Bug Off: How to Stay Healthy at Work

It added a slice of humor to Cherie Jones’ day when a co-worker spilled an entire Big Gulp on her keyboard. “I was totally laughing,” she recalls. Her co-worker wasn’t. Jones, a 2001 MAcc graduate and business tax auditor for Loudon County, Virginia, says her colleague panicked as she searched for napkins to salvage the keyboard. Big Gulp or deli sandwich, Jones’ co-worker isn’t the only one whose workstation doubles as an eatery.

An accountant for Pricewaterhouse-Coopers’ Washington, D.C., office, Benjamin Jones dines at his desk for lunch, dinner, and sometimes breakfast. “During busy season you work a lot of hours,” says Jones, a 2005 MAcc graduate. The occasional sticky keyboard and crumb-covered desk is understandably common for working professionals like these. It came as little surprise then that accounting was recently dubbed the second germiest job.

germophobics need not apply

The ranking comes from a study conducted by Dr. Charles Gerba, a microbiology professor at the University of Arizona.¹ “Desks are really bacteria cafeterias,” he says. “They’re breakfast buffets, lunch tables, and snack bars as we spend more and more hours at the office.”

Just “germier” than accounting, the study suggests, are teachers’ workspaces; bankers come in third for most bacteria buildup. “Accountants and bankers probably came out high because they spend their entire work day at their desks,” Gerba says. “College students may want to reconsider their majors based on these results,” he jokes.

Gerba based his six-week study on bacteria samples collected from telephones, computer mice, keyboards, desktops, and writing pens from typical offices in Washington, D.C., and Tucson, Arizona.² A total of 616 surfaces were surveyed and analyzed at the University of Arizona.

enough to make you squirm

It’s no wonder office environments are contaminated with germs. More than 57 percent of workers eat at their desks on a daily basis—spilling and dropping crumbs in the keyboard—and rarely cleaning up.³ Gerba’s study revealed that more than 75 percent of workers “only occasionally” clean their desks before eating and 20 percent never do.

Cherie Jones admits she cleans her desk about once every six months, despite dining there daily. Her office management requests that cleaning crews not touch desks due to the confidential nature of audit reports. There are no other dining options, she says, so everyone chooses to eat at their desks.

When Benjamin Jones visits his clients’ offices, he and several other accountants typically sit around a conference table that serves dual purposes. And even though they wipe off the table after meals, “it’s not like we have a bottle of disinfectant,” he says.

Gerba’s study calculates that the germiest desks are covered with as many as 12,600 bacteria per square inch and some pens are crawling with as many as 2,400 germs per square inch.⁴

The staggering numbers explain why desktops are home to the highest levels of human parainfluenza 1 virus.⁵ The virus causes respiratory infections like bronchiolitis and pneumonia and can survive on surfaces for three days. The virus was also detected on telephones, door handles, and light switches.

Phones were the germiest device tested in Gerba’s study, followed by desks, keyboards, and computer mice. Phones are germiest in almost any home or office, he says. “The saliva from your mouth probably aids the survival of organisms on the phone,” he explains. Despite the infestation of germs on telephones, there’s no need for phone phobia. The most effective way to eradicate the germs is to wipe the phone with a disinfectant wipe. The need to disinfect is not as imminent if there is only one phone user.⁶ However, when returning to work after being ill, it may be advantageous to disinfect the phone, mouse, keyboard, and desk to avoid reinfection.⁷

One office accessory especially high in germs is the ever-popular candy bowl. While its contents may be enticing, the bowl’s germs are not. The containers often hold high counts of bacteria, sometimes fecal bacteria.⁸ Not everybody washes their hands like they should, Gerba says, and the number of hands that dig into the bowl create an enormous germ count.

Gerba’s research doesn’t stop at conference rooms and offices. His studies have expanded into restrooms—and he’s examined the microbiology of hundreds of them.⁹ He found the exit doorknob usually has the least amount of bacteria of any place in the bathroom because at least half the people who touch it have just washed their hands. The fixture with the most bacteria? The tap on the bathroom sink.

staying healthy

Relax—germs don’t have to linger permanently. While it’s impossible to avoid exposure to germs, there are ways to reduce the chances of becoming ill from pesky microorganisms.

