It's virus season! Yes, you heard right. All those pesky germs are here. November kicks off flu season -- it's officially the time when infectious diseases tend to spread rapidly inside commercial spaces.
Fall foliage and flu season go hand-in-hand in New England. For facility and property managers, it coincides with seasonal maintenance and building upkeep. With shorter days and chilly weather, people are huddling indoors. And you'd know it...germs love a crowd. It's perfect conditions for viruses and bacteria to spread. From doorknobs to desks, break rooms to bathrooms, high-touch areas in offices can become hotspots for germs, impacting the health and productivity of your entire team. That is not a fun kind of party.
In this article, we share best practices for facilities in Rhode Island, Connecticut and Massachusetts to stay safe, sanitary and healthy this flu and cold season.
It might surprise you to know just how quickly germs spread. Did you know a single contaminated doorknob in a high-traffic area can spread viruses to 40%-60% of those who touch it within just 2-4 hours? Yikes! And it just keeps going. Each touch allows employees and visitors to carry the germs further, from one surface to the next. Bacteria are no different: starting with only 10 bacterial cells on a doorknob, the colony can grow to well over half a million within 10 hours. Talk about overachievers!
This kind of germ express increases the chances of your staff picking up – and spreading – viruses like the common cold, COVID-19, influenza, strep throat, pink eye, RSV, and even gastrointestinal illnesses like E. coli and norovirus.
When germs and bacteria go wild, people call in sick. And let’s face it, nobody wants a ghost town for an office. Absenteeism affects your team’s productivity and morale. Viruses like the flu and RSV can knock out employees for several days, impacting workflow, especially if illness spreads across departments.
Are you staying ahead of disease spread? Hint, hint, a disinfection plan is crucial in reducing absenteeism rates and keeping your workplace healthy. By prioritizing a tailored commercial cleaning schedule, facility and property managers can prevent illness from impacting their team’s stress levels and the business’ bottom line.
Pros use customized cleaning checklists that target high-touch areas to kick those germs to the curb. Here's how our janitorial experts help during flu season:
Bathrooms require a full-on blitz. They are significant sources of bacteria and viruses, particularly in high-traffic facilities. Our team thoroughly sanitizes these spaces, focusing on touch-points like faucets, light switches, and stall doors to reduce bacterial spread.
Shared spaces like kitchens and break rooms are common areas for germs to spread. We make sure these areas are consistently cleaned and disinfected, from countertops to shared appliances, reducing potential transmission points. Everyone loves safe snacking zones.
Every workplace is unique, and our team works with you to create a cleaning schedule that fits like a glove. We understand your traffic patterns, high-touch areas and times of high demand, ensuring maximum disease prevention and seasonal maintenance in the areas that matter most.
Don’t let viruses crash your workplace party this November. With a solid cleaning game plan, you can keep your team healthy, happy and productive.
Are you ready to learn more? Give the experts at System4IPS a shout! We are here to make your facility in Rhode Island, Connecticut or Massachusetts the cleanest place in town. Want a peek at pricing? Visit our website to use our customized online quote calculator!
By choosing commercial cleaning services, you can benefit from the expertise of professionals who can deliver exceptional cleaning results and maintain a pristine environment for your business.
A: November marks the beginning of colder weather, which leads to more people spending time indoors where viruses can spread more easily. With people in closer proximity and more shared surfaces in workplaces, viruses like the flu, common cold, RSV, and even COVID-19 are more likely to spread quickly.
A: A single contaminated doorknob in a high-traffic area can spread germs incredibly fast. Research shows that viruses can spread to 40%-60% of those who touch it within just a few hours. Bacteria can multiply even faster—starting with just a few cells, colonies can reach the millions within hours. Frequent touching by multiple people spreads these germs further, quickly affecting other surfaces and people.
A: In addition to COVID-19, viruses like the common cold, influenza, RSV, strep throat, and pink eye are all highly contagious. Bacterial infections such as E. coli and salmonella, as well as viruses like norovirus, can also spread rapidly on contact surfaces and pose significant health risks in the workplace.
A: A professional cleaning program focuses on high-touch surfaces, restrooms, shared spaces, and customizes cleaning schedules based on your facility’s specific needs. By frequently disinfecting areas like doorknobs, elevator buttons, and break rooms, a cleaning team can interrupt the cycle of germ transmission, helping to keep your facility healthier and reducing the spread of illnesses.
A:Encourage employees to stay home when sick, provide hand sanitizers and promote good hand-washing practices, and ensure proper ventilation in the workplace. Staying informed about local health advisories also helps managers anticipate times when virus rates are especially high, allowing for a proactive approach to protect the team.
Concerned about a staffing shortage and whether you are using the right cleaning service for your workplace? It's not too late to find the perfect janitorial team that will keep your workplace clean and safe. Look for solid custodian referrals and consult with System4 IPS.
Which custodian or janitorial team is best for you? System4IPS specializes in creating customized janitorial programs that meet the unique need of businesses like yours!