Dust Bytes

Recent Photos of Filthy Desktop

2006-11-02T13:27:00.000-04:00

This Desktop was about to receive a new hard drive. It had been 'cleaned' by another tech a few days before this. Note, the dust that was not cleaned in and around the intake fan that covers the CPU.

Beware of Germs on Doorknobs and Pens...

2006-10-15T21:21:00.000-03:00

Germs stay behind after hotel guests check out: study
Sunday, October 1, 2006
The Associated Press

Hotel guests leave behind more than just socks and old paperbacks, according to a new study that found viruses on TV remotes, light switches and even hotel pens after cold sufferers checked out.

The germ testing was done before the rooms were cleaned, so it likely overstates the risks that most travellers would face. Nevertheless, it shows the potential hazards if a hotel's turnaround amounts to little more than changing the sheets and wiping out the tub.
"You sure hope the cleaning people were good," said Dr. Owen Hendley, the University of Virginia pediatrician who presented results of the study Friday at a meeting of the American Society for Microbiology.

Besides hotel hazards, the findings point out things that people may not think to clean in their homes when someone has a cold.

"We know that viruses can survive on surfaces for a long time — more than four days," said Dr. Birgit Winther, an ear, nose and throat specialist at the university who led the study.
Its aim was to test the survival of rhinoviruses, which cause about half of all colds, especially in children.

Items tested for germs
Researchers had 15 people with lab-confirmed rhinovirus colds spend a night in individual rooms at a nearby hotel and, after they checked out, tested 10 items they said they had touched. About one-third of the objects were contaminated with rhinovirus.
"We were surprised to find so many," Winther said.

The virus was found on seven out of 14 door handles and six of 14 pens. Six out of 15 light switches, TV remotes and faucets tested positive, as did five of 15 phones. Shower curtains, coffee makers and alarm clocks also harboured viruses.
Surprisingly, the virus turned up on only one of the 10 toilet handles tested.
Experts did not test items like bedspreads because cloth dries out germs, making them far less likely to survive than they do on smooth or moist surfaces.

Several months later, five of the 15 participants were asked to return to the hotel and visit rooms where certain items had been deliberately contaminated with their own mucus, which had been frozen previously when they had their colds.

Because they had developed immunity to these germs, doctors could study how easily they picked them up without putting them at risk of getting sick again.

Each volunteer visited two rooms and their hands were tested afterward for viruses. Results were positive on 60 per cent of contacts in rooms where mucus had dried for at least an hour, and on 33 per cent of those in rooms where mucus had dried overnight.

The study was sponsored by Reckitt-Benckiser Inc., maker of Lysol, but did not test any products. Doctors with no ties to the company designed the study to lay the groundwork for future research on germs and ways to get rid of them.

Some in the hotel industry say they have strict policies on how to disinfect rooms between guests.

"We do wipe everything down, from the remote control to the telephone," said Michelle Pike, corporate director of housekeeping for Hilton brand hotels, which has 1,900 hotels around the world. Most of them are independently operated but the chain does have rules for disinfection, she said.

Hilton, like many hotels, has taken steps to make common items easier to clean, such as encasing phone books in plastic and replacing bedspreads with duvet covers than can be washed before the next visitor checks in, she said.

Also read from the Saturday October 14, 2006 Halifax Chronicle Herald.

Contact via Phone

2006-08-08T23:22:00.000-03:00

Dust Bytes
Cellular: (902) 233-4477

Great article on "how to help your staff stay healthy" from Contact Management magazine

2006-05-10T20:54:00.000-03:00

www.contactmanagement.ca (pdf, highlight begins on page 5)

March/April 2006

Creating a healthy workplace

"When was the last time your contact centre keyboards, computer mice and desks were wiped with a disinfectant? Check out what else you could be doing to keep your staff well."

New Email address

2006-05-10T03:01:00.000-03:00

dustbytes@ns.sympatico.ca

dustbytes.ca will soon stop. Will use this blogger as site.

2006-03-26T18:39:00.000-04:00

Dust Bytes is still very much in business. The following are pics of a recently viewed, dirty keyboard.

Pandemic Influenza: Worldwide Preparedness

2005-12-02T12:29:00.000-04:00

How are Pandemic, Avian and Seasonal Flu different?

Pandemic Flu: Currently there is no pandemic flu. A flu pandemic is a global outbreak that occurs when a new influenza A virus causes serious human illness and spreads easily from person to person.

Avian Flu: Bird flu is caused by avian influenza viruses, which occur naturally among birds.

Seasonal Flu: The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses.

Dust Bytes Value

2005-12-01T09:39:00.000-04:00

What does Dust Bytes do for your Business and/or Office?

Dust Bytes will "properly" clean and disinfect your computer keyboard, computer mice and desktop land line phone. Both on the surface and inside.

Why?

Take the time to read through some of this blogger and the welcome information at www.dustbytes.ca to learn what actually gathers inside these digital devices. It is very alarming. In this day, with the added threat of the flu pandemic, avian and bird flu and other virus and germs, it appears more important than ever to "properly" disinfect.

When would Dust Bytes do this?

It will be discussed by Dust Bytes and Client, but Dust Bytes would recommend evenings and weekends when the office is more accessible.

What else?

Public "touch" points are very important. Some examples are ATM machines, Debit keypads, security keypads, kiosks, cellular phones and PDA's.

Welcome to Dust Bytes

2005-11-09T20:57:00.000-04:00

Welcome to Dust Bytes
E-Workstation Sanitation

Thank-you for taking the time in your valuable day to visit and show interest in Dust Bytes. Dust Bytes supplies a service in which we remove dirt, contaminates, germs and 'superbugs' such as folites and microbes from your electronic device and electronic workstations. These devices such as your computer keyboards, digital keypads, telephones, cellular phones and PDA's are common gathering places for these now called 'superbugs'. These bugs are becoming resistant to common cleaning methods. They are causing an increase in flu like symptoms, allergic reaction, other respiratory distress and skin irritation. The primary collector of the dirt, dust and human dander is the computer keyboard.

After much research and communication with leading cleaning resources, dust bytes has developed a unique, environment responsible sanitation procedure. Our procedure is scent free, non-allergenic and kills the bacteria in and around these devices. Our goal is to do that, create a healthy working environment. Health and Safety Committees and Doctors are aware of this and support it. Employers are seeing the importance and benefits to a cleaner work environment.

How did this come about? Well, three years ago I dropped an object inside my computer keyboard. I could not pick it out. I turned the keyboard upside down and had to shake the object out. What followed that object out onto my keyboard tray, was very surprising...and disgusting. There was so much dirt and dust that gathered inside this keyboard. I was not the only person that had used this keyboard over it's short life, but, what a disgusting mess. I now thought of all the other workstations in my area, the same floor, the same building. That is a tremendous amount of dust, dirt and what I was to learn was human dander. Hundreds of thousands, actually millions of these electronic devices and keyboards are used everyday. Many of these are shared with others.

First, out of curiosity, I began researching the proper cleaning procedures for these devices. There is an amazing amount of information and media. Most recently, on this topic and the fear that it is creating. In particular, areas where these devices are "hot seated" or used by more than one individual. In Hospitals, Schools, other large offices and a big problem in Call Centre environments. After a considerable amount of work, discussing this growing issue with the medical profession, the cleaning profession and others, Dust Bytes has located and have the correct tools to properly clean and disinfect this concern. You have to understand, you can not just shake this out or blow it out, with air pressure canisters. This removes some of the dirt but also spreads it further in the surrounding area. What is accompanying these micro-sized particles is becoming very serious in the spread of infectious disease. As another example, 90% of the dust in these devices is made up of human dander which encourages the growth of dust mites.

What is more disturbing here, is the fact that on the average, your workstations are cleaned less than once a year and houses millions of these dust mites, dust particles, folites and 'superbugs'. Many of which create and spread cold and 'flu' like symptoms.

Thank-you again,

Gordon Rendell
902.233.4477
E-mail: dustbytes@ns.sympatico.ca

The workplace. It's a jungle of germs out there.

2005-10-31T12:00:00.000-04:00

Think about it. Your housekeeping staff cleans toilets regularly, but personal work areas, like desktops, are rarely ever cleaned. We're surrounded by germs, and add more each time we cough or blow our noses.

Why don't we just wash?