The upside is that disease-causing germs are spread only if supplies are shared: telephones, fax machines, copy machines, microwaves, and other common appliances. Those who don’t share a desktop needn’t worry. However, it may behoove those who eat at their desks to disinfect their work area weekly, whether shared or not, since these surfaces are notorious for high levels of bacteria.¹⁰

However, not all germs are necessarily harmful, says Dr. Brad Robinson, an infectious disease specialist at Mercy Medical Center in Roseburg, Oregon. People are filled with lots of microorganisms and live in peaceful coexistence with them, he says. There are some normal flora, or “neutral,” germs within the intestinal system that provide useful functions—some internal bacteria aid in food digestion while others supply certain vitamins. “Sometimes harmful germs can’t really gain a foothold if the normal flora germs are already there,” he said. Those germs can “outcompete” and hold off the harmful ones. Still, Robinson confirms there aren’t any “good” germs hanging out on a desk. And because cold and flu strains change from year to year, it’s difficult to build immunity to them. The best defense, he explains, is through common-sense practices like hand hygiene and desk cleanliness. He also emphasizes the huge medical success of vaccinations—a flu shot, for example. Vaccinations are a great defense against developing illness, he asserts.

Despite the germ accumulation, Robinson is confident it’s possible, without becoming overly paranoid, to enjoy a healthy work environment. Here are some suggestions:

Live healthily. It’s no secret that receiving plenty of rest, staying physically active, managing stress, drinking enough fluids, and eating nutritiously help establish a healthy lifestyle. Maintaining these habits year-round can fortify against sickness when flu season approaches.¹¹

Invest in cleaning supplies. Most people keep their homes neat and tidy; why shouldn’t the office be the same? Disease-causing organisms are transmitted by touching surfaces. Keeping them clean and disinfected is the best resistance against developing an illness. It’s critical to disinfect common office surfaces and not a bad idea to clean personal desktops, keyboards, and computers. Robinson suggests that disinfecting surfaces with anti-bacterial wipes is an effective intervention.

Get up and move around. Far too much time is spent inside—research reveals that Americans spend 95 percent of their time isolated from nature.¹² “Our indoor lives . . .deny us fresh air, moisture, oxygen, and sunlight, and offer us germs and pollution instead; no wonder they make us ill,” says David Nicholson-Lord, author of Green Cities: And Why We Need Them. Pencil in time to be outdoors—whether it’s lunch on the patio, attending a soccer game, or just stepping out for fresh air. “If people can see trees or greenery, they fall ill less and recuperate better; they are more cheerful and relaxed, more able to concentrate, and less aggressive,” says Nicholson-Lord. The more greenery on apartment blocks, the less crime, he says. Likewise, roads lined with trees reduce drive stress and road rage. If possible, leave work without bolting immediately onto public transportation or into a crowd.¹³

Don’t be afraid of flu shots. Even the healthiest people are susceptible to the flu. CEOs should be first to receive their annual flu shot, suggests Roslyn Stone, chief operating officer of Corporate Wellness Inc., and chairman of the workplace flu prevention group at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.¹⁴ “The way to change behaviors in any employee health matter is leadership by example . . . flu shots offer one of the highest returns on investment of any workplace wellness program,” she says.

Stop spreading the germs. Germs are often spread when people touch something contaminated and then touch their eyes, nose, or mouth. “Many of these germs are spread by hand contact,” Robinson says. People should be vigilant in covering their mouths and nose when sneezing or coughing. If a tissue isn’t available, the next best thing is to sneeze into the elbow. If sick, maintain distance from others and, if possible, stay home.¹⁵

Wash hands vigorously. The best way to kill germs is to practice good hand hygiene and wash hands with soap and warm water. Suggested hand-washing time is fifteen to twenty seconds—about the amount of time it takes to sing “Happy Birthday” twice. Scrubbing with soap will help extract and remove germs.¹⁶ Alcohol-based disposable hand wipes or gel sanitizers are effective alternatives if soap and water aren’t available. Robinson advocates using them, particularly when sick. Studies show that washing hands and using sanitizing hand wipes and disinfecting wipes can reduce absenteeism and illness by 30 to 50 percent.¹⁷

know when to stay home

When illness does occur, clues often denote whether one should stay in bed or go to work. However, not everyone heeds the signs. One estimate suggests that nearly 75 percent go to work with the common cold or other ailments.¹⁸ Presenteeism—going to work sick—causes a loss of productivity that accounts for up to 60 percent of employer health costs, a number that’s higher than if employees would have taken a day off.

“There’s this mindset now in most businesses of working lean and mean, this feeling that if I am not at work, someone else will do my job and maybe do it better than me. And there’s not wanting to dump on co-workers,” Stone says.¹⁹ She again encourages company heads to lead by example. “The message needs to come from the top: stay home if you’re sick, and when I’m sick I’ll stay home too.”

If there’s a small pool of sick days remaining, a possible remedy may be to explore the alternative of working from home until doctored back to health. There’s no guarantee that living healthily or regular office cleaning will reduce the chance of developing an illness. But Gerba holds that it’s possible to help the odds by disinfecting those objects with the highest concentration of germs.²⁰ A weekly dusting and disinfecting ritual may cause co-workers to initially raise an eyebrow, but if it keeps the germs at bay, colleagues may quickly adopt the strategy for a clean and less-germy work environment.

should you stay home?

