The risk of germs spreading throughout classrooms and the workplace increases exponentially in the winter months, but is a challenge facing everyone all year long, leading to billions of dollars in lost revenue.
Tips for Preventing the Spread of Germs in the Classroom and Workplace
Outbreaks of norovirus, adenovirus, influenza, molds, bacterial infections, and other pathogens result in tens of billions of dollars in lost revenue for the U.S. economy each year.
According to CleanLink;
The risk of spreading illnesses such as norovirus, influenza and other highly contagious pathogens increases during the winter months, costing businesses an estimated $10.4 billion in sick days and lost productivity.
Implementing methods such as:
- Hand hygiene and awareness programs,
- Workplace wellness programs that include access to free vaccinations, and;
- High-performance infection prevention and control practices;
have been shown to significantly reduce the instance of workplace acquired illness while increasing productivity and performance in students and office workers.
Understanding How Germs Are Spread
Anyone and almost anything can be a carrier of germs and dangerous bacteria.
The most common forms of infection spread via touch--typically hand-to-surface or surface-to-hand.
We then rub our face, nose, eyes, or mouth, or eat, allowing the germ or bacteria to enter our bodies, thus spreading infection.
Other forms of transmission associated with touch-based transmission include skin-to-skin contact (handshakes), and the consumption of contaminated food.
Other types of transmission include direct contact with contaminated fluids, such as vomit, or airborne.
Due to weak or undeveloped immunities, the young and elderly are most vulnerable to succumbing to infection.
However, just because you're not sick doesn't mean you're not a carrier capable of spreading germs to others.
What Your Organization Can Do
Regardless of budgets, there are several steps that any organization can implement to prevent the spread of germs throughout their facility, including:
- Hand Hygiene - Soap, water, paper towels, and hand sanitizer liberally applied before eating, after using the restroom, or after coughing or sneezing will by itself likely reduce absences due to illness acquired in the office or classroom by as much as 20%.
- Hot Spot Disinfection - Germ hot spots are easy to identify. The most common can be found in lists on this site and throughout the internet. Alternatively, observing the behavior of facility occupants can help determine the most commonly touched surfaces throughout your office or classroom. Disinfecting those throughout the day with a certified green cleaning wipe or microfiber towel and a multi-surface cleaner will reduce the level of germs and bacteria on the surface down to a safe level.
- Vaccinations - Vaccinations are critical for preventing the spread of germs and infectious diseases throughout our schools and workplaces. However, access is sometimes problematic. The financial benefit of making vaccines easily accessible to facility occupants via larger wellness programs have been shown to significantly outweigh the costs.
Additional practices that have demonstrated a high level of efficacy, but require the purchase of additional hardware and specialized training include:
- No-Touch Cleaning Systems - These are especially effective for deep cleaning and disinfecting restrooms, and;
- Electrostatic Disinfection - These appliances have been shown through rigorous studies to produce extremely desirable outcomes in classrooms--specifically the improvement in student attendance during the school year, especially during the peak of flu season.
References & Resources
- Prevent Germs Spreading
- How to Prevent the Spread of Workplace Germs
- Germs: Prevent Their Spread
- Stopping the spread of germs and parasites
- Stop the Spread of Cold and Flu Germs
- Germ Prevention Strategies
Takeaway
The spread of germs, mold, and bacteria throughout classrooms, dorms, the places we dine, and our workspaces cost billions of dollars each year in missed work or school days and lost productivity.
Prevention requires a comparably minimal financial investment in equipment, occupant education, and staff training.
Advanced programs will yield superior results, but require the addition of expensive equipment and the expertise of skilled custodial staff.
If you would like more information regarding the effectiveness of high-performance infection prevention and control measures, or if you would like to schedule a free, no-obligation onsite assessment of your facility's custodial needs, contact us today for a free quote!
In Bakersfield CA, call (661) 437-3253
In Fresno CA, call (559) 206-1059
In Valencia CA, or Santa Clarita CA, call (661) 437-3253
In Palmdale CA, or Lancaster CA, call (661) 371-4756
