Ensuring high standards in health and hygiene for office environments involves creating a workspace where employees can thrive, stay focused, and maintain their wellbeing.
In this blog post, we’ll explore why prioritising health and hygiene for office environments is essential, highlight common areas where germs are likely to build up, and explain how NWR Hygiene can support businesses in maintaining these standards.
Why prioritising health and hygiene is important in office environments
Prioritising health and hygiene in the workplace can provide several benefits to both employees and businesses. This includes:
Improves employee wellbeing
Offices are shared spaces where germs can easily spread via high-touch surfaces such as doorknobs, communal equipment, and desks. Without regular cleaning, regular use of these surfaces can lead to the spread of illnesses such as colds, the flu, and other infectious diseases.
In hygienic environments, employees are more less likely to become ill allowing them to maintain their energy, focus, and morale. A clean environment also demonstrates to employees’ that their health is important to employers, leading to greater job satisfaction and a more supportive work culture.
Increased productivity from employees
A clean environment fosters a clear mind. Clutter and uncleanliness can cause stress and make it difficult for employees to concentrate. An organised, clutter-free environment is more likely to create clarity of mind, encouraging them to work more efficiently and feel comfortable doing so.
Additionally, as briefly mentioned earlier in this blog post, maintaining high hygiene standards reduces the spread of common illnesses, resulting in fewer sick days for employees. This consistent attendance helps to keep workflow and projects on track, avoiding disruptions caused by team members’ absences.
Professional image
The state of an office environment has a direct impact on a business’s reputation. When a company maintains high cleanliness and hygiene standards, it communicates to clients, partners, and employees that it values quality, detail, and professionalism.
First impressions are extremely important for visitors such as potential clients, investors, and job candidates. Walking into a clean, fresh, and well-organised office can boost their trust in a company’s values.
On the other hand, an office that disregards hygiene risks harming its reputation. An unsanitary workspace may cause clients and stakeholders to question a business’s overall commitment to excellence.
Compliance with UK legislation
In the UK, workplace health and hygiene are governed by legislation such as the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. This requires employers to maintain a hygienic environment by implementing proper cleaning protocols, providing adequate sanitation facilities, and ensuring safe waste disposal.
The Workplace (Health, Safety, and Welfare) Regulations 1992 specify additional regulations for cleanliness and safety in workplace facilities, requiring businesses so ensure that areas such as restrooms are regularly maintained and stocked with necessary hygiene products.
Failure to comply with these regulations can result in serious legal consequences, such as fines and enforcement from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
Improved indoor air quality
Dust, allergens, and airborne pathogens in poor indoor air can irritate the respiratory system, trigger allergies, and cause chronic health problems.
Cleaner air, achieved through air care systems, lowers these risks, resulting in increased comfort and fewer respiratory problems.
A high standard of air quality can also provide cognitive benefits. Poor air quality is said to cause headaches and fatigue amongst employes, whilst those exposed to fresher air often report feeling more alert, energetic, and focused.
Where are germs most likely to spread in the office?
All offices have specific hot spots where bacteria, viruses and other contaminants are most likely to accumulate. Prioritising cleaning these spots is essential for creating a safe, more comfortable environment for employees. They include:
High contact surfaces
Some of the most common points of contact in an office include doorknobs, light switches, and shared office equipment (such as printers, coffee machines, and phones). These surfaces are frequently touched by different people throughout the day, posing a constant risk of cross-contamination.
To help reduce this risk, it’s important to establish a thorough cleaning routine that includes both visible dirt removal and disinfection with effective cleaning agents.
Shared spaces
Break rooms, meeting rooms, and kitchens are high-traffic areas with shared resources such as tables, appliances, and utensils. These areas can harbour germs and viruses that spread quickly, especially when employees eat or gather in close proximity.
Prioritising cleanliness and hygiene in these areas helps to reduce the likelihood of cross-contamination and keep employees healthy and comfortable, creating an environment in which they can relax, collaborate, and recharge safely.
