An average person spends 40 hours of their time at work every week. For many of us, those hours are spent in an office setting shared with other employees and visitors. This means that the overall state of the office environment can have a profound impact on your health and happiness.
A clean and well-organized office not only boosts your productivity but also ensures you stay healthy and happy. However, a dirty office can lead to illness and poor concentration at work.
In this post, we discuss the top five dangers of an untidy office and how a commercial cleaning company can help you stay safe and healthy.
1. Disease and illness
An untidy workplace harbors more hazards than your eye can detect. A wide range of bacteria and viruses are abundant on different office surfaces, making them a relatively difficult problem to solve.
Research shows that almost two-thirds of office workers don’t clean or sanitize their work desks regularly. This exposes them to a myriad of viruses and harmful germs that can cause severe illnesses.
Employees who tend to experience sudden headaches or take off from work quite often due to unexplained illnesses can benefit from regular cleaning of the office. Encourage them to wipe down their work areas with a cleanser every day before they start working to get rid of germs.
2. Buildup of clutter
It is not just viruses and bacteria you have to watch out for in an untidy workspace. The presence of vast volumes of clutter can also be dangerous to employees and visitors.
First, a cluttered office portrays a bad impression of the company. It shows how unprofessional and lazy you are. This is a detriment to your business reputation.
Strewn clutter behind doors, in meeting rooms, next to work desks, and along corridors, can also create serious trip hazards for visitors and employees.
It also obscures fire exits and make it more difficult to escape should an emergency occur. You need to take time and clear up all clutter to keep your office safe. If you cannot do it yourself, hire a commercial cleaning company to help you out.
3. A dirty office encourages the growth of mold
If asked, a lot of people will say that their offices are 100% mold-free. However, you need to keep in mind that not all molds are visible. In fact, some of it tends to hide in places you cannot imagine.
Mold is a serious concern and can be a major health risk within the workplace. It can lead to sick building syndrome, where several employees experience nonspecific symptoms that are alleviated when they leave the office building.
The most common symptoms are nausea, headaches, skin irritation, dizziness, and mental fatigue. If an office has mold growth, workers are much more likely to get sick when spores are released into the air they breathe.
4. Trips and falls
Having a lot of clutter around your workspace can be a major catalyst for trips and falls for both your employees and visitors. Clumsily arranged bags, coats, boxes, and document files are easy to slip over, which can lead to severe injuries.
The last thing you need to deal with are personal injury lawsuits filed against your company. They are not only costly but also consume a lot of time that you could use to do something productive.
Obstructions at the top of stairs are particularly dangerous since falling down a flight of several steps can lead to serious injuries.
5.Mental health
Lastly, you need to understand that dirty and messy workspaces create an unprofessional atmosphere leaving you and your employees feeling unfocused, unproductive, and lazy.
Psychological studies have proved that your work environment directly affects your mental health. Clutter can play a significant role in how you feel about your office and yourself. A messy workspace will leave you feeling anxious, overwhelmed, and helpless.
You will start experiencing unnecessary stress, and that can only hinder your overall performance at the workplace.