Because soap and water are in the restroom. We're busy at our desks...where the germs are.

The spread of germs in your workplace can cost you BIG!
What is it costing you?

* Healthcare costs
* Absenteeism
* Presenteeism (coming to work sick)
* Other related business costs

Spread the Word…Not the Germ (Fed Ex)

2005-10-31T11:57:00.000-04:00

"The fact that I can deliver less absenteeism and have team members at their work stations to deliver the kind of stellar service that we're known for is my biggest accomplishment."

Regina Sacha
VP, Human Resources
FedEx Custom Critical

"Preventive maintenance is one of the biggest aspects of being well and a bit part of being healthy."

...what results will you get?

Where the germs are. (purell/phizer/gogo)

2005-10-31T11:54:00.000-04:00

Germs are everywhere. Soap and water aren't.

Whether or not you see them, germs are everywhere in your work environment. They're on your desk, your phone and even on the elevator button. In fact, according to a recent study1, the average desk harbors over 10 million germs, with more than 80% of them transmitted by hands2. If your work is like most, where colleagues interact in close proximity, it's easy to see how quickly those germs can spread.

But how much are these nasty little germs costing you? A study in the Journal of Environmental Medicine (JOEM) suggests that respiratory illnesses alone can cost as much as $134 per employee3. Multiply that by the number of employees at your company, and you can see how just a few germs can cost your company both time and money – big time.

More on Super Bacteria

2005-10-26T21:49:00.000-03:00

Industry News

'Super' bacteria live on sheets, fingernails: study

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The mutated, drug-resistant "superbugs" that cause an increasing number of hospital infections and deaths can live for weeks on bed linens, computer keyboard covers and under acrylic fingernails, U.S. researchers reported on Monday.

The study supports other research that shows super-strict hygiene is needed to battle the bacteria, some of which are now nearly impossible to kill even with the strongest antibiotics.

A team at sanitation-services company Ecolab Inc. dabbed methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus onto samples of bed linen, keyboard covers and acrylic fingernails.

MRSA could be detected eight weeks later on acrylic fingernails, six weeks later on computer keyboard covers and five days later on bed linens, the researchers told a meeting in Atlanta of the American Society for Microbiology.

"The results of this study clearly demonstrate the need for frequent hand washing and environmental disinfection in health care settings," said researcher Kris Owens of Mendota Heights, Minnesota-based Ecolab.

Staphylococcus aureus is usually harmless and very common, found on skin or in the noses of about 30 percent of people. It can cause stubborn problems such as rashes and boils and an infection is often mistaken for a spider bite.

Computer Hygiene

2005-10-26T21:43:00.000-03:00

INDUSTRY NEWS:

National Survey Links Computer Failures To Filth and Neglect (8/1)
POSTED: 08/01/2002

Real bugs, such as cockroaches and spiders, are threatening U.S. computers, according to a new survey of computer repair technicians.

...linked 72 percent of computer CPU failures to poor maintenance. Inside, besides bugs and Intel, technicians also found caches of marijuana and cash; drivers for screws and nuts, and many generations of mice, from babies to rodent skeletons.

Bad PC hygiene was linked to 70 percent of keyboard failures, and 85 percent of breakdowns in printers and mouse devices.

PC users came under harsh criticism from technicians for failing to take even simple steps to safeguard hardware ranging from processors and printers to keyboards and mice (the non-furry kind). The 2002 Dust-Off Survey of PC Hygiene found that nearly 20 percent of technicians believe computer care has deteriorated recently, 13 percent saw improvement and 67 percent recognized little change.

One technician estimated that 90 percent of his hardware replacements result from excessive dirt. Listed among the most vulnerable components, particularly around cigarette smoke, were fans, keyboards, and printers.

"For the most part, end-users do not keep hygiene in mind," said one respondent. "Simple cleaning steps once a week can prevent long-term damage."

Added another, "Often I'll enter a house which is impeccably clean, but when I pull out the computer, it's filthy. It's not the end-users fault; they just don't realize that certain parts of the computer need to be cleaned in order to function properly."

Many technicians cautioned against disassembling computer components, without adequate instruction, yet strongly recommended regular cleaning...

Several were frustrated that attempts at education sometimes were disregarded. "Even after we tell them the `why' and the `how,' they still don't get it, or just don't care," concluded one. "They need a severe choking ..."

Sample of On-Site Computer Cleaning company, what they include

2005-10-23T20:46:00.000-03:00

Protek Services
On-site Computer Cleaning

Indoor Air Quality Solutions
Server Room Cleaning

Hardware/Software Tech Support

"Dirty keyboards, mice and telephones are the biggest spreaders of bacteria and viruses, resulting in sickness in the workplace."

Solution

The
Protek
"Flu Reducer Program"

On-Site Computer Cleaning
Computers
Printers + Faxes
Peripherals
Telephones + Adding machines
Flu Reducer Program
Smoke & Water Electronics Restoration
ABM Maintenance & Cleaning Service

Computers

CPU Tower - Dust and dirt cause problems. Your power supply and cooling fan draws in dust, dirt, lint and hair into your PC causing overheating. System overheating can cause problems like..
- freeze ups - corrupt files - system errors - computer failure

Proteks' preventive maintenance internal cleaning extracts all the dust and dirt from chips, boards, cabling, power supply, ports and exposed drive heads. Careful cleaning of the CPU cooling fan is done and noisy fans on the verge of failing are reported to the system person. They also reset the chips, cards and cables which can work loose through normal cable creep. A detailed external cleaning completes the detailed tower cleaning.

Keyboards & Mice - Your keyboard and mice are an ideal breeding ground for germs that live in the dirt buildup on these items that you touch by the minute. We first brush and vacuum the food particles, dead skin, staples and other debris from between the keys. We then scrub the keyboard and mice with hog hair brushes to remove the grime buildup and then sanitize to kill any germs. Many Protek clients use our Flu Reducer Program to help reduce employee sick leave caused by colds and the flu.The mouse ball is removed and rejuvenated for better tracking and easier manipulation. Study proves that desks harbor more germs than toilet seats!

Monitors - Monitors attract dirt very well because of the static field that surrounds them. Vents are vacuumed plus the exterior is scrubbed down, ink is removed as well as all glue from stickers. Finally the screen is wiped to remove grime and ink. Then the system is booted up for system test and verification.

Note Book Computers, plus - The mobile business person of today uses PDAs, Note Book computers and Cellular Phones to keep in touch on the road. Protek cleans these items as part of our on-site computer cleaning service.

Preventive Maintenance Benefits
- eliminates 80% of the reasons your computer will break down.
- saves you and your company TIME, MONEY and STRESS.

Printers & Faxes
(impact, inkjet, laser, large document printers)

These are the work horses of your office. When they don't perform properly your presentations, letters or quotations look unprofessional.

A regular scheduled cleaning program is a must to keep printers and fax machines working consistently and trouble free. Depending on your office environment some units will require anywhere from every 3 months cleaning to a 6 or 12 month cleaning schedule.

Protek provides a detailed interior cleaning of the paper path, corona wire, rollers and other interior parts that the paper passes by. Paper pickup and rubber rollers are rejuvenated so multiple copies are not picked up. Finally the exteriors are scrubbed down so they have a "like new" appearance.

Peripherals

We clean items like...

*
photo copiers
*
interact units
*
typewriters
*
postage machines
*
point of sales units
*
wall air conditioners
*
hubs and routers
*
scanners and plotters
*
specialized electronics
*
control panels
*
bill counters

Telephones & Adding Machines

Ear wax buildup, makeup on telephone ear receivers plus the holes in your receiver mouth piece, check them, it can be dirtier than you would care to see. Are your telephone buttons blacker than they should be?

Protek will scrub each section of your telephone and then disinfect it to a "like new" unit. You will be very pleased and enjoy using this valuable business tool again. Your adding machine will undergo the same thorough Protek cleaning and disinfecting as your telephone.

Companies find that their staff are very appreciative of having clean, sanitized electronics to work with and some notice a reduction in the number of sick days. Many Protek clients use our Flu Reducer Program to help reduce employee sick leave caused by colds and the flu. Study proves that desks harbor more germs than toilet seats!

Flu Reducer Program

As a valued participant of our annual Protek electronic cleaning service you can take advantage of

The Protek "Flu Reducer Program"

Protect your staff between the annual cleaning of your electronics by cleaning and sanitizing the continuously touched exterior of the electronics every 3, 4 or 6 months.

