Flu Season 2016: A Season Full of Cheer Or a Season Full of Fear?
As a Facility Manager, the flu and its associated risks should concern you.
The holiday season is in full tilt and this time of year finds most of us incredibly busy.
With work, family obligations and a bustling retail season, getting taken down by the flu can throw a wrench into carefully crafted plans.
While Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, New Years and more can make it a magical time of year, the holiday season also ushers in some less than charmed things, like flu season.
Not only can the flu take you down at the worst possible times, as a Facility Manager, the flu can have serious implications for your business.
A round of the flu sweeping through your facility unchecked can devastate employee morale, lower productivity and push absenteeism to new heights.
But fear not — we have gathered a “flu season survival kit” with tips on how to enlist the help of your commercial janitorial services to minimize unnecessary spread and keep illness levels manageable.
Flu season is unpredictable, and you can’t keep everyone from getting sick — but with a few smart actions, you can get ahead of the flu and avoid a workplace outbreak.
Does Your Commercial Cleaning Company Know Where the Flu Lurks?
The single most important factor in managing flu transmission is understanding where germs congregate and what actions reduce person-to-person spread.
Restrooms are an obvious germ hotspot — door handles, faucets, dispensers, and surfaces collect bacteria quickly.
If you notice standing water, overflowing trash, or unpleasant odors, your cleaning company is putting your building at risk.
Beyond restrooms, germs thrive on high-touch surfaces: light switches, telephones, shared equipment, computer mice, touchpads, refrigerator handles, etc.
All it takes is one sick employee touching a shared surface to set off a chain reaction.
While you can never fully eliminate germs, reducing their numbers minimizes transmission risk.
An effective commercial cleaning company that understands touch-point cleaning is your best defense.
Does Your Commercial Cleaning Service Understand the Science of Clean?
No flu survival kit is complete without a cleaning company that understands the science of clean.
The janitorial industry has advanced significantly, offering better strategies to achieve a consistently cleaner environment.
Your commercial cleaning provider must know the difference between cleaning, disinfecting, and sanitizing.
They must use proper dwell times — the period a disinfectant must remain wet on a surface to kill germs.
They should implement systems that reduce cross-contamination, such as color-coded cloths.
A cleaning company that embraces scientific cleaning methods dramatically improves flu-season outcomes.
It’s Like Mom Always Told You, Wash Your Hands!
While a professional Michigan janitorial company is your best defense, your employees also play a major role.
Simple habits like hand washing significantly reduce illness spread.
The CDC recommends handwashing at key times, including:
- Before, during, and after food preparation and eating
- Before and after caring for a sick person
- Before and after treating a wound
- After using the toilet or changing diapers
- After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
- After touching garbage
Proper handwashing requires at least 20 seconds of scrubbing — including fingertips, between fingers, and backs of hands — followed by rinsing and drying.
Don’t Let This Year’s Cold & Flu Season Get the Best of You
With the help of the right commercial cleaning company, you can eliminate germs where they hide.
Combined with healthy habits, your team can dramatically reduce the spread of flu and keep your facility functioning smoothly.
Build your “flu survival kit,” partner with professionals, and create a healthier workplace for everyone.
