Focus on safety

Did you know that 80 percent of germs are transmitted by hand-to-hand contact? That’s why keeping your hands clean is one of the most important steps to avoid illness and outbreaks in the workplace.¹ Steven Landers, Product Category Manager of Chemical Products with Veritiv, recommends four steps to reduce germ transmission and improve wellness.

1. Explain proper hand washing

The Centers for Disease Control recommends a five-step process for washing hands: wet, lather, scrub, rinse, and dry.¹ This process only takes 20 seconds and is one of the best proactive methods for disinfecting hands. Hand washing and moisturizing are especially important for workers who often get small cuts from handling packaging without gloves or working in extreme conditions, as open wounds are more susceptible to germ exposure.

2. Make hand sanitizer readily available

Landers says employees feel more protected by their employer when they are provided with hand sanitizers in high-traffic areas of a building, which contribute to a cleaner work environment. “Having products available and visible, especially at points of entry, not only helps reduce the transmission of germs but also shows employees their employer cares about their health and well-being.”  

3. Disinfect high-traffic areas  

Disinfecting breakroom sink faucet handles, microwave door handles, keyboards, refrigerator door handles, water fountain buttons, vending machine buttons, and other frequently touched surfaces with sanitizers and heavy-duty cleansers can help significantly reduce the spread of germs.  

4. Encourage health and wellness to take priority

Encouraging employees to take care of themselves and stay home when they don’t feel well can help them avoid becoming even more sick and prevent the transmission of germs to others. The cold, flu, and other illnesses can spread quickly and wreak havoc on a business. With these tips, your organization can take important steps toward minimizing absenteeism, improving productivity, and reducing temporary labor costs, while also enhancing employee satisfaction and well-being. 

¹ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2018, February 16). Influenza (Flu). Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/