Proper hygiene in the workplace has been a priority since a long time ago. Simply put, all parts of a workplace need to be clean and hygienic both for employees and visitors’ sake. And this goes for all industries, not only certain ones such as food preparation industries. Lack of hygiene in the workplace can lead to unsanitary working conditions, which can cause diseases. Some of these diseases can spread pretty quickly, endangering the lives of your employees as well as your business. In addition, some of these illnesses can even be life-threatening. For all these reasons, we must be mindful of workplace hygiene practices. We’ve always known this, but the recent, still ongoing, seemingly neverending coronavirus outbreak, has reminded us of the importance of maintaining hygiene in the workplace. 

So, in order to know how to maintain hygiene in the workplace, we must first be aware of the concept of basic hygiene. Basic hygiene in the workplace includes personal hygiene, workplace bathroom hygiene and office kitchen hygiene. Workplace hygiene is quintessential for several plausible reasons - more on that a bit later. In order to protect our workplace from bacteria and viruses thriving, we need to employ several practices. These practices encompass regular cleaning of the premises, washing hands and sanitising regularly as well as maintaining personal hygiene.

Basic hygiene in the workplace

Let's start with the notion of basic hygiene in the workplace. What does basic hygiene actually mean? It includes a few essential aspects: personal hygiene, workplace bathroom hygiene and office kitchen hygiene. All of these combined make a workplace clean, safe and hygienic. 

Personal hygiene

Personal hygiene is every individual’s obligation. All the employees need to maintain their personal hygiene at high levels in order to ensure a healthy workforce. A healthy workforce takes less sick leave, which is an advantage for you as an employer. This is in your interest as an employer as a healthy workplace is a happy workplace. And a happy workplace leads to a more productive workplace. 

Workplace bathroom hygiene

One of your obligations as an employer includes providing a functional bathroom. Such a bathroom provides employees with toilet paper, hand soap and towels or dryers. You should encourage your employees to wash their hands thoroughly after using the facilities. Many companies use motivational posters for that purpose. Another thing to keep in mind is that you should hire commercial cleaning services to clean the bathroom(s) regularly, every day. If it’s a huge company with many employees, cleaning should even be done a few times a day. It’s essential to keep these facilities spotless as unhygienic bathrooms provide a perfect spot for thriving germs. 

Office kitchen hygiene

Another room in the company that is used by all employees and that requires special care is the office kitchen. It is the place where employees eat and make coffee. The surfaces need to be cleaned and sanitised whenever used in order to ensure top cleanliness. If the surfaces or the sink are dirty, bacteria thrive easily and can get into your food by air, thus transmitting the bacteria to your body. Depending on the bacteria, it can cause certain illnesses.

The importance of workplace hygiene

Workplace hygiene is important for many reasons. It starts with the employers as it is their duty to provide their employees with a healthy working environment. It includes keeping up with the standards of cleanliness as well as providing their staff as well as customers with safe premises. Not only that but these standards refer to products and services being sold. These hygiene requirements differ from industry to industry. Some are more susceptible than others, so they might require some special measures as there is a risk of some dangerous bacteria thriving. By maintaining proper hygiene in the workplace, we can prevent these bacteria from harming us. 

How to protect your workplace from bacteria and viruses thriving

There are certain measures that both employers and employees can take to ensure a safe and healthy workplace. The first step is up to employers, providing the basics and following rules set by the law. The second step refers to employees following their duties and employers making sure that the employees are conducting according to the set rules. In order to keep your workplace clean, you need to promote good hygiene standards, thus reducing the risk of bacteria and viruses emerging and spreading. There are certain things you can do to protect your workplace. These include cleaning regularly, washing hands and sanitising regularly as well as maintaining personal hygiene. 

Clean regularly

We’ll start with overall workplace cleanliness. In order to provide your staff and customers with a clean and safe working environment, you need to keep it clean. The frequency of cleaning will depend on the size of the company and the traffic. By cleaning your company regularly, you can prevent viruses, such as the coronavirus from spreading.  Proper cleaning practices include cleaning the bathrooms and the kitchen thoroughly, as already mentioned. It also implies deep and periodic cleaning of all the premises, including the surfaces and floors. Disinfecting surfaces and hotspots in high traffic areas is also crucial for maintaining optimal levels of hygiene. 

Wash hands and sanitise regularly

Another hygienic practice that is highly encouraged, especially when it comes to preventing the spread of coronavirus is washing hands frequently. You should provide your staff with clear guidelines on how and when to wash hands. The technique is essential for properly removing germs from hands. You can put up some posters, illustrating your point. Placing sanitisers all over your company and keeping them full also helps in preventing the disease from spreading. 

Maintain personal hygiene

You should encourage your employees strongly to wash their hands regularly and keep them sanitised. That means disinfecting hands before touching shared equipment, for example. Employees should be advised not to touch their faces as well as to use a tissue when coughing or sneezing. 

Workplace hygiene should be at high levels, regardless of the industry. If it involves people working and people using services or buying products, there is a danger of bacteria and virus spread caused by disregarding hygienic practices, which is something we want to avoid at all costs. 

 Guest Contributor: Frank Robertson