Hygiene at the office workplace

Desk, keyboard and phone regularly clean / wash hands regularly and dry / check Refrigerator content

Hygiene is also on ordinary office workplace the A and O. Because of an average desk accumulate over time many bacteria that can affect health. Blame are, for example, their own hands or food scraps that fall into your keyboard crevices. "Especially in the cold season, it makes sense to put a focus on health at work. Regularly hands should be washed thoroughly paramount," explains Medical Examiner Dr. Wiete Hirschmann, art director of occupational medicine at TÜV Rheinland.

Most germs lurking on work materials, work desk areas, computer keyboard, telephone and doorknobs. Again therefore, regular cleaning is very useful. "To clean the keyboard and mouse, a damp cloth dipped in an alcohol suitable. Also glass cleaner is suitable. The retailers also offers various cleaning utensils," says Dr. Hirschmann.

But the biggest carriers of millions of germs remain unwashed hands. The problem: Because people on average about every four minutes touching her face, reach pathogens through the mucous membranes of the mouth, eyes and nose in the body and spread. When hand washing and the proper drying is important. A study by TÜV Rheinland has already shown in 2005 that paper towels best reduce the number of germs as compared to textile rolls or towels. And better steer clear of hot air dryers: They multiply the number of bacteria on the hands even considerably. Also the TÜV Rheinland 2011 has again noted with regard to became fashionable high velocity air dryers versus paper towels. Another tip from Dr. Hirschmann: "It makes sense to remove rings when washing your hands and drying as easily can multiply germs among them by the residual moisture."

Another gathering place for germs in many offices, unfortunately, the cuisine with kitchenettes and refrigerators. Therefore shall the health expert's opinion here: ".. Clean countertops and refrigerator repeatedly If foods are spoiled, they should be sorted out, which is also helping to decimate the number of bacteria," explains TÜV Rheinland-health expert.

Source: Köln [TÜV Rheinland]