{"id":823,"date":"2024-07-30T02:59:00","date_gmt":"2024-07-30T02:59:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cos.p10.sol1.net\/uncategorized\/how-to-stop-the-spread-of-illness-in-your-office\/"},"modified":"2025-04-30T00:57:46","modified_gmt":"2025-04-30T00:57:46","slug":"stop-the-spread-of-illness-in-your-office","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cos.net.au\/c\/cospedia\/stop-the-spread-of-illness-in-your-office","title":{"rendered":"How to Stop the Spread of Illness in Your Office"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Germs and viruses can spread faster than office gossip, and if workplace hygiene isn’t high on your priority list, then you’re more susceptible to all kinds of nasty bugs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

It’s estimated that, on any given day, five percent of the Australian workforce will call in sick, while others will continue to come to work and \u2018soldier on\u2019.\u00a0According to Safe Work Australia, the flu season can lead to significant absenteeism, costing businesses millions in lost productivity.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

In Australia, the flu season typically peaks between June and September. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) reports that influenza causes approximately 18,000 hospitalisations annually. In 2023, the Department of Health and Aged Care noted a significant rise in flu cases compared to previous years, emphasising the need for effective workplace health strategies.<\/p>

A study conducted by the University of Arizona placed a virus on just one commonly-touched surface (such as a door knob or bench top) within an organisation. Throughout the day, researchers checked a variety of other surfaces throughout the entire institution. They found that within two to four hours, the virus had spread to almost 60% of surfaces.<\/p>

Modern office set-ups that feature hot-desks only amplify this rapid spread. When shared surfaces are not cleaned efficiently, illness can spread easily. A highly-contagious illness could decimate productivity for a small to medium\u00a0business and\u00a0bring any large department\u00a0to a standstill.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

It\u2019s not only employee wellbeing and productivity that should motivate your need to clean. The simple fact is that when it comes to your office space, appearance matters. A clean and fresh office will leave a positive and lasting impression on the people within it. On the flip side, a drab, cluttered and dirty office will also leave an impression \u2013 but probably not the one you want.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Effective measures to keep your workplace healthy:<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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1. Promote Vaccination<\/h3>

Encouraging flu vaccinations is a highly effective strategy to prevent the spread of influenza in the workplace. According to the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS), flu vaccines can reduce the risk of flu-related hospitalisations by approximately 40-60%.<\/p>