Not sure if you’re sick enough to take the day off? Sharon Horesh, MD, instructor of clinical medicine at the Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, offers advice on when it’s best to stay home:

sniffling—Sniffling is probably allergies—no harm in going into the office. The sniffles combined with achiness, fatigue, and fever may indicate the onset of the flu, which could warrant staying home and resting.

chills—It’s likely there’s a fever if clothing is saturated. A warm forehead could indicate a low-grade fever or nothing at all. When there’s a fever, it’s likely the flu or common cold and just as likely that one is contagious. Horesh advises staying home until feeling well again. A fever plus white patches on the tonsils (say “ah”) may be strep throat, which is highly contagious. A doctor should be seen.

coughing—A tickle in the throat is probably a result of allergies or a common cold, and you should plan to go to work. If the cough is deep, causes shortness of breath, and brings up green mucus, it could be bronchitis or pneumonia. A sick day and a doctor’s visit are recommended.

earache—It may be an ear infection if the ear is in pain and hearing is dimmed. Ear infections are not contagious, but they usually don’t go away alone.

pinkeye—Bright red eyes and matted eyelashes could mean pinkeye, a highly contagious infection. This can be treated with an antibiotic prescribed by a physician.

sinus pain—Pain around the eyes, top of the forehead, the cheekbones, and the top of the teeth could be a sinus infection or a common cold. A doctor can determine whether to prescribe an antibiotic. One day of rest should suffice as sinus infections typically aren’t contagious.

stomach problems—A stomach virus can keep someone in bed for several days. Staying hydrated, especially with water, during this time is critical.

Source: cbsnews.com/stories/2004/10/06/health/webmd/printable647810.shtml

germiest jobs

1. Teacher
2. Accountant
3. Banker
4. Radio DJ
5. Doctor
6. Television producer
7. Consultant
8. Publicist
9. Lawyer
Source: foxnews.com/story/0,2933,185119,00.html

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Article written by Jennifer Mathis
Illustration by John Ueland

About the Author

Jennifer Mathis is a reporter and freelance writer and editor based in Roseburg, Oregon. She earned her BA in journalism and master’s degree in mass communications from BYU.

Notes

1. SmartPros, “Accountants Are Germy.” (13 March 2006). Retrieved online 20 May 2006 at accounting.smartpros.com/x52137.xml.
2. Charles P. Gerba, “‘Germy’ Jobs.” (3 April 2006). Retrieved online 29 April 2006 at washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2006/03/31/DI2006033101212.html.
3. SmartPros, “Accountants Are Germy.”
4. Chris Whitehead, “You Could Spend Your Refund on Antiseptic Wipes.” (3 March 2006). Retrieved online 21 March 2006 at suntimes.com/output/casual/cst-fin-casual031.html.
5. Jennifer Barrett Ozols, “Surviving the Sick Office.” (22 March 2005). Retrieved online 1 May 2006 at msnbc.msn.com/id/7265770/site/newsweek.
6. Gerba, “‘Germy’ Jobs.”
7. Ozols, “Surviving the Sick Office.”
8. Gerba, “‘Germy’ Jobs.”
9. Ibid.
10. Gerba, “‘Germy’ Jobs.”
11. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Stopping the Spread of Germs at Work.” (15 October 2004). Retrieved online 27 March 2006 at cdc.gov/germstopper/work.htm.
12. David Nicholson-Lord, “Why We all Need to Get Out More.” Newstatesman (24 January 2005): 32.
13. Executive Woman, “Does Your Office Make You Sick?” (2000). Retrieved online 1 May 2006 at ivillage.co.uk/workcareer/survive/workenviro/articles/0,,156474_165451-2,00.html.
14. Ozols, “Surviving the Sick Office.”
15. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Stopping the Spread of Germs at Work.”
16. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Stopping Germs at Home, Work, and School.” (1 February 2004). Retrieved online 27 March 2006 at cdc.gov/germstopper/home_work_school.htm. Gerba, “‘Germy’ Jobs.”
17. Jeanie Lerche Davis, “Too Sick to Work?” (6 October 2004). Retrieved online 20 May 2006 at cbsnews.com/stories/2004/10/06/health/webmd/printable647810.shtml.
18. Ozols, “Surviving the Sick Office.”
19. Gerba, “‘Germy’ Jobs.” (3 April 2006). Retrieved online 29 April 2006 at ivillage.co.uk/workcareer/survive/workenviro/articles/0,,156474_165451-2,00.html.