Protek will discount the single unit cleaning price for
a minimum of 4 workstations and/or $75 per cleaning as follows:

* 22% discount for 3 - 4 month cleaning
* 17% discount for 6 month cleaning
o Keyboards
o Mice
o Telephones
o Adding Machines

You should experience:

1. Healthier staff
2. Fewer sick days
3. Happier staff
4. No health concern about using someone else's workstation

*** Take the Cold Quiz ***

Smoke & Water Restoration

Protek can make smoke and water damaged electronics and equipment look and run like new… fast.

Our job is to get customers businesses up and running as quickly as possible. We can do this through:

Working directly with full service restoration companies

* Providing our services on-site or off site
* Using hi-tech chemicals and procedures
* Especially trained & uniformed technicians
* Being available 24/7
* Our friendly, excellent, Protek customer service

If you are a restoration company, business or home owner we can help when smoke or water affects your electronics.
ABM Maintenance & Cleaning Service

This service is especially designed for the banking community or companies who own or lease Automated Banking Machines (ABMs)

Our service includes…

* Detailed cleaning and disinfecting of the entire ABM unit and surround of "in branch" or outdoor drive by ABM units
* Removal of all grim, graffiti and worn adhesive ABM labels
* Detailed cleaning of all buttons and monitor
* Anti-static treatment applied to keep dust and dirt from adhering to unit
* ABM damage or burnt out lights reported to appropriate person

Proteks' objective is to enhance and improve your bank's image by helping you maintain immaculate cash dispensing equipment in your market area.
Study proves that desks harbour more germs than toilet seats!

Associated Press
April 11, 2002 07:48:00

TUCSON - The average office desk harbours 400 times more bacteria than the average toilet seat, according to a new University of Arizona study.

"The premise of the study was to find the germiest place in the workplace," said Chuck Gerba, who headed the study.

While telephones had the highest levels of bacteria, desks, fax machines, water fountain handles, microwave door handles and computer keyboards also had high levels, researchers found.

The study, funded by The Clorox Co., analyzed more than 7,000 samples from personal work spaces and common areas in offices in Tucson, New York, San Francisco and Tampa, Fla.

Community forums

2005-10-23T20:23:00.000-03:00

Re: Washing Hands
Posted: Jun 2, 2005 8:09 AM

...There was a story on CBC Venture about a year or two ago, that was profiling a company in Toronto that specializes in cleaning offices the way they should be cleaned. Companies that utlizied the services of this entrepreneur, found that they had a 40% reduction in employee sick time after getting the office cleaned PROPERLY

Dirty Keyboards

2005-10-23T20:04:00.000-03:00

Hospitals are sick of dirty keyboards

Posted Apr 11, 2005, 6:14 PM ET by Barb Dybwad
Related entries: Cellphones, Handhelds

So it looks like LG and Samsung were actually onto something with that whole anti-bacterial thing. Now hospitals are starting to report a similar effect from all sorts of keyboard-bearing devices (Blackberries, PDAs and the like), the proliferation of which is apparently posing a challenge for infection control. It’s not as if the fact that stuff you put your hands all over can transmit disease is new, but in hospital environments there do float around some nasties of the atypical variety. Contaminated keyboards there can cause skin infections as well as trigger life-threatening bloodstream infections such as VRE and MRSA. We have no idea what those things are, but any disease with a name long enough to warrant an acronym, we’re pretty sure we don’t want. So wash those grubby mitts, pals, particularly after your next sickbed visit.

Reader comments:

Posted Apr 11, 2005, 6:36 PM ET by wolssiloa

i can testify to this. the more computers that are around us, the more dirty keyboards we will encounter. i clean my own keyboards regularly. the owners of computers with keyboards need to make a plan to clean their keyboards and mice too.

Posted Apr 11, 2005, 6:49 PM ET by Murray

We need more keyboards that are washable(submersible). The mechanical nature of keyboards is a problems too. Lots of places for germs and dirt to get under and inbetween keys.

Posted Apr 11, 2005, 8:46 PM ET by Barry B

OK, so now I'm a bit phobic. How does one clean/disinfect/sanitize a keyboard? Seems all I've been doing is kicking the microbes into the air with my canned air. Autoclaving sounds like a good idea, but even though my laptop can run hot, I don't think it could stand up to the steam treatment.

Posted Apr 12, 2005, 3:59 AM ET by Neil T.

MRSA is becoming a bit of a problem in a few UK hospitals. As Bob said, it's resistant to Methicillin which is a popular antibiotic so it has to be treated using other methods. It's often known as a "superbug" due to its resistance to common antibiotics.

Posted Aug 31, 2005, 5:44 PM ET by Hannah Knock

Keep IT Clean is a proffesional IT/Computer cleaning Service. We have had Microbiological examinations to prove how diffrent the hygiene levels go up after having your IT equiptment cleaned

Posted Oct 12, 2005, 4:03 PM ET by Cheryl

I own and operate a computer cleaning company in Ontario Canada, I have seen the worst of dirty keyboards and have come across some of the nasties things hidden behind the keys...

Life at work can be dangerous, and then there's the bacteria

2005-10-17T02:17:00.000-03:00

When it comes to the office, you're probably better off working in a bathroom stall than at your desk.

The average office desk has 21,000 bacteria per square inch while the average toilet seat has... 50, according to researcher Chuck Gerba, a microbiologist at the University of Arizona. That's an impressive 400 times fewer germs for toilets.

Why the difference? Although we spend much of our working lives at our desks, it turns out most of us rarely clean them (unless you're one of those rare breeds who keeps a can of Lysol and a dust buster on hand at all times). We'll eat over them, spill coffee and juice on them, but clean our desks? Forget about it.

The office rest room, however, typically gets a lot more attention, including a cleaning every night.

I was intrigued by Gerba's findings. So I picked up my keyboard the other day and inspected it. It wasn't pretty. I've been working at this particular desk for only three months, so most of the dried food particles, potato chip crumbs, and rainbow-colored stains that were in just about every nook and cranny of that keyboard could not all have come from me.

Then I went to the office bathroom and checked the toilet seat. Spotless.

I stumbled upon the Gerba research while browsing through a book called the ''100 Most Dangerous Things in Everyday Life and What You Can Do About Them,'' by Laura Lee.

I figured that in case I didn't have enough things to be paranoid about, I should see what Lee had to say.

By now, we are all aware that typing at awkward angles causes carpal tunnel syndrome, computer screens are bad for our eyes, and fluorescent office lighting can give some people a major migraine. But according to Lee, there are other, less obvious threats lurking about our cubes and supply cabinets about which we might also want to obsess.

Take office supplies. While most of us consider things like staplers, erasers, and rulers harmless, Lee says these items injure more than 13,000 people every year.

And what about those pesky paper clips? Next time you get the urge to take one, untwist it, and use it for the purpose of personal hygiene, I strongly advise you to resist.

According to the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System, which tracks emergency room visits for injuries caused by consumer products, more paper clips are ending up in people's ears, noses, and throats than on paper, where the manufacturer intended them to be.

Lee's book also highlights some of the other, innovative ways our fellow workers have mutilated themselves with office supplies: ''accidentally put correction fluid in eye thinking it was eye drops,'' ''accidentally drank computer ink with water,'' ''sat on letter opener and pierced left buttock.'' Ouch.

While I've never received anything more than a nasty paper cut and perhaps a stapled finger in all my years in an office, Lee's book left me feeling a little nervous.

To feed my neurosis, I decided to continue my research and check out the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's website to see what it had to say about office injuries.

American office workers are an awkward bunch, according to the CDC, with employee falls being the most common office accident. So keep a sharp eye out for open file drawers, electrical cords, loose carpeting, and slippery floors. And just to be on the safe side, the CDC offers instructions for ''proper'' falling techniques.

And then there's heavy lifting. Ever watch some people try to change the water cooler bottle? Although I couldn't find any statistics on how many and what types of injuries these bottles cause in the office each year, I imagine it's a pretty high number of strains and sprains.

In fact, just last week a colleague of mine injured her wrist while trying to maneuver a hulking jug onto the top of the cooler and line it up just so.

