As the world adapts to a ‘new normal,’ employers and teams have never been more mindful of hygiene standards – with workforces vying to embed good hygiene practices into their spaces to help reduce the spread of viruses.
With commercial environments under ever-increasing scrutiny, and with the COVID-19 pandemic having accelerated advancements in the cleaning industry, what does the future of cleaning look like for businesses – particularly in the context of new variants having further disrupted a return to the office?
Offices may present risk for germs that could spread via hands and surfaces at workstations or in common areas. A science-led targeted hygiene programme can minimise contamination of commonly touched surfaces effectively and efficiently, and help prevent the spread of illness-causing germs.
An informed approach
Quantitative research from Dettol Pro Solutions across numerous markets reveals that 78% of consumers are still concerned about germs.
Further, around 85% of business leaders believe that having the right products and processes for cleaning and disinfection is one of their most important job responsibilities. However, 70% do not have any specific expertise in this area.
Offices may present risk, as they are high-traffic areas with many ‘hotspots’ of high-touch surfaces. Cleaning and disinfection of surfaces alongside physical distancing, the use of well-fitting masks and adequate ventilation could help reduce virus transmission.
Any targeted hygiene program rolled out within a business environment should look to identify these hotspots. These will vary from office to office based on configurations, how often various facilities and spaces are used, and additional factors.
Leveraging tech
Cleaning has evolved as more details have emerged about the pandemic and its spread. Brands such as Dettol have surface care disinfectants products proven to kill 99.9% of bacteria and viruses including the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Furthermore, sanitising stations can help to keep offices clean, and will act as vital tools in helping ensure a safe return to work.
Timing is everything
Once you have established a bespoke hygiene programme – based on the needs of your office space and team members, and reviewed by experts such as Dettol Pro Solutions’ team of microbiologists and scientists – the most crucial mechanism in helping to break the chain of infection is frequency and timing of cleaning.
Creating and sticking to a rigorous cleaning schedule, and understanding the regularity with which various areas require cleaning, is key to helping reduce germ transmission. For example, areas that are frequently touched and shared are more likely to be potential hotspots – think doorknobs; office phones; keyboards and similar. Office kitchens can also be higher risk, due to increased hand-to-mouth contact. High-traffic areas require attention immediately after usage. Likewise, small, irregular surfaces will need more frequent cleaning throughout the day.
Once implemented, a programme should be regularly reviewed to keep the future of cleaning for office-based businesses hygienically clean.
T +44 (0)203 137 9270
dettoluk@manifest.group
https://manifest.group