The days are getting shorter, the temperatures cooler and the coats thicker: autumn is here. As well as colorful leaves and cozy afternoons, the typical cold and wet weather is also making its presence known. This poses a real challenge for our immune system, as this year's flu season is already in the starting blocks and it could be a record year.
Stay healthy through autumn and winter
The past two years of influenza have been mild with very few viruses circulating. Because of this, our immune systems may be more vulnerable to the flu virus this year, especially in younger children who have had little or no exposure to the virus before. To get through autumn and winter as healthy as possible, we can start taking a few precautions. Shared spaces such as retail stores, offices or medical buildings, school campuses, restaurants, grocery stores and leisure facilities, which are frequented by many people throughout the day, pose a certain risk of infection. However, if the chain of infection is controlled through targeted hygiene, then the first steps towards a healthy winter have been taken.
How does the flu spread?
But how does the flu virus actually spread? Like other respiratory viruses, flu spreads through droplet infection. It can also survive on objects or surfaces for long periods of time, so it's also possible to spread it by touching contaminated surfaces. If you think of shared spaces in your own company, you will certainly think of some surfaces that are touched by many people – door handles, power buttons or kettles. So how can you help prevent the spread of the flu in your company or in your own workplace?
Hygiene and preventive care can help – our tips
First of all, maintaining a clean environment and easy access to hygiene products and supplies provide an easy way to prevent the spread of diseases.
Below we have also compiled a small checklist of tips to minimise the spread of viruses and germs in the workplace in the coming flu season.
Tip 1
Review your cleaning procedures and inventory of cleaning materials. Ensure that all maintenance personnel (or any personnel involved in surface hygiene) are aware of daily cleaning and disinfection procedures. The products to be used should be in stock, suitable for use and current (i.e. not expired).
Tip 2
When disinfecting in the company, concentrate on surfaces that are touched frequently and often. Surfaces that are in contact with many hands are more likely to pose an increased risk of infection. These include, for example, handrails, doorknobs or handles, light switches, touchscreens, elevator buttons, worktops and tables and chairs. Be aware of shared surfaces, such as coffee machines refrigerators and microwaves in break rooms or cafeterias. Encourage frequent disinfection of employee personal items such as mobile phones and computer keyboards/mice. Because let's be honest, how often do we clean our keyboards?
Tip 3
Ensure hygiene products are easy to access. Providing easy to use products in convenient locations means that all staff, not just cleaning teams, can use them.
Consider placing disinfectant sprays or wipes in areas where employees can help keep shared surfaces (or even their own workspaces) clean between professional cleanings. Consider providing additional tools to promote good personal hygiene, e.g. disposable wipes, soap and hand sanitiser.
Tip 4
Key lession from the first months of the pandemic: washing hands is the first step to good hygiene. Remind your customers and employees of the importance of hand-washing with posters in washrooms. In moments when neither water nor soap is available, hand sanitising is quick and convenient. Provide dispenser systems at entrances and exits, in meeting rooms, in the canteen or on elevators.
Tip 5
Many workers commute by subway or bus. Here they come into contact with many people and objects, such as handrails and handles. So it's all the better if your employees can also disinfect their hands on the go. Simply provide your staff with our smallest portable solution for sanitising, PURELL PERSONALS™.
If we all make a small contribution to cleaning and disinfection, we can get through automn and winter hale and hearty. Stay healthy!