Perhaps that's why in many offices only one or two people seem to be the ones risking life and limb to supply the rest of us with water. This then creates another threat: bitter colleagues. In my experience, those who repeatedly change the water bottle do not appreciate those, like myself, who avoid this task at all costs.

A former receptionist, for example, began leaving signs on the empty water bottles that read PLEASE CHANGE OR ELSE. My choices were now to risk getting caught sneaking water form the bottles I never changed, or to become dehydrated. From a safety perspective, neither option looked particularly promising.

So with all these hazards threatening to take us down at the office, what's a poor worker to do? The first solution I came up with was self-employment. If it's the office environment that's the problem, all we need to do is eliminate the environment and work from home, right? Wrong.

Alas, even self-employment has made it into Lee's book. She says those who are self-employed work more hours, deal with more stress and uncertainty, have less access to healthcare and, in the end, have a greater risk of dying on the job than those who work for someone else.

Sound's like all that's left for us to do is to go to work, put on our best hazmat suits, move our desks into the bathroom, and hope for the best.

February 7, 2005 SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER

2005-10-17T02:13:00.000-03:00

Ew, bugs! Computer keyboards and mice are havens for germs

Monday, February 7, 2005

By MICHAEL WOODS
THE (TOLEDO, OHIO) BLADE

Mention health hazards from computer keyboards and mice and people think of repetitive stress injuries -- joint and tendon problems from pounding those keys and mouse-clicking thousands of times a day.

Those health problems and others from improper computer use are important.

Much more common, however, are colds, flu and other infectious diseases that people catch from contact with keyboards and mice. Like telephone handsets and door knobs, keyboards and mice are important points where germs get transferred from one person to another.

Some keyboards and mice look like health hazards. They're filthy -- stained and encrusted with grease and dirt. I've seen keyboards where keys have actually jammed due to an accumulated goop of food crumbs, spilled drinks, hairs, fingernail clippings and other debris.

Keyboards and mice that look squeaky clean also may deserve a health hazard sticker. If you only knew what's lurking there, you might back off -- or run out the door screaming.

Your fingers would collect fewer germs from tapping on the typical toilet seat than they do from using the average keyboard or mouse.

Charles Gerba, a microbiologist at the University of Arizona, counted bacteria on different surfaces found in offices and homes. The study was funded by The Clorox Co., which sells household disinfectants.

Gerba found that office toilet seats had an average of 49 germs per square inch. Germ counts on computer keyboards were more than 60 times higher, averaging 3,295 bacteria per square inch. Even worse were the tops of desks (21,000) and telephones (25,000).

Makes sense, doesn't it? Toilet seats get frequent cleaning with strong disinfectants that kill germs. Keyboards and mice may never get sanitized.

People are constantly coughing and sneezing on them. Germs from unwashed fingers and hands also get deposited. Some can remain alive for several days. People who share computers share each other's germs.

It's a special risk in offices where workers share computers and in families with children notorious for paying little attention to hygiene.

Businesses may reduce illness and absenteeism by scheduling keyboards, mice, telephones and other often-touched surfaces for regular cleaning. Families may stay healthier by doing the same.

Many kinds of services, devices and products are available.

Search the Internet for terms like "sanitize keyboards mice" to see examples. They range from devices that use ultraviolet light to kill germs without touching the surface to aerosol sprays and pre-moistened towelettes.

Inexpensive alternatives are better than nothing. Unplug the computer. Mix a few drops of dishwashing detergent and water. Gently wipe the keys and mouse with a soft cloth dampened (not wet) in the solution. Repeat regularly.

Individuals can help by remembering the high germ counts. Computer users unconsciously touch their eyes, mouth and nose while working. Few people would do that after touching a toilet seat. And a keyboard is 60 times germier.

Legal News

2005-10-17T01:42:00.000-03:00

Keyboards are Contributing to Hospital Infections
April 26, 2005

A new study found that computer keyboards have become a breeding ground for a host of bacteria that could spread to a doctor's patients. Doctors must follow basic hand hygiene guidelines in order to prevent transmission.

Office Life, The Bacteria At Your Fingertips Can Be a Desk-Jockey's Hazard, October 16, 2005

2005-10-17T01:33:00.000-03:00

An exhaustive poll of my friends reveals that all sorts of stuff is being spilled over the average keyboard: biscuit crumbs, mango, fizzy beverage, the odd stray cornflake, nail varnish, rice, soy sauce, coffee, wine (red and white), hand cream. Under your keys lie a faithful record of every snack, lunch and beverage break you've had at your desk since you joined the company. It's like typing on a pile of week-old dirty dishes.

This isn't only somewhat gross (and likely to lead to the keyboard's demise at some point) but it also makes your main data input device a Petri dish of bacteria and other microorganisms that could kill you before the job does. A study conducted by Charles Gerba, a professor of environmental microbiology at the University of Arizona, concluded that the computer keyboard was the fifth most germ-contaminated spot in an office. (Topped only by your phone, your desktop -- home to an impressive 10 million bacteria -- and the handles on the office water fountain and microwave door.) Out of 12 surfaces studied the toilet seat came in cleanest, in case you're wondering where to have your next lunch break.

On top of that, a study by Chicago's Northwestern Memorial Hospital earlier this year found that hospital keyboards harbored bacteria for more than 24 hours, during which time it easily spreads to bare, and sometimes gloved, hands. These are bacteria that could cause pneumonia and infections of the abdomen, skin, urinary tract and blood stream. Not the kind of thing you want nearby. The study's advice to users: Wash your hands every time you use a computer. I assume that's now a sign on every hospital PC.

OK, so you probably don't work in a hospital. But think about your workplace. Think about how much time you spend there eating, thinking, napping, typing, talking on the phone, drinking. Now wipe down your desktop, your phone, your mouse with disinfected cloths. But what about the keyboard, where your fingers spend much of the day? Not quite so easy, with all those nooks and crannies.

It's not impossible, however. There are things you can do with an external keyboard. For a start, clean beneath the keys. Remove the screws on the keyboard's underside, separate the two parts and remove all detritus with a brush. Wipe the keys with a disinfected (but relatively dry) cloth.

In this age of bird flu, severe acute respiratory syndrome and what-have-you, it isn't a bad idea. Other options are limited: One is to buy a keyboard protector -- a piece of plastic, basically, that covers the keyboard. I found one (about $4 from www.teknomaster.com) that fits all ordinary keyboards but which sounded, from its packing, more like a condom ("Super thin for best feeling"). When I put it on the keyboard I felt like I was typing through a badly fitting surgical mask.

Bottom line: Treat your keyboard with respect. Sanitize it regularly. You never know, it may one day be as clean as the office toilet seat.

Dirty hands and dirty keyboards spread diseases

2005-10-17T01:27:00.000-03:00

...Meanwhile, an AOL survey has found that the average computer keyboard is accumulating up to two grams of dirt a month with most of the debris related to people eating at their keyboards. So wash your hands ten times a day and clean your computer keyboard - with an alcohol-soaked cloth (after disconnecting it) at least once a week - and you'll stay free from many nasty diseases!

Microbiologic and Infection Control Information to Reduce the Potential Transmission of Pathogens to Patients via Computer Hardware

2005-10-17T01:12:00.000-03:00

Computer technology from the management of individual patient medical records to the tracking of epidemiologic trends has become an essential part of all aspects of modern medicine. Consequently, computers, including bedside components, point-of-care testing equipment, and handheld computer devices, are increasingly present in patients’ rooms. Recent articles have indicated that computer hardware, just as other medical equipment, may act as a reservoir for microorganisms and contribute to the transfer of pathogens to patients. This article presents basic microbiological concepts relative to infection, reviews the present literature concerning possible links between computer contamination and nosocomial colonizations and infections, discusses basic principles for the control of contamination, and provides guidelines for reducing the risk of transfer of microorganisms to susceptible patient populations.

In 2000, in an excellent study in an adult intensive care unit (ICU), Bures et al.28 cultured a number of microorganisms, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Enterococcus, and Enterobacter, from computer keyboards. Cultures from patients in the ICU showed similar microorganisms. Since MRSA can potentially be a particularly dangerous microbe, the MRSA on the keyboards was compared with the MRSA in the infected patients, using pulse-field gel electrophoresis, a particularly sensitive molecular genetics technique for distinguishing among isolates of the same genus and species. This technique showed that the MRSA causing clinical infection in two of the ICU patients was identical to the MRSA isolated from the keyboards, thereby establishing a direct connection between the infected patients and the computers.

