Exposure to office germs and protection from them should be a bigger concern for many office workers, according to a recently published study.

While the risk of some types of workplace accidents – like overexertion or falls from high levels – substantially drops for employees who work in an office environment, other risks – like being exposed to germs – can be higher for these workers. In fact, exposure to office germs and protection from them should be a bigger concern for many office workers, according to a recently published study conducted by Kimberly-Clark Professionals.

As part of this study’s analysis of office germs, researchers who ran this study swabbed approximately 5,000 different surfaces in various types of office settings (including customer service call centers, health care offices, law firms, factories, insurance companies, etc.). The collected swabs were then analyzed for adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is a substance found in various types of bacteria and mold cells.

Among the key findings of this study were the facts that:

• Nearly 75 percent of American workers will still go to work when they are sick with a contagious illness.
• Approximately 33 percent of office workers have reportedly seen their colleagues skip washing their hands after using the restroom.

Tips for Reducing Your Risk of Getting Sick Due to Office Germs 

The two above-listed findings can significantly increase the risk of spreading contagious illnesses, like the cold or flu, through office settings. Given these facts, if you work in an office, you can protect yourself by practicing the following simple tips:

• Wash your hands after going to the restroom. – While this may seem like a basic hygienic practice, it can be crucial to keeping you healthy.
• Use hand sanitizer after using public equipment or machines (such as microwaves, copy machines, fax machines, reception phones, etc.). – In fact, this study found that, when office workers regularly wash their hands and/or use hand sanitizer, their risk of getting a cold or the flu from other co-workers decreases by as much as 80 percent.
• Keep disinfectant wipes at your desk, and wipe down your desk a few times per day (especially after a sick co-worker visits your office).

Look for our upcoming second part of this blog for some additional facts and information regarding the prevalence and dangers of office workplace germs.

Colorado Workers’ Compensation Lawyers

If you have sustained a workplace injury and are considering (or in the process of) filing a workers’ compensation claim, you cannot rely upon your employer or insurance companies to look out for your best interests. In fact, both your employer and insurance companies will be more focused on their own bottom lines instead of your current and future wellbeing. This can make the system adversarial for injured workers and potentially even put them in situations in which their legitimate workers’ compensation claims are undercut or even flat-out denied.

In such cases, it’s essential that injured workers contact the Colorado workers’ compensation lawyers at the Law Office of Michael P. Dominick. Our legal professionals are experienced at going up against corporate lawyers and insurance companies, and we have a proven track record of success when it comes to securing our Clients the maximum possible compensation for their injuries and financial losses. For a thorough evaluation of your case, along with expert advice on the best manner in which to move forward, call us at (303) 447-2644.