|
Are we paying enough attention to hygiene? |
With the appearance of SARS in the past and the recent outbreak of the H1N1 virus, what are the things that we need to look out for to ensure proper hygiene? Are we doing enough to prevent the spread or are we encouraging further spread of the disease?
Sometimes, I feel that the offices are often the best incubators for viruses since they are closed environments and the air we breathe in is often "recycled". I am really not surprised that people are falling ill more often as a result. Maybe the building maintenance people should look into installing air ionizers and purifiers into the ventilation system. Perhaps that might answer some of our health woes?
Like what the experts say, personal hygiene is the basic concept of cleaning, grooming and caring for our bodies. While it is an important part of our daily lives at home, personal hygiene isn't just about combed shiny hair and brushed teeth; it is important for worker health and safety in the workplace. Paying attention to personal hygiene can prevent the spread of germs and disease, reduce one's exposure to chemicals and contaminants, and help us prevent skin allergies, skin conditions and chemical sensitivities.
Basic hand washing and skin care thus essential. Good washing and scrubbing with water and soap helps to remove germs, contaminants, and chemicals. It can also prevent exposure by ingestion and cross-contamination of the surfaces and objects we touch.
Everyone should periodically wash their hands during the day. Hand washing is important before and after using the restroom and before or after certain activities. We should wash our hands before, during, and after preparing food and before we take breaks at work to eat, drink or smoke. To control the spread of germs that can cause the flu or common cold, hands should be washed whenever we cough, sneeze, or blow our noses, and whenever we are around a sick person.
Hand washing involves more than a quick rinse under a faucet. To wash hands properly, we should first wet them under the faucet and then use liquid or bar soap. Please do not use dishwashing liquids to wash those precious hands as these industrial strength cleaners aren't really suited for this purpose. It makes sense to invest a little more in an antibacterial soap that provides more protection. Hands should be held out of the water until all skin surfaces are scrubbed and lathered for at least twenty seconds. Following this, we can rinse with clean water and then dry our hands with a disposable towel. To wash hands with a hand sanitizer, we should apply the appropriate amount of sanitizer into the palm of the hand, and then rub hands together until they are dry, being careful to cover all surfaces of the hands. Showering and face-washing after work is also a good idea. Proper personal hygiene and hand protection can help keep us productive and on the job. Be safely clean with good hygiene.
How many of you feel this is also an an issue in your own office? Feel free to log in and leave your comments, as I would love to hear them.
Some other links worth looking at :
 |
On a related issue, workers are being advised to stay at home if they have fever symptoms or feel unwell. This makes sense, especially if your office is one of those where germs may be more likely to spread e.g. older building with stuff aircon, no ioniser or air purifier etc. However, during these belt-tightening times, many of us are just trying to do a good job and hang on to our ricebowls, staying home 'sick' may give the wrong impression. What are some of your work experiences? do you feel obliged to go to work even if you're ill? Does your company allow working from home?