In 2001, Devine et al.29 cultured for MRSA on ward computer terminals in two different hospitals. In hospital A, 12 terminals were cultured and 5 (42%) were positive for MRSA. In hospital B, 13 terminals were swabbed and 1 (8%) was positive for the bacteria. Not surprisingly, hospital A had a significantly higher rate of MRSA transmission for its patients than hospital B. These data are consistent with computer keyboards playing a role in the transmission of the bacteria.

Hence, these studies indicate that it is quite possible for a long-lived microbe on a computer keyboard to be transferred to a staff member’s hands and then to a patient where it could potentially cause an infection.

...relying on a person to meticulously clean the keyboard or the mechanical mouse without harming the hardware. ..., if they save staff time, decrease the need for continuous staff behavior surveillance and education, and/or prevent nosocomial infections, they are often worth the up-front time and expense.

Cleaning and Disinfecting
Cleaning is the removal of all foreign material, such as dirt and organic material from an object.40 Sterilization is the complete elimination or destruction of all forms of microbial life, while disinfection is a process that eliminates many or all pathogenic microorganisms, with the exception of bacterial spores, from inanimate objects.40 Since there are relatively few situations in which computer hardware would need to be sterilized, this discussion basically addresses disinfection, although many of the comments are also applicable to sterilization. Because dirt can harbor microbes from the normal disinfecting process, successful disinfection should be preceded by cleaning. However, certain disinfectant cleaners may accomplish both tasks in one process.

There is no perfect disinfecting agent; each chemical has its own advantages and disadvantages, depending on the situation in which it is used. Therefore, in any medical facility, the infection control personnel should be consulted about appropriate cleaning/disinfecting agents and procedures. Factors to be considered include the level of disinfection necessary for that particular computer, the potential types of organic and microbial contamination that might be present, and the cleaning/disinfecting agents available. When choosing these agents, besides efficacy in disinfection, issues such as patient and personnel safety (e.g., flammability, toxicities), ease of use (e.g., availability, need for pre-mixing), aesthetics (e.g., odors, color changes), and costs need be considered. Guidelines for selection and use of disinfectants are available in what is now a classic article in the infection control literature.41

In addition, one needs to assess the compatibility of the disinfecting chemical with the computer hardware to be cleaned/disinfected. Many chemical disinfectants require that the surface to be disinfected be exposed to the liquid disinfectant for 10 minutes. Such exposure could create an electrical or corrosive problem to certain pieces of computer hardware. In some circumstances, such as the computer keyboard, the problem of chemical damage to the keyboard components can be alleviated by the use of a thin plastic keyboard cover (aka skin), which can be liberally soaked with disinfectant without fear of compromising the computer.

Summary

Since the introduction of computers into the health care setting 50 years ago, there has been a growing recognition of the value of this technology in providing quality medical care. As the variety of computer devices has increased from PCs to various portable units and as the availability of software packages has grown from medical records programs to diagnostic aides, there has been an increased presence of computer hardware in all patient care venues from admissions and clinic areas to ICUs. Only recently have studies begun to investigate whether these computer devices can serve as fomites for the harboring and transfer of microorganisms involved in nosocomial colonizations or infections in hospitalized patients. Considering the long periods of time that some microorganisms can survive on plastic surfaces and the fact that microbes can be readily transferred from inanimate surfaces to hands and visa versa, it is not surprising that frequently-touched computer keyboards have been implicated in nosocomial colonizations and infections in various patient populations (see Table 2).

Control measures are quite simple and can include engineering modifications, such as the use of keyboard covers, cleaning and disinfection of appropriate computer hardware surfaces, and handwashing with or without gloving of pertinent personnel (see Figure 1 [triangle]). When these control practices are used and to what extent they are utilized will depend upon a balance between the amount of risk to the patient population being served (see Table 1) and the practical feasibility (time and cost) of the measures being considered. As expected, different medical facilities have instituted various levels of infection control relative to computer equipment (see Table 2). In general, the medical facility’s resident infection control staff can advise as to that facility’s routine control practices for medical devices. Working with this staff, specifics for the microbiologically safe use of individual computer hardware in a variety of medical settings can be determined. Observance of these simple control procedures can potentially decrease morbidity and mortality for patients and reduce medical care costs for hospitals and care giving organizations.

Cross-Contamination, September 2004

2005-10-17T00:58:00.000-03:00

Cross-Contamination
Commercial facilities can be overlooked breeding grounds for disease. How BSCs can create a healthier environment

By Dan Weltin
Email the CP editors.
Building service contractors typically associate cross-contamination with medical facilities, but they shouldn’t overlook another market segment: commercial facilities.

Although BSCs aren’t likely to run into monkey pox or severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) while cleaning offices and banks, they’ll certainly come up against the likes of influenza and the common cold — afflictions that, combined, cost companies $15 billion annually in lost productivity, studies show. What would your clients say if you told them you could help get some of their money back?

Well, they probably wouldn’t believe it. Many customers think the only way BSCs can save them money is by offering services for less money. But a cleaning program designed to properly clean commonly touched objects where germs linger (called “fomites”) can reduce the potential for cross-contamination — and, in the process, create a healthier working environment for building occupants. And a better work space equals higher morale and lower absentee rates — overall, a boost in productivity dollars.

Getting customers to accept this type of program, however, may take a little extra persuasion.

“People don’t realize how many pairs of hands touch their facility. People don’t realize what percentage of their life their employees spend in their office facility,” says Jim Thompson, owner, A-1 Building Services, Wyoming, Mich. “It’s like your home...you’re going to completely clean your house. Why not completely clean your office environment?”

Just the facts
Cross-contamination occurs when people spread germs from one surface to the next simply by touch. How long someone touches a surface doesn’t matter; you touch a surface, you’ve transferred a portion of the bacteria, says Dr. Michael Berry, research professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

“Eighty percent of all common illnesses are spread by hand to mouth, nose and eye contact,” adds Dr. Charles Gerba, aka “Dr. Germ,” professor of environmental microbiology at the University of Arizona in Tucson.

Restroom staples like toilet seats and sinks may first come to mind as the main culprits, but since these items already get a thorough cleaning, objects such as phones, desks, and computer keyboards are actually more contaminated because BSCs don’t clean them on a daily basis.

“A lot of BSCs look at office cleaning as very basic — dust, mop and empty trash,” says Thompson.

The average desk is home to more than 20,000 germs per square inch — 400 times more bacteria than the average toilet seat, Dr. Gerba’s studies show. But the amount of bacteria isn’t the scary part: Only 10 to 100 particles of a common cold virus are needed to infect the average person, says Dr. Gerba. Some cold and flu viruses can survive on surfaces for up to 72 hours. A contaminated doorknob, for example, can affect others for up to three days.

A simple start
BSCs can reduce the number of germs found on these common office items by employing a detailed cleaning program specifically designed to reduce cross-contamination.

“What cleaners do every day and night is vital. Good hygiene practice is crucial to public health, especially in office settings,” says Brian Sansoni, vice president communication and membership, Soap and Detergent Association (SDA), Washington DC.

The first step: BSCs need to be aware of where the germs are. The top five fomites in offices are: phones, desks, water-fountain handles, microwave-door handles and computer keyboards, Dr. Gerba says. The computer mouse, doorknobs, elevator buttons, light switches, staplers, copy machine, fax machine, refrigerator handle and stairwell handrails also are commonly touched items that can harbor high numbers of germs.

Disinfecting with a pre-moistened towel or microfiber cloth with disinfectant can reduce up to 99.99 percent of the germs on each item. Using a cleaner without disinfectant merely spreads the germs around, says Dr. Gerba.

If customers are hesitant about letting the cleaning crew clean their employees’ desks, BSCs can consider selling pre-moistened wipes directly to the clients to be used by their employees, says Sansoni.

Disinfecting common items may seem elementary, but it’s highly effective. Just ask A-1 Building Services’ Thompson. When he first started in the cleaning industry, A-1 serviced medical facilities where cross-contamination reduction already is part of the job description. When Thompson branched into the commercial segment, he brought the same protocols with him.

“Being in medical facilities, we’ve seen the affects of disease and cross-contamination,” he says.

