Experts have warned of certain areas in the workplace that are covered with bacteria and could be making us unwell - such as phone chargers and light switches.
This time of year is full of nasty bugs and illnesses doing the rounds, and it’s thought this winter has been one of the worst in recent memory.
Our workplaces are often one of the most common settings where we pick up colds and flus, and we are increasing our risks of becoming infected with an illness by touching common surfaces in our offices which are handled by lots of colleagues each day.
Adam Bennett from Digital ID, a leading supplier of eco-friendly ID card products, said: "Lots of us are suffering from winter bugs at the moment and it feels like this year has been one of the worst in ages in terms of the number of people falling ill.
"While it’s common for us to catch colds and flues at this time of year, it’s not an inevitability and we can minimise our chances by being more aware of how we interact with other people.
"Offices are notorious sources of bugs, because we’re mixing with other people from other households and the more people we mix with, the more likely we are to pick something up.
"However, being more careful with our surroundings at work, including commonly touched items such as door handles, office telephones, computer keyboards and light switches, can give us a fighting chance in the battle against bugs.
"Similarly, surfaces as seemingly innocuous as communal phone chargers, kettles and microwaves, can still be home to a whole host of viruses."
According to Adam, there are a couple of things you can do to make the office environment safer and reduce your risk of picking up an illness.
He continued: "It is advisable to wipe down these surfaces regularly with anti-bacterial wipes as you shouldn’t assume that it has already been done.
"You never know who in your office may be carrying a winter bug, and they may have touched these common surfaces without washing their hands, so precaution is certainly advised."
It's estimated that 149.3 million working days were lost in the UK due to sickness in 2021 - which is around 4.6 days per worker.
And while it's not every bacteria that can be harmful, there are some that can contribute to things like colds, sickness and throat infection.
And it’s not just our offices that pose a risk, as danger lurks in our own homes as well.
A study found more than 340 different bacteria on some 30 household items, with the dish sponge being crowned the most contaminated followed by the toothbrush holder.
Kitchen sinks, pet bowls and coffee holders were also named in the top five most contaminated household items we touch regularly.
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