How Dirty Is Your Desk?

When we talk about workplace safety, we often discuss common key topics like back injury prevention, fall prevention, bloodborne pathogen safety, etc. These items are so commonly discussed, they get all the attention. But most workers face a different health hazard every day that is invisible and rarely discussed – germs.

According to a study by Dr. Charles Gerba at the University of Arizona, the typical office worker's desk/cubicle contains approximately 400 times more bacteria than the average toilet seat. Gerba stated, "For bacteria, a desk is really the laptop of luxury….They can feast all day from breakfast to lunch and even dinner." With more employees working later hours and spending more time at their desk, the amount of meals eaten at the desk also increases. The number of hours spent at the desk not only increases the amount of bacteria, but the consumption of meals among these germs poses a serious health hazard to employees. The average desktop is said to have 100 times more germs than the average kitchen table.

At the employee’s desk, the most contaminated surfaces tended to be the phones, with desktops coming in at number 2, just above commonly used appliances such as the microwave door handle and water fountain handle. The computer keyboard comes in as the 5th most contaminated surface in the office.

The problem with desks is that they don't get cleaned like most common areas, such as bathrooms or kitchens. In fact, on average, 10,000,000 bacteria can be found lurking where you rest your hand on your desktop. The good news is that this can be remedied easily by simple and regular disinfecting. Daily cleaning with a disinfectant wipe can reduce the bacteria by up to 99.9 percent. A quick wipe with a disinfectant each day may be enough to stave off a miserable illness.