One of Thompson’s early commercial facility clients, a world headquarters for a major manufacturer, was experiencing outbreaks of the flu and colds among their executives and administrative personnel. A-1 was already disinfecting phones on a weekly basis, but the customer asked if Thompson could incorporate more commonly touched items into the disinfecting program and then perform these duties daily. Thompson complied and assigned the tasks to the light-duty specialist. These tasks included disinfecting phones, light switches, door knobs, handrails, desk tops, exercise equipment in the executive gym, break room and conference areas. By disinfecting more commonly touched objects, the number of sick occupants and sick days taken decreased, says Thompson.

No slacking
When stepping up disinfecting procedures in other office areas, BSCs can’t let their guard down in places they may already clean well, such as restrooms.

Cleaning with a color-coded system can help keep germs from spreading by ensuring tools used in restrooms aren’t also used in office spaces and public areas. Thompson uses bucketless mops and a new mop head each time he cleans a restroom. He mops other parts of the building with a different head.

After cleaning restrooms, janitors should wash their hands with soap and water or hand sanitizer; wearing gloves is another good safety precaution.

Cleaning crews, however, are not the only people working in the building who need to frequently wash their hands. Occupants themselves play a key role in curbing cross-contamination (see sidebar) and hand washing is a crucial component, especially after restroom use. Forty-seven percent of office workers wash their hands less than the suggested five times a day, and half of that number don’t wash their hands long enough, SDA studies show.

“That’s why washing doorknobs is so important,” says Thompson.

To encourage occupants to wash their hands, BSCs can post signs similar to those seen in restaurants; a helpful reminder of “remember to wash your hands with soap and water” can increase use, says Sansoni.

Soap and towel dispensers should always have sufficient amounts of product readily available. Also, ensure that towel dispensers are dispensing properly. When users reach into a dispenser to unclog towels, they contaminate other towels for future users. Towels hanging in sink-splash zones are also prone to contamination.

Sink-faucet handles present one of the greatest risks of cross-contamination in the restroom. Using touch-free equipment for faucets and dispensers not only cuts down on cross-contamination, but encourages users to wash their hands more frequently.

“[Touch-free equipment] makes people feel more comfortable to wash their hands,” says Bob Merkt, owner, Merkt Education Group and Associates (MEGA), a division of Kettle Moraine Professional Cleaners Inc., West Bend, Wis.

Tough sell
So, what will it take for BSCs to convince their clients not to roll their eyes at such a cleaning program?

During the bid process, spell out exactly what an emphasis on public health really means, says Merkt. Some facility managers award contracts based on price or time, so a detailed program that may cost a little more and take more time to complete could fall on deaf ears; benefits such as reduced turnover, increased productivity and less absenteeism are not typically associated with cleaning, says Merkt.

But when BSCs take time to explain to the customer what the program entails, it makes a difference, says Thompson. Often, clients aren’t aware this type of cleaning can be done in their facility. They also aren’t used to seeing BSCs who are concerned about the health of the client’s employees.

There’s a reason for that: A lot of BSCs don’t think about these issues because they’re just in the habit of doing what they’ve been doing for so long, says Thompson.

“In our industry we tend to sell time and appearance instead of the real reason we clean, and that’s public health,” adds Merkt.

Controlling cross-contamination in commercial facilities is not a large expense for the BSC, says Thompson. And if they can add these extra services, clients will pay for them, he adds.

Showing that you are concerned about building occupants’ health will enhance your company’s reputation and sales, and solidify your relationship with the customer, says Sansoni.

“It comes down to relationship-building,” he adds. “This day and age, having a customer who knows who you are [and] knows that you care about customer relationships...goes a long way.”

Computer equipment used in patient care within a multihospital system: recommendations for cleaning and disinfection.

2005-10-13T20:58:00.000-03:00

Neely AN, Weber JM, Daviau P, MacGregor A, Miranda C, Nell M, Bush P, Lighter D; Shriners Hospitals for Children task force.

Infection Control Department, Shriners Hospitals for Children, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA. aneely@shrinenet.org

Computer hardware has been implicated as a potential reservoir for infectious agents. Leaders of a 22-hospital system, which spans North America and serves pediatric patients with orthopedic or severe burns, sought to develop recommendations for the cleaning and disinfection of computer hardware within its myriad patient care venues. A task force comprising representatives from infection control, medical affairs, information services, and outcomes management departments was formed. Following a review of the literature and of procedures within the 22 hospitals, criteria for cleaning and disinfection were established and recommendations made. The recommendations are consistent with general environmental infection control cleaning and disinfection guidelines, yet flexible enough to be applicable to the different locales, different computer and cleaning products available, and different patient populations served within this large hospital system.

Computer keyboards and faucet handles as reservoirs of nosocomial pathogens in the intensive care unit.

2005-10-13T20:55:00.000-03:00

Department of Medicine, Tripler Army Medical Center, Honolulu, HI 96859-5000, USA.

PURPOSE: We postulate that computer keyboards and faucet handles are significant reservoirs of nosocomial pathogens in the intensive care unit (ICU) setting. METHODS: Sterile swab samples were obtained from 10 keyboards and 8 pairs of faucet handles in the medical ICU at Tripler Army Medical Center during a period of 2 months. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) obtained from the environmental and patient specimens were sent for DNA identification by using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. RESULTS: A total of 144 samples were obtained (80 keyboards and 64 faucet handles), yielding 33 isolates. The colonization rate for keyboards was 24% for all rooms and 26% in occupied rooms. Rates for faucet handles in all rooms and occupied rooms were 11% and 15%, respectively. The environmental isolates annd their prevalence were: MRS, 49%; Enterococcus, 18%; Enterobacter, 12%; and all other gram-negative rods, 21%. Fourteen individual patient isolates were recorded: MRSA, 43%; Enterobacter, 21%; other gram-negative rods, 36%; and Enterococcus, 0%. By using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, an indistinguishable strain of MRSA was identified in two patients, the keyboards and faucet handles in their respective rooms, and on other keyboards throughout the ICU, including the doctors' station.

CONCLUSIONS: The colonization rate for keyboards and faucet handles, novel and unrecognized fomites, is greater than that of other well-studied ICU surfaces in rooms with patients positive for MRSA. Our findings suggest an associated pattern of environmental contamination and patient infection, not limited to the patient's room. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis results have documented an indistinguishable strain of MRSA present as an environmental contaminant on these two fomites and in two patients with clinical infections patients during the same period. We believe these findings add evidence to support the hypothesis that these particular surfaces may serve as reservoirs of nosocomial pathogens and vectors for cross-transmission in the ICU setting. New infection control policies and engineering plans were initiated on the basis of our results.

FOMITES

2005-10-13T20:52:00.000-03:00

A fomite is defined as an inanimate object that serves to transmit an infectious agent from person to person.

Ask Lifehacker: keyboard cleanliness

2005-10-13T14:14:00.000-03:00

Ask Lifehacker: keyboard cleanliness
READ MORE: Life hacks

Dear Lif3hax0r,

I was just vacuuming around my desk, and, on a whim, started to vacuum my G4 Powerbook keyboard. Suddenly it began to sprout hair! It turns out there’s enough hair under the keyboard to construct a wig! (And maybe half a pizza too.) It’s DISGUSTING.

Given that I’m an all-day, every-day computer user, what can I do to keep my laptop’s keyboard clean and avoid time-consuming trips to the stupid Apple store? (Or wherever you PC people go when filth accumulates.)

Signed,

S. SEAMD
Shedding, Smoking, and Eating At My Desk

Germ-free nation

2005-10-13T14:09:00.000-03:00

...We run far more risks of getting sick from the bacteria that collect on cutting boards, countertops and other surfaces--on what immunologists call "fomites"--than we do from getting sneezed on. The average desk in an American office, where workers frequently eat, has been found to contain 400 times more bacteria than an average toilet seat, which, in a March 2002 study by the University of Arizona, also had lower levels of bacteria than telephones, water fountain handles, microwave door handles and computer keyboards. "We don't think twice about eating at our desks, even though the average desk has 100 times more bacteria than a kitchen table," says Charles Gerba, the University of Arizona microbiologist who led the study.
...jeopardizing your immune system.

ensuring ultra cleanliness at the keyboard

2005-10-13T14:04:00.000-03:00

...nosocomial infections (infections contracted inside a health establishment) are becoming increasingly widespread, with some 800,000 people being contaminated
every year. In the hospital environment, computer keyboards handled by more than one person are breeding grounds for a host of germs, which nestle down between the keys and are very difficult to remove.

