How Can the Spread of Flu Be Prevented in the Office?

Ready or not, it’s flu season again. In the COVID rebound, many employers are already dealing with severe worker shortages. Losing staff and productive time to sick days triggered by a flu outbreak is not an option.

Your partners at Office Pride Commercial Cleaning Services have your back. This is the time of year to consider increasing the frequency of your cleaning service to reduce the risk of flu and the spread of flu germs. Talk to your local Office Pride franchise about options that best meet your needs.

How the flu spreads inside a business location

Influenza virus is a respiratory illness that is primarily spread through the droplets produced when someone who is already infected is sneezing, coughing or talking. Once those droplets are in the air or on surfaces, they present a risk to others. High traffic areas, such as waiting rooms or break rooms, deserve special attention during flu season.

An effective cleaning plan

An effective cleaning plan includes wiping and disinfecting high-touch surfaces such as faucets, doorknobs, light switches and countertops. Routine cleaning removes the virus, along with soil that may harbor germs. Disinfecting with a proven disinfectant product will kill remaining germs. High touch electronic items, such as phones and computer keyboards, should be cleaned frequently with disinfecting wipes. The flu virus is believed to live for up to 48 hours, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), so high frequency cleaning is especially important when there is a known outbreak in your workplace.

Using proper cleaning solutions

Using the correct cleaning products also makes a difference. Routine cleaning is the first step, but thoroughly disinfecting surfaces comes next. Professionally trained Office Pride cleaners use Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-approved chemicals that are proven effective against pathogens such as flu and coronavirus. To be most effective, our cleaners observe necessary dwell times, or the length of time disinfectants need to remain on surfaces to kill germs.

The safety first approach

Following safety precautions is vital when using disinfectant products. Some may call for the use of gloves or eye production. Our cleaning teams wear the necessary personal protective equipment and follow manufacturer and CDC/EPA guidelines to protect themselves and others. In addition, Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) are stored on-site with the cleaning supplies to identify potential hazards and inform medical workers in the event of a chemical exposure.

What your team can do proactively

It doesn’t take much for influenza viruses to spread through a workplace and cause major productivity issues. Address the risk that your team will spread the flu head-on by increasing the frequency of your professional office cleaning services throughout flu season.

Additionally, encourage your team to take simple precautions such as:

• Get a flu shot.
• Cover coughs and sneezes.
• Wash hands frequently.
• Stay home when displaying flu symptoms.

To learn more about the cleaning services that Office Pride offers in your area, please check out our franchise locations and call your nearest franchise location to request a free custom quote for all your cleaning and disinfecting needs.