3 simple tips to reduce workplace illness

The office space and your health

The reality is that most offices are closed spaces with recycled air in which multiple people constantly unwittingly exchange pathogens and viruses with each other. We breathe the air coming out of colleagues lungs and we touch common surfaces covered with our coworkers sweat and other secretions. It sounds disgusting but it is the truth.

The pathogen exchange

In fact, this exchange is what keeps us all relatively immune as our bodies encounter new viruses and develop defenses against them. However, in some cases, pathogens entering our body do cause illness. These organisms as well as other harmful particles are easily transferred and ingested in an office work environment, causing health issues and as a result low productivity and lost income.

How can we reduce workplace illness?

1. Sanitize and clean touched surfaces
   Regularly clean and sanitize common surfaces which we all frequently touch. Phones, PC mice and keyboards, knobs, buttons, handles, doors, faucets, touchscreens, banisters, chairs and other surfaces are usually covered with a variety of pathogens.
   Use soap and water or alcohol based sanitizers to clean them. Properly wipe to remove residue from surfaces. Select environmentally friendly, approved products. Test first to avoid staining or discoloration.
   
   
2. Wash hands and avoid touching your face
   When working in the office, wash your hands frequently. Soap and water eliminate most pathogens. Don’t rush. Take time to thoroughly lather and scrub fingertips and the whole palm of your hand. Dry with a clean paper napkin or a fresh, personal towel. In between hand washes, avoid touching your face, nose, eyes, or lips.
   
   
3. Install air cleaners
   Air purifiers eliminate airborne pathogens and particles. Different types of air cleaners work by a variety of methods. Some are actively running air through filters and some passively release beneficial sanitizing substances into the air. A new air cleaning product which eliminates 99.8% of pathogens is ProtectAir.
   
   

ProtectAir releases into the air CLO2 – chlorine dioxide gas – which breaks down amino acids in harmful microorganisms, killing bacteria and viruses. Yet CLO2 does not harm mammalian cells and is environmentally friendly. Unlike chlorine, CLO2 does not produce carcinogenic THM trihalomethanes, and has a long-term beneficial effect even in very low concentrations.

In addition to preventing illness by killing pathogens in the office space, ProtectAir also neutralizes odors, removes allergens from the air, operates silently and does not consume energy.

A healthier workspace

Poor air quality and low standards of cleanliness in the office may have significant negative effects, both immediate and long term, on those working in the space for long hours each day. Fatigue, headaches, runny noses and congested airways are just a few. These physical symptoms lead to reduced performance and eventually to monetary losses. The good news is there are ways to reduce workplace illness and improve employees’ comfort and health in the office. Try these 3 simple steps to increase productivity and improve the general wellbeing of your coworkers. It’s within your power.