It’s That Time Again, Flu Season
With kids back to school, everyone indoors again and fall just around the corner, it is just about time to usher in the 2015-2016 flu season.
The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat, and lungs.
It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death (CDC Report).
It can seem difficult to beat the odds this time of year and stay healthy but there are some easy ways you can limit the spread of flu in your facility and save money on the real hard costs of the flu: absenteeism, productivity and even employee morale.
Limiting the spread of flu is not impossible if you arm yourself with the right information and enlist your Professional janitorial service in helping you.
Hygienic practices by your employees and cleaning for health by your Office janitorial service or Michigan school cleaning service can significantly reduce your exposure during cold and flu season and save you money.
Do your employees know how to reduce the chance of contracting common illnesses like influenza?
And does your Restroom cleaning service utilize cleaning for health and other best practices to safeguard your employees and customers against the spread of the flu?
In heavily trafficked spaces, people and communal surfaces paired with improper sick etiquette can spread illnesses with record speed and result in rampant absenteeism.
Still, there are measures you can take to reduce the transmission of disease and preserve a healthy workplace.
Combatting the Flu With Your Facilities Services Company
With flu season just around the corner, how can you work with your Detroit commercial cleaning company or Day Porter Services and your employees to combat the spread of the flu in your facility?
While the timing of the flu is generally unpredictable and can vary from season to season, flu season begins in October and runs through May with typical peaks coming in December and February.
The CDC recommends a yearly flu vaccine for anyone six months of age and older, and they advise taking preventative actions to avoid and reduce the spread of germs.
We don’t yet know what this year’s flu season will be like as flu seasons vary each year with regard to timing, severity and length.
Limiting the Spread of Flu in Your Facility
Most health professionals believe that flu spreads through droplets made when people with flu cough, sneeze or talk.
When these droplets land on people or surfaces, the risk of transmission is significant.
Likewise, a person can contract the flu by touching a surface or object that has flu virus on it and then touching their own mouth, eyes or nose.
First, encourage people to get vaccinated. While the flu vaccination varies in effectiveness, it is a good first step.
All of the 2015–2016 influenza vaccine is made to protect against:
- an A/California/7/2009 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus
- an A/Switzerland/9715293/2013 (H3N2)-like virus
- a B/Phuket/3073/2013-like virus (B/Yamagata lineage)
Second, remind employees and tenants that if they are sick, they should remain at home until they are symptom-free.
Third, encourage proper hand washing. You can share reminders or post hand washing techniques in restrooms.
Heavily trafficked facilities with shared equipment and restrooms provide high-touch surfaces where viruses thrive.
Proper hand washing reduces the spread of disease-causing germs.
Last, because some people resist regular hand washing, work with your janitorial company to ensure touch points receive appropriate attention.
ISSA ADDRESSES STEMMING SPREAD OF DISEASE THROUGH CLEANING
Touch Points, Smart Clean & Cleaning For Health With Your Local Michigan Janitorial Company
If your Building maintenance company or Custodial services are not familiar with the cleaning for health principle of touch points, you and your employees may be at risk for increased disease transmission.
Touch points are objects and surfaces that see a great deal of traffic—light switches, business machines, elevator buttons, stair rails, telephones, door handles, shared computers and more.
If cleaned regularly, touch points can significantly reduce the spread of germs and help Facility Managers maintain a healthy work environment.
Smart Clean and cleaning for health both encompass best practices by your Auburn Hills janitorial or Commercial cleaning services.
For instance, your Office cleaning services or Healthcare cleaning services may have germ-fighting cleaners and Green cleaning chemicals, but are they being used effectively?
Most germ-killing cleaners require a “dwell time”—the surface must remain wet for a specific time before wiping.
If used incorrectly, even the best disinfectants become ineffective.
A knowledgeable, professional Janitorial company understands “clean first, sanitize second” and follows best practices to minimize the spread of flu and colds.
With Good Information & Knowledgeable Michigan Janitorial Service, You Can Survive This Flu Season
Applying precautionary measures to safeguard the health of employees and customers can help you get through flu season.
Reasonable protective and preventative steps are simple and effective.
When you and your cleaning company maintain a healthy work environment, you reduce the impact illness has on productivity and your bottom line.
Whether you contract for Medical cleaning services, Medical office cleaning, general Office cleaning, Restroom cleaning, School cleaning or industrial cleaning, a knowledgeable Michigan commercial cleaning company can help reduce illness this flu season.
