Ew! Top 10 Germ-Infected Office Hotspots

Reckitt’s Lysol Pro Solutions recently revealed the top 10 office surfaces with the highest risk of germs.

Conducted by a team of scientists, the report identified the following top 10 “germiest” workplace hotspots (in no particular order):

1. Elevator buttons
2. Coffee machine handles/buttons
3. Refrigerator doors
4. Kitchen sink taps/handles
5. Vending machines
6. Restroom door handles
7. Computer keyboards and mouses
8. Telephones
9. Printers
10. TV remote controls.

Germs found included rhinovirus, rotavirus, and norovirus—viruses which, if encountered, can lead to colds or digestive issues such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Developing a Targeted Hygiene Program

According to Dr. Lisa Ackerley, director of medical and scientific engagement, hygiene, at Reckitt’s Lysol Pro Solutions, “The sheer number of shared surfaces in today’s evolving workplaces makes it easy for germs to be spread and harder for cleaning teams and employees to understand where, when, and how to clean and disinfect potential hotspots. To help protect offices, additional germ-protection must be implemented by both employers and by employees themselves. Knowing exactly which areas to focus disinfection on and when provides the framework for a more intelligent approach to hygiene, helping inspire confidence amongst America’s workforce to return to the office.”

By focusing cleaning and disinfection measures on these higher-risk surfaces, facility managers can develop a targeted hygiene program that can provide more protection for workers. However, some of these hotspots, such as keyboards and remote controls, can prove to be more challenging to clean, due to their uneven surfaces and crevices, and will need extra time and attention.

Managers can also place disinfecting products in rooms that employees use frequently but can’t be cleaned as often, as a way for employees to protect themselves from germs lingering on surfaces. Similarly, it’s unrealistic to expect something like elevator buttons to be disinfected by cleaning staff after every use. Encouraging good hand hygiene before and after touching such surfaces can help workers stay safer and avoid the spreading of germs.