Offices: A Breeding Ground for Bacteria and Viruses

A considerable part of our time is spent at work, which is why it is important we keep our workplace as safe as possible. It has been calculated that there are more 10 million bacteria on one office desk, over 1 million bacteria on a copier start button, and over 100,000 bacteria on a coffee pot handle. The average office worker will touch up to 30 different items every day. Think about all of the surfaces you come into contact with while you’re at work. Traditionally, respiratory viruses were thought to be transmitted only through the air, but it is now a known fact that they are also transmitted through contaminated objects or surfaces.

Charles Gerba, a professor of microbiology at the University of Arizona, conducted a research in an office building with 80 employees. Scientists had contaminated a door at the entrance with a virus called bacteriophage MS-2. It does not infect people, but it is similar in shape, size, and survivability to viruses that cause common digestive diseases and those that cause the flu. Within two hours, the virus had contaminated the coffee break room, microwave button, refrigerator handles and doors. It spread to bathrooms and offices. It contaminated phones, desks, and computers. Four hours, the organism was on 50% of common contact surfaces and in the hands of about half of the office employees. Alarming, right?

If you are working in an office setting, you can minimize the risk of contamination by improving the ventilation system, practicing good hand hygiene, and especially by disinfecting. Our professional staff has the ability to eliminate 99.9999% of bacteria counts. We completely disinfect all areas that are favorable to the proliferation of viruses and bacteria: door handles, desk tables, keyboards, telephones, chairs, coffee pots, copy machines, and vending machines. Keep your workers and clients safe with our specialized services, which include maintenance. Make your business as little affected as possible by this pandemic.