For many people the concept of Health and Hygiene in the Workplace simply refers to general personal hygiene and a professional appearance, and although employees should promote the image of the company through their appearance (after all, they represent the company) this is a very limited view of the concept. Every workplace needs to be hygienic, not just for the sake of having a good reputation and making good impressions but also for the sake of health and safety of everyone — customers, visitors, and employees.
This means that it is not enough to just dress professionally and smell nice.
- Imagine having to interact with a sales person who has greasy hands and stained clothing.
- Imagine walking into a place of business where the floors are dirty and slimy and as a result, falling and injuring yourself.
- How would these scenarios reflect upon a company’s image and reputation?
When it comes to the workplace, cleanliness and personal hygiene are of utmost importance, as they are always included in a company’s policies. All employees need to be aware of and practice basic hygiene principles.
There are many benefits of practicing good hygiene habits at work:
Prevents accidents and Injury on Duty
If your workplace is being cleaned on a regular basis, the chances of accidents happening and employees getting injured are very slim. Looking from another angle, this also means that a dirty work area increases chances of accidents such as slips, trips, and falls. The culprit behind these horrible and dangerous incidents is most often dirty and slippery floors.
To prevent injuries, make sure all floors are cleaned on a regular basis and that you have anti-slip mats placed in areas where slips, trips, and falls are most likely to happen. Do take note that while cleaning the floor is a good start, leaving it wet without any warning sign or an anti-slip mat in the slippery area can also pose a threat. A clean workplace is a safe and healthy workplace.
Limits spread of bacteria and viruses
Making sure that a workplace adheres to basic standards of hygiene will help minimise the spread of disease-carrying bacteria and viruses that can happen in shared spaces like kitchens and washrooms. Washing your hands and keeping them clean is your first line of defence in protecting yourself from illnesses spread by others people through personal contact or contaminated surfaces. It is advisable to wash your hands, for at least 20 seconds, by wetting them and then soaping your fingers, the back of your hands, around your nails and your palms.
Aside from having cleaning rules for everyone to follow, it’s also advisable to get staff educated on the importance of keeping the workplace clean. Many employees do not even know that it is their own responsibility to take ownership of personal work area.
People who have a flu can spread it to others who are up to about 6 feet away from them. According to experts flu viruses are spread mainly by droplets made when people with flu cough, sneeze or talk. Another great hazard is to sneeze or couch into your hands, as opposed to using a tissue or handkerchief. An unhygienic workplace increases cases of employee absenteeism. This can cost the business a considerable amount of money. If you have substandard hygiene, expect more and more employees to take sick leave.
By having proper work hygiene, you will be able to stop harmful viruses and bacteria from spreading all over the office. Maintaining workplace hygiene effectively by investing in hygienic workplace facilities may cost money initially but this amount will pay for itself eventually through your employees’ improved productivity and reduced absenteeism.
Company image
Employees are not the only ones that roam around in the workplace. Possible clients, suppliers, and investors sometimes pay a visit, too. The last thing you want is for them to be turned off by a messy, disorganised, and dirty workplace. Certain industries such as the hospitality or medical industries have very specific workplace hygiene standards, and these need to be strictly adhered to. Poor workplace hygiene can create a very bad first impression for your company.
Employees stay longer
Workplace environment can greatly influence an employee’s happiness at work. Happy and content workers are productive and are inspired to do their jobs well. When people are happy at their workplace, they stay loyal to the company and that reduces the employee turnover.
The simple act of keeping the workplace clean is one way a company can give employees the kind of environment that will make them want to stay. Simple tasks, such as cleaning restrooms on a regular basis, regularly emptying the trash cans, cleaning the windows regularly to let the natural light in can contribute greatly to creating a good level of comfort for everyone in the workplace.
A clean workplace is a happy workplace
It is to all company’s benefit to be aware of the advantages of good Health and Hygiene in the Workplace.
Investing in Health and Hygiene practices in a workforce benefits your biggest and most important recourse as a business owner or manager, your human recourses. Health and Hygiene training is not just advantageous in the business environment, but in society as a whole.
SEESA Skills Training offers a course entitled Health and Hygiene in the Workplace, which addresses these topics, as well as strategies in building a healthier and safer working environment. Please visit our Training website for more information.