Office Cleaning Nasties in Canberra

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A busy office can quickly accumulate bacteria, viruses, and moulds if it isn’t cleaned and sanitised regularly – leading to potential work health and safety (WHS) issues. Many local businesses and organisations require professional office cleaning in Canberra to help manage the WHS risks. In this blog post, we describe some of the health threats (“nasties”) found in offices.

Virulent E. coli is a bacterium that lodges in the lower intestine, resulting in diarrhoea and vomiting. The origins of E. coli can be traced to contaminated meat, raw fruit and vegetables, and unpasteurised dairy products. E. coli is often found on toilet seats and touchpoints, such as bathroom taps and door handles. Regular office cleaning in Canberra can mitigate the risk of E. coli.

Group A streptococcus (GAS) is a bacterium spread via respiratory droplets. Humans, cockroaches, and ants can transmit GAS. Symptoms of GAS include sore throat (pharyngitis), swollen tonsils (tonsillitis), skin inflammation (cellulitis), fever (possibly scarlet fever), and skin sores (impetigo). Professional office cleaning in Canberra can keep surfaces and touchpoints consistently clean.

Mould is often overlooked as the cause of respiratory illnesses and allergies in the office. Mould spores enter the human body through breathing or swallowing. Experienced office cleaning professionals in Canberra understand that mould can build up quickly in offices that are damp or prone to condensation. A mould commonly found in offices is stachybotrys chartarum (black mould).

Several viruses – namely influenza, COVID-19, and norovirus – are responsible for high rates of absenteeism (from the office) and sick leave. All three viruses can be contracted from contaminated surfaces and touchpoints, such as door handles, bathroom taps, and telephone handsets. Frequent office cleaning in Canberra (that focuses on hard surfaces and touchpoints) can lower virus levels.

Salmonella is a bacterium commonly found in contaminated chicken meat, eggs, and unpasteurised milk. Many cases of food poisoning in Canberra are due to salmonella. Symptoms of salmonella poisoning include diarrhoea, vomiting, headaches, stomach pains, and fever. Salmonella can survive on toilet seats, desks, benchtops, and other surfaces for up to several days.

The shigella bacterium is found in contaminated food and water. It’s usually transmitted between humans via faeces deposited on toilet seats, washroom taps, door handles, and other touchpoints in the office. Symptoms of shigella include diarrhoea, vomiting, stomach ache, fever, and blood or mucus in the faeces. Regular office cleaning in Canberra can help reduce the risk of shigella.

Staphylococcus aureus (staph) is a bacterium commonly found on the skin or in the nasal passages of approximately 33 percent of the population. Staph doesn’t usually cause problems for healthy “carriers” unless they cut themselves or transfer the bacterium to another person who’s vulnerable health-wise. Frequent touchpoint and surface cleaning reduces the likelihood of transfer.

To learn more about office cleaning nasties in Canberra or Queanbeyan, please call the knowledgeable team at Canberra Commercial and Office Cleaning on 0413 697 280.