News
Health and Safety Update (October 2008)
How clean is your keyboard?
Computer users who habitually eat lunch at their desks are being
warned that their keyboards could harbour more harmful bacteria
than a toilet seat. They should be encouraged to eat elsewhere- the
canteen or out of the workplace if possible.
The average office keyboard can play host to a range of
bacteria, such as E. Coli and Staphylococcus
Aureus. Both of these, when present in sufficient quantities,
can cause a number of problems including nausea and vomiting.
The health sector has been aware of this issue for some time and
computer hardware companies have developed washable keyboards to
combat the problem.
Providing this kind of keyboard would be a major cost to the
employer so motivating employees to keep their work equipment clean
is the first line of attack against bacterial infections. They
should shake out all dust and crumbs, wipe with a damp cloth and
finish with an alcoholic wipe.