Battling a sick office

[Guest guest]

Battling a sick office

5 Tips: We'll help you control the germs invading your workplace.

By Gerri Willis, CNNMoney.com contributing columnist

May 10, 2006: 11:43 AM EDT

http://money.cnn.com/2006/05/10/pf/saving/willis_tips/index.htm?

section=money_latest

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) - Your job may be making you sick,

literally. And it may not be the mystery meat in the cafeteria. In

today's Five Tips we're going to tell you how to combat the office

germs.

1. Teachers have the germiest job

A recent study commissioned by Clorox Company found that teachers

had the germiest jobs. In fact teachers had 10 times the germ rates

than any other profession, according to Gerba, a

microbiologist at the University of Arizona who did the study.

That's because they're around kids most of the time - notorious germ

spreaders.

Video More video

CNN's Gerri Willis has tips on staying healthy in a messy office.

From CNN Pipeline (May 10)

Play video

Bankers and accountants had the second highest germ rate in their

offices at about 6,000 bacteria per square inch. Gerba thinks that's

because they tend to sit at their desks all day. Radio disk jockeys

and TV producers came in after that because people tend to share

their desks. The cleanest office environ award goes to lawyers.

Gerba says that's likely because they're often away from their desks.

And of course, the more bacteria you have on your desk, the more

vulnerable you are to the flu and other viruses. In fact, the flu is

estimated to catch up to 60 million Americans. The cost to the

economy, according to employment consultants Challenger, Gray and

Christmas, is about $8 billion in sick pay.

2. Start with your desk

The more time you spend at your desk, the more germs are on it. Your

desk has about 400 times more bacteria than your office toilet seat.

So if you're on deadline with limited time, attack those germs first.

Your phone has the most bacteria per square inch. Use a disinfectant

wipe. Your desktop, keyboard and then your computer mouse should be

next in your germ warfare path. Even your office supplies, like your

pen can be a harbor for germs. Accountants' and bankers' pens

carried about 2,400 germs per square inch.

Fax and copy machine buttons and the first floor elevator button

also have a lot of germs because so many people touch those areas.

But there's not all bad news, there are some cleaner areas of the

office, like the light switch and doorknobs.

3. Toss the plants

It's not just the germs on your desk, but the allergens on your

office plants that can be harmful to your health. May,

author of " My Office is Killing Me! " says that the dead leaves in

the dirt is a ripe source for mold.

If you have clay pots, dust collects on the outside of the pots and

that will cause mold-eating mites to be your new neighbors. If you

can't bear to get rid of your green pals, make sure you don't over-

water your plants and keep their leaves trimmed.

4. Bring your own lamp

Flickering florescent lights have long been associated with torture

chambers or cinder block misery. And for some people, that may be a

true comparison. Flickering florescent lights can cause headaches,

dizziness or fatigue. Sometimes you may not even be aware of the

flickering.

If you suspect you may be sensitive to your office's florescent

light, you'll want to bring in a lamp that uses an incandescent

light on your desk. If you can, turn off your TV or computer screen

to see if that helps.

5. Clear the air

One of the biggest causes of employee illness is air quality. In

fact about 20 to 30 percent of buildings have substandard air,

according to May. The culprit is likely your building's air

conditioning unit.

According to May, up to 80 percent of air conditioning samples he

sees are contaminated with mold. And keep in mind there are no

federal standards for indoor air quality, according to the

Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

If there is an air conditioning problem, it's likely that your

allergies would get worse in the winter rather than in the summer.

That's because during the winter, the mold particles don't have any

moisture to hold them together and they float more freely in dry air.

You may also be experiencing headaches from a chemical used in many

synthetic carpets to attach them to the floor. While only a small

amount of people are sensitive to this chemical, symptoms will be

worse when the carpet is newly installed.

If you suspect your workplace is making you ill, you should talk to

your employer. You can also contact OSHA for more information at 800-

321-OSHA or log onto their Web site at www.osha.gov.

____________________________

Gerri Willis is a personal finance editor for CNN Business News and

the host for Open House. Send your questions, your comments and your

own ideas to us at 5tips@....