ADVICE REGARDING CALL CENTRE WORKING PRACTICES

2005-10-13T13:28:00.000-03:00

Again, from England. Study on the Health and Safety at Call Centres. Stressing the proper set-up of the workstation including the importance of cleanliness.

Health and safety in call centres (forum)

2005-10-13T13:18:00.000-03:00

Forum, concerning the occupational health and safety in call centres in the U. K. 2005

'more attention needed to address workstation cleanliness'

2005-10-13T13:09:00.000-03:00

Extensive recent study done on the growth of call centres and the importance of solid operations, health and safety at these facilities.

'A Guide to Health and Safety in the Call Centre Industry’

2005-10-13T12:45:00.000-03:00

Great Link showing the detailed operations and guidlines at Call Centres in Australia. Stressing the importance of Cleanliness of employee workstations and comptuer keyboards. Keeping the bacteria and germs away.

Federal Labour Inspector, takes Dept. to Court

2005-10-13T12:24:00.000-03:00

Federal labour inspector takes his department to court for obstruction

Union charges political interference in failure to enforce health, safety, and fire standards at Burlington call centre

By: Paul Weinberg

BURLINGTON: A federal labour inspector has taken his own department to court because of claims his own department impeded him from doing his job enforcing workplace standards - including fire safety - in an expanding call-centre.
Officials with the inspector's union claim political interference after the inspector was allegedly hindered and obstructed from doing his job.

The inspector ordered Cogeco to remedy 18 separate health and safety violations, including fire protection procedures, control of hazardous substances, and cleanliness violations. The company later complained that the inspector had been 'rude' and 'confrontational'.

"The employer [Cogeco Cable Canada Inc.] is a well known Liberal supporter and the law firm being used to file the appeal [to federal Labour Minister Claudette Bradshaw], McCarthy Tètrault, is also a very well-known Liberal supporter," says Denis St.-Jean, health and safety officer for the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC).
St.-Jean's union represents inspectors or labour affairs officers employed by HRDC's Labour Program. They are responsible for enforcing health and safety, fair wages in federal contracts and labour standards provisions in the Canada Labour Code, which covers federally regulated workplaces.

University ot Toronto

2005-10-12T20:53:00.000-03:00

Reporting on the importance of OCCUPATIONAL HYGIENE at employee video terminals.

Office ergonomics...introduce relevant ergonomic principles and to provides examples on how to apply this information in the workplace. Excerpts from annual report on administration and human resources portfolio.

Clean up your grungy PC (CNET) June 15, 2005

2005-10-12T20:39:00.000-03:00

Keyboard dirt actually takes two forms. Food crumbs and similar detritus can fall between the keys; leave it alone for too long, and you could wind up with a malfunctioning keyboard. But potentially harmful bacteria can accumulate on the keys themselves, too. Neglecting them may have more serious consequences: making you sick.

Why you need a clean PC

At this very moment, dust bunnies may have your PC in a death grip. Germs are certainly gathering atop your mouse and keyboard, ready to assault your immune system. And your screen...well, chances are it has become smudge central.

Even great PCs can be dragged down by performance-choking dirt. Fortunately, with a few helpful products and a little effort, you can easily rescue your desktop from all that grunge.

While you've got the case open, you'll undoubtedly notice dust in other places--quite possibly a lot of it. We've seen computer interiors absolutely caked from top to bottom.

If yours is, you might be tempted to stick a vacuum-cleaner hose inside and suck out the dust. Don't. Vacuums create static electricity, which is deadly to sensitive electronic components.

On that same note, don't be tempted to reverse the flow of your vacuum and blow the dust out of the computer. The dust inside a household vacuum can be harmful to your health, and you'll be spreading it all over your PC. Also, you risk blowing out sizable particles, which could physically damage internal components, especially if you're using a workshop vacuum.

BBC news. Warning on Computer Keyboard Filth, Sci/Tech

2005-10-12T20:31:00.000-03:00

By BBC News Online internet reporter Mark Ward

The shocking secrets of the life of grime beneath your fingers have been revealed.

Computer keyboards are accumulating up to two grams of dirt every month, research conducted on behalf of AOL UK shows.

The crumbs and dirt collect beneath the keys because users eat breakfast, snacks, and lunch over their computer terminals.

The personal grooming that people undertake while at their desk also contributes to the build-up of grunge.

Fingernail pairings

AOL collected the dust, dirt and organic debris accumulating beneath the keys of a keyboard in a typical London office for a month.

Keyboard crumb breakdown
Corn Flakes (15%)
Boiled sweet (15%)
Noodles (7%)
Vegetable piece (4%)
Leaf (1%)
Pencil shavings (1%)
Staple (1%)
Finger nail (<1%)
Tape/plastic (<1%)
Insect (<1%)
Foil (<1%)
Hair (<1%)
Various particles resembling cereal grains, biscuit crumbs, bread crumbs, pastry flakes and chocolate crumbs (56%)

The accumulated rubbish, which weighed in at a hefty 1.89 grams, was then sent for study at Reading Scientific Services, an independent food and drink analysis centre.

The majority of the debris, 56%, was made up of food crumbs from the chocolate bars and biscuits that people like to snack on when using their computer.

Much of the rest was also food-related, but also in the dirt were dead insects as well as fingernail parings, small patches of dead skin and the odd hair.

Vigorous shaking

If the keyboard studied is typical, AOL UK estimates that almost 0.318 tonnes of what it calls "keyboard krumbs" will accumulate beneath all keyboards over the space of a year.

A spokeswoman for Reading Scientific Services said the company operated a strict confidentiality policy and could not comment on the research, or whether the accumulating grime constituted a health hazard.

To keep keyboards clean, office cleaning firms recommend that people regularly remove the keys, and vacuum, blow or shake off the dirt beneath.

The Dirt On Getting A Cleaner Office (Fellowes.com )

2005-10-12T20:24:00.000-03:00

August 27, 2004/Itasca, Ill. - With today's hectic workloads and longer work hours, we're spending more time than ever at our desks. But keeping it clean, along with the desktop accessories that cover it - namely the computer - is not a top priority. In fact, a recent survey revealed that 75 percent of U.S. adult computer users do not clean either their computer keyboard or computer accessories, such as a mouse or mouse pad, on a weekly basis. Dirty desktops, including unclean computers, could lead to ideal conditions for damaging microbes, such as bacteria, to grow and reproduce. Even more startling, under the right conditions, some microbes can duplicate every 15-20 minutes on an inviting surface.

...provides an added level of cleanliness by inhibiting the uncontrolled growth of damaging microbes, such as bacteria,

...Cleaning and disinfecting desktops can reduce and may even temporarily rid ordinary untreated surfaces of microbes. However, the effect is short lived and does not prevent remaining or redeposited bacteria from reproducing on the surface over short periods of time - between washes and uses.

...Microban technology provides an added level of protection between cleanings and in hard to reach places that lasts the lifetime of the product,"

...In addition to workspace environments, these products will make an impact at healthcare facilities such as hospitals, clinics and laboratories, as well as within educational institutions such as school computer labs and libraries, where multiple users share the same PC so an added level of cleanliness is needed.

Brit ISP UK Online's chilling investigation

2005-10-12T01:05:00.000-03:00

By Lester Haines
Published Wednesday 1st December 2004 13:41 GMT

A probe into the the nutritional content of the average keyboard has discovered that it contains an unhealthy balance of bread crumbs, crisp fragments, meat, sugar, salt and jam. Worse still, this inadequate diet is supplemented with toe and fingernail clippings, grit, glue and pubic hair.

CBS news, Dan Rather and John Roberts

2005-10-12T00:57:00.000-03:00

CBS News Reporter, John Roberts, presented a report on tests conducted throughout the United States on the presence of germs on different surfaces that people are in contact with.

He reported that in all of the surfaces tested, it was found there was at least one form of bacteria and/or virus on each surface. Some of these pathogens included E. Coli, Staph Aureus, Bacillus Cerus and even fecal matter.

Computer Cleaning (U.S., pro-tech site)

2005-10-12T00:54:00.000-03:00

Electronic Equipment Making People Sick

Germs Abound On Computer Keyboards!