Washrooms
As one of the most frequently used areas, washrooms can quickly become bacterial hotspots in office environments. Surfaces such as sinks, toilets, and floors easily accumulate germs, so regular and thorough cleaning helps to control their spread throughout the workplace.
Ensuring that washrooms are consistently stocked with essential hygiene supplies such as soap, hand sanitisers and toilet paper encourages employees to practice good personal hygiene. When workers have easy access to these items, they are more likely to properly wash and sanitise their hands, significantly reducing the likelihood of germs spreading back to shared work areas.
Floors
Although often overlooked, floors play an important role in keeping the office clean. High-traffic floors accumulate dirt, dust, and bacteria throughout the day as employees, clients, and visitors move through the building.
Routine floor cleaning and maintenance is critical for improving indoor air quality. This reduces the presence of dust and allergens that would otherwise circulate in the air. This is especially important for employees with allergies or respiratory sensitivities, as cleaner air reduces respiratory issues and improves overall health.
Clean floors also create a professional and pleasant environment, boosting overall morale and comfort.
Recommended NWR Hygiene products/services
NWR Hygiene provides a variety of products and services to help improve hygiene standards in offices across the UK. This includes:
Hand hygiene services
Our hand hygiene services are designed to promote a cleaner, safer office environment by making hygiene simple and accessible to everyone. We offer several products, including:
- Pedal-operated sanitiser stations
These hands-free stations are ideal for high-traffic areas, as they reduce direct contact and the risk of cross contamination. The foot pedal design helps to maintain a clean environment by reducing shared touchpoints.
- Wall-mounted sanitiser dispensers
These dispensers provide a convenient, space-saving solution for keeping sanitiser readily available to employees and visitors. Regular refill services ensure that these stations are always stocked, delivering consistent hygiene support throughout the office.
- Luxury foam soap dispensers
Designed for an effective yet gentle handwashing experience, these dispensers release a conditioning foam soap that’s suitable for frequent use without irritating the skin, encouraging employees to wash their hands thoroughly.
Floor protection services
Our floor protection services are tailored to keep your office looking clean and professional by minimising the spread of dirt and dust. We offer the following products:
- Dust control mats
Designed to capture dust and moisture, these mats help prevent contaminants from entering the office. When placed at entryways, they keep floors cleaner and require little maintenance. These mats can also be customised with your company’s logo or branding.
- Scraper plus mats
Ideal for high-traffic areas, these heavy-duty mats use durable polyamide fibres to trap dirt and debris from shoes before it reaches indoor flooring. By stopping dirt in its tracks, these mats not only reduce cleaning efforts, but also improve safety by keeping floors dry and slip resistant.
Air care services
Our air care services are designed to improve the overall air quality in a commercial setting, helping to sanitise the office and protecting those with allergies or respiratory issues. Our products include:
- Scent diffusers
These devices produce a consistent and subtle fragrance throughout the workplace, improving the atmosphere and creating a welcoming environment. They are ideal for increasing productivity in office environments, producing fresh scents that contribute to employee comfort and focus.
- Automatic air fresheners
These units work to eliminate bacteria and improve air quality, allowing for continuous freshening with minimal maintenance. Our Biozone air fresheners are particularly effective at reducing airborne germs, improving overall air quality, and reducing potential allergens.
- Hygiene Fresca & Aura Units
Designed for washrooms, these units provide continuous odour control and help maintain a pleasant, sanitary environment by preventing unpleasant odours from lingering.
Washroom services
Our washroom services are designed to help you maintain a clean, positive washroom experience for your employees and visitors.
- Feminine hygiene units
Our sanitary bins provide a discreet and hygienic way to dispose of sanitary items while reducing odours and ensuring cleanliness. Each hands-free bin has a covered lid to keep odours out, a scented liner, and an easy-to-clean surface to prevent the build-up of bacteria.
- Vending machines
We have a selection of high-quality vending machines available for installation in washrooms. These machines give access for essential sanitary products such as tampons and pads to employees.
To learn more about how we can support your office with our hygiene services, or to find out more about any of these products, get in touch with a member of our team today.
