others to get sick due to your strict rules or personal negligence. That is why you need to think beyond today. Allowing a person to take a day off is always better than having five people sick in a matter of several days.
In conclusion
At the end of the day, making your workplace clean and hygienic is a matter of consistency. Learn a bit about the biggest problems in the office (in terms of hygiene), and make sure that you address each and every one of them. While it is impossible to turn your office into a completely sterile environment, even if it were, there’s really no need for it. All you should do is make an investment towards creating a positive work environment. It really shouldn’t take that much time and effort.
