Germs in Your Facility

Germs are unavoidable. They’re in the air, the soil, in the water, and on people. While some germs are not harmful, many can lead to serious infections and illness – which is why it’s so important to clean thoroughly and reduce germs altogether. The way we clean, though, may not always target the germiest places in our spaces. Keep in mind that germs can’t travel on their own. They spread via person to person contact, object and surface contact, as well as through aerosolized droplets. 

To best understand where cleaning staff should focus their efforts in your building, consider the areas that are most frequently visited or surfaces that are most commonly touched. Enhanced cleaning and disinfection can help to reduce germ transmission.

High Risk Areas

High risk areas are the places or surfaces with the most germs. These spaces are the most likely to cause illness and infection. Understanding which surfaces in your building pose the greatest risk for germ transmission can help your team focus on those areas and ultimately reduce the odds of an outbreak within your staff. 

Common high risk areas include elevators, entryways, lounges, restrooms, cafeterias, and breakrooms. High touch surfaces like handrails, doorknobs, light switches, phones, faucets, and water fountains can also pose risks. It’s impossible to eliminate the presence of germs altogether, but reducing high touch points and frequent cleaning can help reduce the odds of them spreading.

Reducing High Touch Points

If you’re hoping to reduce the odds of an outbreak at your facility, consider eliminating touch points wherever possible. For instance, if you’re concerned about germs spreading in the restroom, invest in automatic soap dispensers, toilets, sinks, and towel dispensers. These can encourage folks to clean up thoroughly without contaminating themselves right away. 

Touch-free solutions are gaining in popularity. You can now find automated products to install in cafeterias, hallways, and lounges. By reducing the number of surfaces frequently touched by the public, you can help protect the health and safety of everyone entering your building.

More Frequent Cleaning, Disinfecting

Not every high touch point can be eliminated. In such scenarios, it’s important to increase the frequency of cleaning and disinfecting. Once a day cleaning may not be enough for high touch areas like door handles and handrails. Given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and increasing threats like monkeypox, it’s best to clean high touch areas as frequently as possible.

Final Thoughts

Keeping your space clean and sanitized is a challenge, no matter your industry. The task is more important now than ever, though. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the prospect of frequent cleaning, try breaking tasks into categories and checking them off throughout the week. For instance, you may want to focus your efforts on hallways, entrances, and high traffic areas one day, while prioritizing a deep clean of the bathroom the next. 

If you’re interested in upping your facility’s cleaning game, Sani-Chem can help. Schedule an appointment with our team and we’ll be glad to offer insight and recommendations for keeping your space as clean as possible.