Alarming workplace health stats

As an employer, you may ask yourself whether it makes a difference whether your workforce is healthy or not? Take a look at some of the staggering statistics that are associated with workplace hygiene and you’ll soon have the answer.

As you can imagine, the workplace can be a space in which infections can be spread as there is close contact between people. Often, employers and managers neglect to invest enough in necessary hygiene supplies and the maintenance of washrooms and other shared areas in the workplace.

But…did you know?

• The average desk harbours 400 times more bacteria than a toilet seat. And research shows that something as simple as regular hand washing or sanitising can decrease illness by up to 50%.

• Micro-organisms can be passed on to others when people don’t wash their hands and then touch shared surfaces such as tools, equipment, stationery, printers, water coolers and kitchen facilities. This can have a knock-on effect on the spread of illness.

• 80% of infections are spread because people touch contaminated surfaces.

• A typical South African company with 50 employees loses 150 days a year to infectious diseases which are spread because of sub-standard hand hygiene facilities and practices.

• On average, healthy workers are 56% more productive.

• According to Occupational Care South Africa (OCSA) absenteeism costs the South African economy between R12 -R16 billion annually. Do the sums and see what sick leave is costing you.

• Non-attendance is probably the single most expensive problem affecting business in South Africa.

Good sanitary practices are dependent on your investment - in the time you take to select effective cleaning products and washroom supplies, as well as the training of your staff in how best to use the facilities at their disposal. But good hygiene practices and facilities are often discounted and merely considered an added cost with nominal returns. In the knowledge that poor health leads to absenteeism, low morale, a low level of staff engagement many managers will want to reconsider their investment in hygiene products, washroom equipment and staff training to ensure is a general increase in efficiency and overall health.

So, take a few simple steps today, because healthier workplaces are happier workplace - and everyone wins. Choose Kimberly-Clark Professional because "Together we create exceptional workplaces"