Research studies, such as a 2011 study authored by Dr. Jennifer Veitch and published in HealthcarePapers, concluded that work environments impact workers’ focus, productivity, happiness, and mood. On average, business owners and employees spend 40 hours or more per week in their workplace. For this reason, working professionals deserve a comfortable and clean work environment that contributes to their health and productivity.
It’s crucial that work environments, whether they’re factories, labs, stores, or typical offices, are sanitary. Business owners should do their best to ensure their place of employment is free of common sanitation hazards and meets the minimum safety and sanitation standards set by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
Keep Workspaces Tidy
Workspaces should be kept in excellent sanitary condition and be free of unnecessary food, beverages, and clutter. It’s easier for people to misplace crucial work documents and tools in cluttered environments. Having clutter in the workplace is the same as having clutter at home: it can lead to increased stress and fatigue. Stopping to look for lost work-related items can cost working professionals lots of time, slowing down their productivity.
Cluttered materials can also cause the accumulation of dust mites and impairing of air quality, which has negative impacts on people’s health. For example, clutter-caused dust mites or mold can lead to worsened asthma symptoms and allergies.
Messy workplace conditions and clutter can also violate occupational safety, contributing to accidents and injuries. Some hazards that threaten employee safety by causing trips and falls include improperly stored equipment, dirty storage facilities, items blocking an emergency path, and leaks or spills. Maintaining a sanitary and organized environment enables business owners and employees to maximize their confidence in their safety and well-being.
Clean The Workplace Objects Everyone Uses
Many professionals come to work sick and fight ailments such as a stuffy nose, a cough, and aching joints. And according to the National Science Foundation (NSF), 42 percent of employees still work when they’re sick because they’re afraid of making up a large workload caused by taking a sick day. Thirty-seven percent of workers don’t call in sick at all when they should because they can’t afford to take time off from work. Illnesses can compromise someone’s quality of work as well as increase the likelihood of them passing their germs on to their coworkers.
It’s vital to professionals’ health that spaces in the workplace such as break rooms, changing rooms, and restrooms receive regular sanitation. Business owners should clean air blowers, toilets, and urinals, and implement safe waste disposal and drainage methods. Objects that many employees often touch like door handles, light switches, phones, keyboards, elevator buttons, sinks, and more must stay clean to prevent the spreading of germs and viruses.
Provide Effective Sanitary Workwear
Employees can help keep the workplace sanitary by washing their hands, using individual hand towels, and getting flu vaccines to prevent workplace illnesses, and employers can equip workers with necessary workwear. The healthcare, medical laboratory, industrial cleaning, and foodservice industries, for example, require employees to wear protective clothing and use proper sanitary equipment, and other workplaces should follow their lead.
To keep a business environment that adheres to workplace sanitation requirements, employers should stock up on products such as disposable gloves, lab coats, shoe covers, bouffant caps, and other equipment relevant to their workspaces. Such safety wear provides barriers between professionals’ hands and surfaces, enabling everyone to maximize workplace hygiene and sanitation. Business owners should ensure they purchase sanitation equipment and safety wear from a reputable source, such as PalmFlex.
PalmFlex is an online provider of high-quality safety equipment and work gloves. This provider knows the value and importance of healthy, clean workplaces, and proudly offers a large selection of safety wear and gloves designed for sanitation improvement. By using this resource and encouraging good hygiene practices, business owners can maintain workplace sanitation, which can make workplaces cleaner, healthier, and more productive.