A recent study from the University of Arizona states...

"the average desk has 400 times more bacteria than the average toilet seat!"

The man who conducted this study, Dr. Charles Gerba, states "for bacteria, the desk is really the laptop of luxury". The number one culprit is your telephone, then your desk and then your keyboard.

Toilet seats came out the lowest on a total of 12 surfaces tested in office environments.

Eating at your desk is an area that has approximately 100 times more bacteria than a kitchen table, or 4 times more than the average toilet seat.

With the amount of time people spend at their desks increasing, the bacteria count seems to be going up. Cleaning these areas regularly can reduce the bacteria count by 99.9 percent.

The study found that bacteria can increase 19 to 31 percent over a day.

From this data, we can assume that keeping your work area cleaned regularly can reduce the chances of illness in the office environment.

This study used over 7000 samples, collected across the United States from office environments. These were typical offices with cubicles, open spaces and private offices with limited street traffic such as deliveries.

Take a good look around you, and decide for yourself if your keyboard, monitor, telephone, and mouse could use a professional cleaning and disinfecting.

Is the dust on your computer toxic? (CNET, 2005)

2005-10-12T00:49:00.000-03:00

According to new research into chemical residue found in the dust collecting on computers and other electronics devices, the PC that you're using to read this story could pose a long-term threat to your health.

In a report published by Clean Production Action and the Computer TakeBack Campaign, two groups studying environmental and health issues related to computers, researchers contend that potentially dangerous elements of brominated fire retardants are turning up in dust samples swiped from computers. The research indicates that the most commonly found example of these substances, widely used fire prevention compounds known as polybrominated diphenyl ethers, or PBDEs, have been found to cause health problems in lab animals.

Perhaps of greater concern is the report's contention that PBDEs, which have been shown to present reproductive and neurological risks to animals used in lab tests, remain persistent in the environment and contaminate food supplies, animals and humans. The researchers claim that the PBDE threat is greatest in North America, where women were found to have the highest levels of the chemicals present in their breast milk, and that PBDE levels are doubling in the U.S. population every two to five years.

Great Canadian E-waste program. The Aucun Ordi Perdu / No Computer Should Go To Waste event.

2005-10-12T00:44:00.000-03:00

E-waste Facts At A Glance:

By 2005 the amount of disposed computers and peripherals will double to more than 67,000 tons in Canada alone (Environment Canada).

Environment Canada reports that every year Canadians bury or incinerate 158,000 tons of dead and obsolete computers, monitors, printers, fax machines, TV's, mobile phones and similar products.

According to Eddie Chan, research analyst, mobile/personal computing & technology, IDC Canada, the replacement rate of desktop PCs amongst Canadian households fell in 2003, from 4.4 years in the first quarter to 4.2 years in the fourth quarter.

An estimated 4,740 tonnes of lead is contained in personal computers and televisions thrown away each year in Canada. By 2005, discarded personal computers will contain an estimated 4.5 tones of cadmium and 1.1 tones of mercury. (Environment Canada)

INFORM (web research)

2005-10-12T00:37:00.000-03:00

Personal computers are a growing waste management problem. In 1998 alone, more than 20 million PCs became obsolete in the US, and fewer than 11 percent of them were recycled.1 The rest -- almost 18 million computers -- were landfilled, incinerated, or stored away in closets or warehouses. By 2007, the cumulative number of obsolete computers in the US is expected to rise to 500 million.2 Although recycling facilities for computers are increasingly available, techniques for waste prevention, such as extending computer lifetimes, need to be improved.

Toxic Computer Waste, Greenpeace

2005-10-12T00:28:00.000-03:00

The world is consuming more and more electronic products every year. This has caused a dangerous explosion in electronic scrap (e-waste) containing toxic chemicals and heavy metals that cannot be disposed of or recycled safely. But this problem can be avoided. We are pressing leading electronic companies to change; to turn back the toxic tide of e-waste.
Every year, hundreds of thousands of old computers and mobile phones are dumped in landfills or burned in smelters. Thousands more are exported, often illegally, from the Europe, US, Japan and other industrialised countries, to Asia. There, workers at scrap yards, some of whom are children, are exposed to a cocktail of toxic chemicals and poisons.

U. S. Department of Labour

2005-10-12T00:19:00.000-03:00

Occupational Safety & Health Administration. Reports on the concerns of exposure to chemicals with potential hazard;

* Exposure to chemicals, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), ozone, and particles from computers and their peripherals (for example, laser printers) may cause discomfort or health problems.

Possible Solutions

* Enquire about the potential for a computer or its components to emit pollutants. Those that do should be placed in well-ventilated areas.

* Maintain proper ventilation to ensure that there is an adequate supply of fresh air.

* Allow new equipment to "air out" in a well-ventilated area prior to installing.

Computers, Society and Nature

2005-10-12T00:11:00.000-03:00

Of computer bugs and public health

...an article in the globe and mail about the potential hazards to hospital patients in having computers in patient-care areas. Apparently, computer keyboards are great places for viruses (real life ones) to make homes. one hospital in toronto had to throw out all of their keyboards during one virus outbreak.. the viruses that hospitals are worried about are genearlly only found in hospitals but have the potential to be lethal. the study that was reported conclusively recommends increased handwashing after computer use in hospitals!! more work needs to be done to dertermine how much cleaning (i.e. germicides and such) keyboards can handle.
(Computer, Society and Nature)

Globe and Mail from April 2005

2005-10-12T00:08:00.000-03:00

These computer bugs can kill

By HELEN BRANSWELL

Canadian Press

Sunday, April 10, 2005

Toronto — There is likely something nastier than crumbs nestled in computer keyboards, especially those used in hospitals.

Keyboards are easily contaminated with germs, which in hospitals can take the form of antibiotic-resistant pathogens — the so-called superbugs, a study suggests.

Canadian Network of Toxicology Centres

2005-10-11T23:51:00.000-03:00

The science to toxicology, or the science of poisons, is the study of the harmful effects of naturally occurring and human made substances, and their mixtures on living organisms.

This is another research program in Canada. Also assisting Canada promote and maintain a healthier and more productive workplace.

Computer Home Web Article

2005-10-11T19:47:00.000-03:00

KEYBOARD CLEANING (taken from www.computerhome.com/cleaning)

Why? Dirt, dust and hair can build up causing the keyboard to not function properly.

Procedure: Many people clean the keyboard by turning it upside down and shaking. A more effective method is to use compressed air. Compressed air is pressurized air contained in a can with a very long nozzle. Simply aim the air between the keys and blow away all of the dust and debris that has gathered there. A vacuum cleaner can also be used, but make sure the keyboard doesn't have loose "pop off" keys that could possibly be sucked up by the vacuum.

Why? If the keyboard has anything spilt into it, not taking the proper steps can cause the keyboard to be destroyed.

Procedure: The following are a few recommendations to help prevent a keyboard from becoming bad once a substance has been spilt within it. First, turn the computer off immediately. Once the computer is turned off quickly flip the keyboard over helping to prevent the substance from penetrating circuits. While the keyboard is upside shake the keyboard on a surface you do not mind getting wet or that can be cleaned up later. While still upside down use a cloth to help clean out what can be reached. Once the keyboard has been cleaned the best it can, leave the keyboard upside down for at least one night. The longer it can be left without plugged in the better.
If a keyboard does not work after having a substance spilt into it, it is recommended that it be replaced.

Why? A keyboard that is used by multiple people such as students or different employees may need to be disinfected to help the spread of germs.
Procedure: Turn off the computer. Spray a disinfectant onto a cloth or damp a cloth with alcohol and rub each of the keys on the keyboard. As mentioned in our general cleaning tips never spray any type of liquid onto the keyboard.

Footnote from dust bytes; some of what they say is very true and their cleaning may be get the cleaning done, for the personal (home) user. But, in a work environment, where health and safety is paramount, our cleaning methods will produce proper sanitation and hygiene control. Using compressed air and "blowing" the dust and dirt will just spread the problem particles throughout the workstation.

Recent CTV.CA television and web article on health and safety at the computer.

2005-10-11T19:14:00.000-03:00

Dust Bytes E-mail address and Website address

2005-10-11T19:08:00.000-03:00

E-mail: dustbytes@dustbytes.ca

Website: www.dustbytes.ca
Contact: Gordon Rendell
Voice: (902) 233-4477